The TQ5M31 is a general purpose RFIC mixer downconverter designed for multiple
applications including worldwide cellular and PCS mobile phones, ISM bands, GPS
receivers, L band satellite terminals, WLAN and pagers. The TQ5M31 is usable for
applications with an RF frequency range from 500 to 2500 MHz, and an IF output
range from 45 to 500 MHz. The integrated circuit requires minimal off-chip
matching, while allowing for the maximum application flexibility. Low current drain
makes this part ideal for portable, battery operated applications. The output third
order intercept efficiency is very high.
Electrical Specifications
ParameterMinTypMaxUnits
RF Frequency5002500MHz
Conversion Gain4.0dB
Noise Figure8.5dB
Input 3rd Order Intercept9.0dBm
DC supply Current6.2mA
Note 1: Test Conditions: Vdd=2.8V, Ta=25C, RF=1960MHz, LO=1750MHz, IF=210MHz, LO input=-
4dBm
1
Features
§ Single 3V Operation
§ Adjustable Gain/IP3/Current
§ Low Current Operation
§ Few external components
§ SOT23-6 plastic package
§ High IP3
§ Broadband Performance
Applications
§ Cellular and PCS mobile applications
worldwide
§ Wireless data applications
§ GPS/ISM/ general purpose
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Page 2
TQ5M31
Data Sheet
Electrical Characteristics
ParameterConditionsMin.Typ/NomMax.Units
RF Frequency50019602500MHz
LO Frequency60017502700MHz
IF Frequency45210500MHz
LO input level-7-40dBm
Supply voltage2.72.84.0V
Conversion Gain3.04.0dB
Input 3rd Order Intercept6.59.0dBm
Supply Current6.28.5mA
Note 1: Test Conditions (devices screened to the above test conditions): Vdd=2.8V, RF=1960MHz, LO=1750MHz, IF=210MHz, LO input=-4dBm, TC = 25° C, unless
otherwise specified.
Absolute Maximum Ratings
ParameterValueUnits
DC Power Supply5.0V
Power Dissipation100mW
Operating Temperature-40 to 85C
Storage Temperature-60 to 150C
Signal level on inputs/outputs+20dBm
Voltage to any non supply pin+.3V
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Page 11
TQ5M31
Data Sheet
ISM Band: IIP3 vs. LO Drive Level vs. Frequency
11
10.5
10
9.5
9
IIP3 (dB)
8.5
8
7.5
7
24002420244024602480
Frequency (MHz)
PLO=-1dBm
PLO=-4dBm
PLO=-7dBm
ISM Band: Conversion Gain vs. Vdd vs. Frequency
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
Conversion Gain (dB)
1
0.5
0
2400 2410 2420 2430 2440 2450 2460 2470 2480
Vdd=1.8V
Vdd=2.8V
Vdd=3.8V
Vdd=4.8V
Frequency (MHz)
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TQ5M31
Data Sheet
General Description
TQ5M31 is a general purpose RFIC mixer downconverter
designed for multiple applications. The mixer is implemented
with a single common-source GaAs MESFET and is designed
to operate with supply voltages from 1.8 to 5 Volts. To use the
TQ5M31, tuning components must be selected for the LO
buffer amplifier and the mixer IF port. An external shunt
inductor on the output of the LO Buffer is needed to resonate
with on-chip capacitance to shape the frequency response
and roll off unwanted noise which might otherwise be injected
into the mixer. The "open-drain" IF output allows for flexibility
in matching to various IF frequencies and filter impedances.
Access to the GIC pin allows flexibility in Gain, Third Order
Intercept, and Power Supply Current. By configuring the GIC
pin with one or two external resistors and a capacitor, the part
can be used in a wide variety of wireless receiver systems.
The TQ5M31 is in a miniature, low cost, 6 lead package
(SOT-23-6). Total dimensions are 2.9 by 2.8 mm with a height
of 1.14 mm.
is selected to resonate with internal capacitance at the L0
frequency in order to roll off out-of-band gain and improve
noise performance. This approach allows selectivity in the L0
buffer amplifier along with the ability to use the TQ5M31 with
multiple applications.
Calculation of Nominal L Value for LO pin
The proper inductor value must be determined during the
design phase. The internal capacitance at Pin 1 is
approximately 1 pF. Stray capacitance on the board
surrounding Pin 1 will add to the internal capacitance, so the
nominal value of inductance can be calculated, but must be
confirmed with measurements on a board approximating the
final layout.
1
Ground
Ground Placement
is adjusted between
standard inductor values
2
3
TQ5M31
Figure 3. LO Tuning
The LO and RF ports have internal DC blocking capacitors
and are internally matched to 50Ω. This simplifies the design
and keeps the number of external components to a minimum.
Applications
Please refer to the above applications circuit.
LO Buffer Tune (Pin 1)
The broadband input match of the LO buffer amplifier, may
cause thermal and induced noise at other frequencies to be
amplified and injected directly into the LO port of the mixer.
Noise at the IF frequency, and at (LO +/- IF) frequency will be
downconverted and emerge at the IF port, degrading the
downconverter noise figure.
The output node of the L0 buffer amplifier is brought out to Pin
1 and connected to a shunt inductor to ground. This inductor
The inductor is selected to resonate with the total capacitance
at the LO frequency using the following equation:
L
1
==
Cf
2
Π
()
where CpF
,
2
1.0
Verification of Proper LO Buffer Amp Tuning
Using a Network Analyzer
Procedure:
Connect port 1 of the network analyzer to the L0 input (Pin 3)
of the TQ5M31 with the source power set to -4 dBm. Connect
a coaxial probe to Port 2 of the network analyzer and attach
the probe approximately 0.1 inch away from either Pin 1 or the
inductor. The magnitude of S21 represents the LO buffer
frequency response (figure 4).
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Page 13
TQ5M31
Data Sheet
-30
-32
-34
-36
-38
S21 (dB)
-40
-42
1000
1100 1200900800700
Frequency (MHz)
Figure 4. LO Buffer Response
The absolute value isn't important, since it depends on the
probe's distance from the pin (it is usually around -30 dB), but
the peak of the response should be centered in the middle of
the L0 frequency band. Increasing the inductance will lower
the center frequency, and vice versa.
GIC Pin (Pin 2)
To tune the TQ-5M31 to a specific Gain, IP3, and DC Current
configuration, the designer should follow these steps:
4] The designer should start with a “reasonably high”
capacitor for C7 bypass, typical value 150pF. For an IF in the
range of 85 to 210 Mhz, a 150 pF capacitor is acceptable.
5] Note that R3 is the unbypassed resistor on the GIC pin.
Since the total resistance for R3+R4 has been chosen, the
only parameter to decide is the ratio of R3 to R4. This ratio
determines the gain of the mixer. While keeping R3+R4
constant, decreasing R3 while increasing R4 will result in
more gain. For maximum gain, R3 can be replaced with a
wire, and all of the R3+R4 resistance would reside on R4.
This results in a single resistor in parallel with a capacitor on
the GIC pin. In general, most applications result in R4 >
R3. The designer can determine experimentally in very short
order which resistor configuration to use.
See performance curves, page 4, “GIC tuning plot”.
GIC pin
R3
1] Choose the desired OIP3. The OIP3 should be less than
18dBm.
2] Determine how much current is required to achieve the
desired OIP3 from table 1. Data presented in these tables are
approximate. The designer is only to use these tables as a
guideline, keeping in mind that gain roll off will occur at higher
RF and IF frequencies.
3] From the same table, determine the required total
resistance for the GIC pin (R3+R4) in the figure below.
Table 1: OIP3 vs. total resistance (R3+R4)
OIP3 (dBm) Idd (mA) Resistance (ohms)
181520
15 780
12 5.5130
9 5160
6 4240
3 3.5320
C7
R4
6] After the components on the GIC pin have been
determined, the IF matching should be evaluated.
Mixer LO Port (Pin 3)
A common gate buffer amplifier between the LO port and the
mixer FET gate provides a good impedance for the VCO and
to allows operation at lower LO drive levels. The buffer
amplifier provides enough voltage gain to drive the gate of the
mixer FET while consuming very little current (~1mA).
Because of the good broadband 50Ω input impedance of the
buffer amplifier, and the internal DC blocking capacitor, the
user’s VCO can be directly connected to the LO input via a
50Ω line with no additional components. The physical length
of this connection is not critical.
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Page 14
TQ5M31
Data Sheet
LO Power Level
The TQ5M31 performance is specified with an LO power of -4
dBm. However, satisfactory performance can be achieved
with LO drive levels in the range of -7 dBm to 0 dBm. Gain
and input IP3 can be traded off by varying the LO input power.
At lower LO drive levels, the gain increases and the input IP3
decreases or vise versa. DC current and output IP3 remain
approximately constant.
Mixer RF (Pin 4)
The Mixer RF port of the TQ-5M31 provides a good,
broadband match to 50 ohms over the entire RF frequency
range. This minimizes IF leakage, and more importantly,
prevents noise and unwanted signals at or near the IF
frequency from being injected and degrading noise
performance.
Ground (Pin 5)
Connect to an adequate RF and DC ground.
noise or other spurious signals from leaking through the Vdd
line onto other ports.
In the user's application, the IF output is most commonly
connected to a narrow band SAW or crystal filter with
impedances from 300 -1000Ω with 1 - 2 pF of capacitance. A
conjugate match to the higher filter impedances is generally
less sensitive than matching to 50Ω. When verifying or
adjusting the matching circuit on the prototype circuit board,
the LO drive should be injected at Pin 3 at the nominal power
level (-4 dBm), since the LO level affects the IF port
impedance.
Suggested IF Matching Network
There are several networks that can be used to properly
match the IF port to the SAW or crystal IF filter. The mixer
supply voltage is applied through the IF port, so the matching
circuit topology must contain either an RF choke or shunt
inductor.
Mixer IF Port (Pin 6)
The Mixer IF output is an "open-drain" configuration, allowing
efficient matching to various filter types at various IF
frequencies. An optimum lumped-element matching network
must be designed for maximum power gain and output third
order intercept.
While tuning for the IF frequency, one has to consider the
source impedance of the IF Amplifier. The IF frequency can
be tuned from 45 to 500 MHz by varying component values of
the IF output circuit. Pin 6 also provides bias injection.
It is recommended that the value of C3 be kept between 12
and 20 pF to optimize the IF match. For good isolation, the
value of C4 should be no less than 22 pF. Decoupling
components for the power supply are included on the
evaluation board.
The decoupling components consist of a 10Ω resistor, and
0.01µF shunt capacitors. These components prevent reflected
The shunt L, series C, shunt C configuration is the simplest
and requires the fewest components. DC current can be
easily injected through the shunt inductor and the series C
provides a DC block, if needed. The shunt C, in particular can
be used to improve the return loss and to reduce the LO
leakage.
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Page 15
Package Pinout
MXR VDD-
LO Buffer
tune
Gain/IP3/
Current
adjust
TQ5M31
Data Sheet
1
2
TQ5M31
6
5
MIX IF
GND
MXR LO
Pin Descriptions
Pin NamePin #Description and Usage
MXR Vdd1LO buffer supply voltage. Series inductor required for LO buffer tuning. Local bypass capacitor required.
GIC2Capacitor and resistor required for Gain/IP3/Current adjust.
MXR LO3
MXR RF4
GND5Ground connection. Very important to place multiple via holes immediately adjacent to the pins. Provides thermal path for
MXR IF6Mixer open drain IF output. Connection to Vdd required. External matching is required.
DC blocked mixer LO input. Matched to 50Ω.
DC blocked mixer RF input. Matched to 50Ω.
heat dissipation and RF grounding.
34
MXR RF
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Page 16
TQ5M31
Data Sheet
Package Type: SOT23-6 Plastic Package
.114 IN
+ .004
.064 IN
+ .004
.049 IN
+ 0.008
All dimensions in inches.
.037 IN
TYP
.110 IN
+ .008
.016 IN
TYP
.003 IN
+ .003
.018 IN
+ .004
.006 IN +.004
-.002
0-3 Deg
Additional Information
For latest specifications, additional product information, worldwide sales and distribution locations, and information about TriQuint:
For technical questions and additional information on specific applications:
Email: info_wireless@tqs.com
The information provided herein is believed to be reliable; TriQuint assumes no liability for inaccuracies or omissions. TriQuint assumes no responsibility for the use of
this information, and all such information shall be entirely at the user's own risk. Prices and specifications are subject to change without notice. No patent rights or
licenses to any of the circuits described herein are implied or granted to any third party.
TriQuint does not authorize or warrant any TriQuint product for use in life-support devices and/or systems.