Maxim MAX2903EGI Datasheet

General Description

The MAX2900–MAX2904 complete single-chip 200mW
transmitters are designed for use in the 868MHz/
915MHz frequency bands. The MAX2900/MAX2901/
MAX2902 are compliant with the FCC CFR47 part 15.247
902MHz to 928MHz ISM-band specifications. MAX2903/
MAX2904 are compliant with the ETSI EN330-220 speci­fication for the European 868MHz ISM band.

These transmitter ICs offer a high level of integration
while minimizing the number of external components.
This is achieved by full integration of the transmit modu­lator, power amplifier, RF VCO, 8-channel frequency syn­thesizer, and baseband PN sequence lowpass filter. By
filtering the BPSK modulation, the spurious emissions are
reduced, enabling up to eight independent transmit
channels in the U.S. ISM band. Inputs are provided for
spread-spectrum BPSK, ASK, and OOK. FM can be
achieved by directly modulating the VCO. The devices
are intended primarily for use with an external differential
antenna.

Applications

Automatic Meter Reading
Wireless Security Systems/Alarms
Wireless Sensors
Wireless Data Networks
Wireless Building Control

Features

♦ Versions for U.S. 902MHz to 928MHz Band and

European 868MHz Band

♦ -7dBm to +23dBm Adjustable Differential RF

Output Power

♦ +23dBm Output Power at 4.5V, +20dBm Output

Power at 3.0V

♦ Support BPSK, OOK, ASK, and FM Modulations
♦ Modulation Filter for Direct Sequence BPSK up to

8Mchips/s

♦ Fully Integrated VCO with On-Chip Tank
♦ Extremely Low Frequency Pulling for OOK

Modulation (typ 60kHz peak, 5kHz RMS)

♦ Integrated Frequency Synthesizer for up to

8 Channels (MAX2900)

♦ +2.7V to +4.5V Supply Operation
♦ Small 28-Pin QFN Package with Exposed Pad

(5mm

✕

5mm)

MAX2900–MAX2904

200mW Single-Chip Transmitter ICs for

868MHz/915MHz ISM Bands

________________________________________________________________ Maxim Integrated Products 1

Functional Diagrams/Pin Configurations

19-2145; Rev 1; 8/03

Ordering Information

*Exposed pad

Functional Diagrams/Pin Configurations are continued at end of data sheet.

For pricing, delivery, and ordering information, please contact Maxim/Dallas Direct! at
1-888-629-4642, or visit Maxim’s website at www.maxim-ic.com.

MAX2900EGI -40°C to +85°C 28 QFN-EP*

MAX2901EGI -40°C to +85°C 28 QFN-EP*

MAX2902EGI -40°C to +85°C 28 QFN-EP*

MAX2903EGI -40°C to +85°C 28 QFN-EP*

MAX2904EGI -40°C to +85°C 28 QFN-EP*

PART TEMP RANGE PIN-PACKAGE

VCC5

GND

CPOUT

28

1

2

3

4

5

6

EN

7

810911121314

MODIN

VTUNE

GND

VREG

VCC1

RLPF

REFEN

VCC5

CPOUT

28

27 25 24 23 22

1

2

3

4

5

6

EN

7

MODIN

MAX2900

CP

REG

GATE

810911121314

OOKIN

D2

26

÷4

VCC2

REFOUT

SYNTHESIZER

VASK

VCC4

8-CHANNEL

LD

REFIN

PWRSET

OSC

VCC3

D0

21

D1

20

19

N.C.

18

N.C.

RF+

17

RF-

16

15

GND

VTUNE

VREG

VCC1

RLPF

REFEN

DIV63

REFOUT

27 25 24 23 22

26

MAX2901/

MAX2903

CP

REG

SYNTHESIZER

GATE

VCC2

OOKIN

VASK

VCC4

DUAL-

CHANNEL

(/62 OR /63)

LD

REFIN

PWRSET

OSC

VCC3

VCO+

21

VCO-

20

19

DIVOUT

18

GND

RF+

17

RF-

16

GND

15

MAX2900–MAX2904

200mW Single-Chip Transmitter ICs for
868MHz/915MHz ISM Bands

2 _______________________________________________________________________________________

ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM RATINGS

DC ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS

(VCC= +2.7V to +4.5V, EN = OOKIN = REFEN = high, TA= -40°C to +85°C. Typical values are at VCC= +4.5V, TA= +25°C, unless
otherwise noted.) (Note 1)

Stresses beyond those listed under “Absolute Maximum Ratings” may cause permanent damage to the device. These are stress ratings only, and functional
operation of the device at these or any other conditions beyond those indicated in the operational sections of the specifications is not implied. Exposure to
absolute maximum rating conditions for extended periods may affect device reliability.

VCCto GND...........................................................-0.3V to +5.0V

Analog/Digital Input Voltage to GND..........-0.3V to (V

CC

+ 0.3V)

Analog/Digital Input Current ..............................................±10µA

Continuous Power Dissipation (T

A

= +70°C)

28-Pin QFN-EP (derate 28.5mW/°C above +70°C)............2W

Operating Temperature Range ...........................-40°C to +85°C

Junction Temperature .....................................................+150°C

Storage Temperature Range .............................-65°C to +150°C

Lead Temperature (soldering, 10s) .................................+300°C

Five different versions are available. The versions differ
by their frequency band of operation, and by the synthe­sizer’s mode of operation. The MAX2900 has an internal
8-channel synthesizer.

The MAX2901 and MAX2903 are dual-channel versions
with a selectable internal synthesizer division ratio of 62
or 63. The MAX2901 operates in the 902MHz to
928MHz ISM band and the MAX2903 operates in the
867MHz to 870MHz European ISM band.

The MAX2902 and MAX2904 require an off-chip fre­quency synthesizer. The MAX2902 operates in the
902MHz– 928MHz ISM band and MAX2904 operates in
the 867MHz–870MHz European ISM band.

The MAX2901–MAX2904 provide LO outputs to drive a
receiver and/or an external synthesizer.

Part Selection Information

CAUTION! ESD SENSITIVE DEVICE

PART FREQUENCY RANGE (MHz) SYNTHESIZER LO OUTPUTS

MAX2900EGI 902 to 928 Internal 8 selectable channels No

MAX2901EGI 902 to 928 Internal 2 selectable channels Yes

MAX2902EGI 902 to 928 Off-chip Yes

MAX2903EGI 867 to 870 Internal 2 selectable channels Yes

MAX2904EGI 867 to 870 Off-chip Yes

Supply Voltage 2.7 4.5 4.5 V

Supply Current

PARAMETER CONDITIONS MIN -3σ TYP +3σ MAX UNITS

Shutdown mode: EN =
REFEN = low

Synth mode: OOKIN = low
(MAX2900/MAX2901/MAX2903 only)

Transmit mode with output
matching optimized for
+23dBm at +4.5V: PWRSET
loaded with 22kΩ resistor

Transmit mode with output
matching optimized for
+20dBm at +3.0V: PWRSET
loaded with 22kΩ resistor

VCC = +4.0V 0.7 10

= +4.5V 60 200

V

CC

32 40

= -40°C

T

A

to +85°C

T

= -40°C

A

to +85°C

150 200

110 135

µA

mA

MAX2900–MAX2904

200mW Single-Chip Transmitter ICs for

868MHz/915MHz ISM Bands

_______________________________________________________________________________________ 3

DC ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS (continued)

(VCC= +2.7V to +4.5V, EN = OOKIN = REFEN = high, TA= -40°C to +85°C. Typical values are at VCC= +4.5V, TA= +25°C, unless
otherwise noted.) (Note 1)

Supply Current (continued)

VCO Input Tuning Pin Current VTUNE = +4.5V, TA = +25°C 0.02 2 µA

VREG VCO Regulator Voltage 2.0 V

D IG IT A L IN PU T /O U T PU T S ( P IN S E N , RE FE N , D 0, D 1, D 2, M O D IN , O OKIN , LD )

Input Level High

Input Level Low 0.5 V

Input Bias Current -10 10 µA

Output Level High

Output Level Low 0.4 V

Output Current -100 100 µA

ANALOG CONTROL INPUTS (PINS PWRSET, RLPF, VASK)

PWRSET Voltage 1.2 V

RLPF Voltage 1.2 V

VASK Input Impedance 100 220 400 kΩ

PARAMETER CONDITIONS MIN -3σ TYP +3σ MAX UNITS

Transmit mode with output
matching optimized for
+17dBm at +3.0V: PWRSET
loaded with 36kΩ resistor

Transmit mode with output
matching optimized for
+14dBm at +3.0V: PWRSET
loaded with 51kΩ resistor

Reference-only mode: EN = low 2 3

PA standby mode: OOKIN = low
(MAX2902/MAX2904 only)

= +25°C75

T

A

T

= +25°C57

A

29 33

V

CC

- 0.5V

V

CC

- 0.4

mA

V

V

MAX2900–MAX2904

200mW Single-Chip Transmitter ICs for
868MHz/915MHz ISM Bands

4 _______________________________________________________________________________________

AC ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS

(MAX290_ EV kits. VCC= +2.7V to +4.5V, R

RLPF

= 68kΩ, R

PWRSET

= 22kΩ, fRF= 917.28MHz (MAX2900/MAX2901/MAX2902) or f

RF

= 868MHz (MAX2903/MAX2904), VASK = VREG, f

REF

= 14.56MHz (MAX2900/MAX2901/MAX2902) or f

REF

= 13.62MHz

(MAX2903/MAX2904), chip rate on MODIN = 1.22Mbps, P

OUT

= +23dBm, TA= -40°C to +85°C. Typical values are at VCC= +4.5V,

T

A

= +25°C, unless otherwise noted.) (Note 1)

ANALOG INPUT PINS

VTUNE Input Capacitance VTUNE = +1.35V 15 p F

DIGITAL INPUT PINS

Digital Input Pin Capacitance 3 p F

VCO AND SYNTHESIZERS SECTION

RFOUT Frequency Range

REFIN Reference Frequency
Range

REFDIV Fixed Reference Divider
Ratio

Main Divider Ratios

PLL Comparison Frequency

VCO Buffer Output Power 300Ω differential load (MAX2901–MAX2904) -12 d Bm

REFDIV Fixed Reference
Divider Ratio

VCO Phase Noise

VCO Tuning Gain VTUNE = +1.35V 44 65 86 M H z/V

VCO Frequency Pulling with
OOK Modulation

PLL Phase Noise

REFOUT Voltage Swing 100 m V p - p

CPOUT Charge Pump Current 500 µA

Reference Spurs -62 d Bc

Reference Input Voltage for
Nominal Operation

BPSK, OOK MODULATOR, AND PA

MODIN Frequency Range 1.2 8 M b /s

Modulation Filter Nominal 3dB
Bandwidth

Modulation Filter Final Attenuation Measured at 30MHz 28 41 d B

Carrier Suppression 28 d B

Noise Power Density

PARAMETER CONDITIONS MIN -3σ TYP +3σ MAX U N I T S

(MAX2900/MAX2901/MAX2902) 902 917.28 928

(MAX2903/MAX2904) 867 868 870

(MAX2900/MAX2901/MAX2902) 14 14.56 15

(MAX2903/MAX2904) 13 13.78 14.5

(MAX2900) 4 4 4

Table 4 (MAX2900) 249 256

(MAX2901/MAX2903) 62 63

(MAX2900) 3.5 3.64 3.75

(MAX2901/MAX2903) 13 15

(MAX2901/MAX2903) 1 1 1

At 100kHz offset, measured at RFOUT,
PLL loop BW = 5kHz

OOKIN clocked at 19kHz, internal (crystal)
or external reference frequency 60 kH z p eak

Measured at RFOUT, 5kHz offset,
PLL loop BW = 50kHz

Using an external frequency reference 200 300 m V

At 960MHz (measured at RFOUT at
+23dBm output power)

-101 d Bc/H z

5kH z RM S

-96 d Bc/H z

1M H z

-150 d Bc/H z

M H z

M H z

M H z

MAX2900–MAX2904

200mW Single-Chip Transmitter ICs for

868MHz/915MHz ISM Bands

_______________________________________________________________________________________ 5

AC ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS (continued)

(MAX290_ EV kits. VCC= +2.7V to +4.5V, R

RLPF

= 68kΩ, R

PWRSET

= 22kΩ, fRF= 917.28MHz (MAX2900/MAX2901/MAX2902) or f

RF

= 868MHz (MAX2903/MAX2904), VASK = VREG, f

REF

= 14.56MHz (MAX2900/MAX2901/MAX2902) or f

REF

= 13.62MHz

(MAX2903/MAX2904), chip rate on MODIN = 1.22Mbps, P

OUT

= +23dBm, TA= -40°C to +85°C. Typical values are at VCC= +4.5V,

T

A

= +25°C, unless otherwise noted.) (Note 1)

Note 1: Devices are production tested at TA= +25°C and +85°C. Min/Max values are guaranteed by design and characterization

over temperature and supply voltage.

RF Output Power

RF Output Power Flatness

Adjacent Channel Power Ratio PN sequence at 1.22MHz -17 d Bc

Alternate Channel Power Ratio PN sequence at 1.22MHz -26 d Bc

OOK Control Range 40 80 d B

ASK Output Power Adjustment
Range

RFOUT Rise and Fall Time Square-wave signal applied on OOK 1 µs

Spurious Emissions

PARAMETER CONDITIONS MIN -3σ TYP +3σ MAX U N I T S

PWRSET = 22kΩ, VCC = +4.5V,

= +25°C

T

A

PWRSET = 22kΩ, VCC = +4.5V,

= -40°C to +85°C

T

A

P WRS E T = 22kΩ , V

fRF = 900MHz to 930MHz
(MAX2900/MAX2901/MAX2902)

f

= 867MHz to 870MHz

RF

ASK output power back­off relative to max power

At 2nd harmonic of RF output frequency
with external matching network

At 3rd harmonic of RF output frequency
with external matching network

At 4th harmonic of RF output frequency
with external matching network

Out of 902MHz to 928MHz band other than
harmonics with external matching network
(MAX2900/MAX2901/MAX2902)

C C

= + 3.0V , TA = + 25°C 18 20 21

21 23.5 25

20.5 25

0.3

0.1

OOKIN = high,
VASK = 0

OOKIN = high,
VASK = 1V

41

16

-50

-51

-63

< -70

d Bm

d B

d B

d Bc

Out of 867MHz to 870MHz band other than
harmonics with external matching network
(MAX2903/MAX2904)

Unlocked, Out-of-Band Spurious
Output Level

Noise Level Out of Band

Output VSWR for Guaranteed
Stability

M axi m um Al l ow ab l e Outp ut V S WR 2:1

Any condition when synthesizer unlocked
(pin LD low)

Modulation off, measured at 960MHz, any
gain setting (MAX2900/MAX2901/MAX2902)

Modulation off, measured at 900MHz, any
gain setting (MAX2903/MAX2904)

< -70

< -50 d Bm

-126 -120

d Bm /H z

-126 -120

2:1

MAX2900–MAX2904

200mW Single-Chip Transmitter ICs for
868MHz/915MHz ISM Bands

6 _______________________________________________________________________________________

Typical Operating Characteristics

(MAX290_ EV kits. VCC= +4.5V, fRF= 917.28MHz (MAX2900/MAX2901/MAX2902) or fRF= 868MHz (MAX2903/MAX2904), R

RLPF

=

68kΩ, R

PWRSET

= 22kΩ, VASK = VREG, f

REF

= 14.56MHz (MAX2900/MAX2901/MAX2902) or f

REF

= 13.78MHz (MAX2903/MAX2904),

chip rate on MODIN = 1.22 Mbps, RF output matching network optimized for +23dBm, V

CC

= 4.5V, TA= +25°C, unless

otherwise noted.)

SUPPLY CURRENT vs. V

CC

MAX2900 toc01

VCC (V)

SUPPLY CURRENT (mA)

4.03.53.0

90

100

110

120

130

140

150

160

80

2.5 4.5

TA = +85°C

TA = +25°C

TA = -40°C

SHUTDOWN CURRENT vs. V

CC

MAX2900 toc02

VCC (V)

SHUTDOWN CURRENT (µA)

4.03.53.0

1

10

100

0.1

2.5 4.5

TA = +85°C

TA = +25°C

TA = -40°C

OUTPUT POWER vs. V

CC

MAX2900 toc03

VCC (V)

OUTPUT POWER (dBm)

4.03.53.0

18

20

22

24

26

16

2.5 4.5

TA = +85°C

TA = +25°C

TA = -40°C

VCO PHASE NOISE AT 917.28MHz

MAX2900 toc04

-40dBc/Hz

-140dBc/Hz
FREQUENCY OFFSET (MHz)

VCO SUPPLY PUSHING vs. V

CC

MAX2900 toc05

VCC (V)

OUTPUT FREQUENCY (MHz)

4.03.53.0

915.5

916.0

916.5

917.0

917.5

918.0

915.0

2.5 4.5

PLL LOCK TIME

MAX2900 toc06

100kHz

-100kHz
START 0s

20kHz/div

STOP 30µs

LOWPASS FILTER 3-dB RESPONSE

vs. R

RLPF

MAX2900 toc07

R

RLPF

(kΩ)

LOWPASS FILTER 3-dB BANDWIDTH (kHz)

6050403020

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

0

10 70

BPSK MODULATION OUTPUT vs. TIME

MAX2900 toc08

225deg

-225deg

45deg/div

START 0s

STOP 40µs

RF POWER vs. FREQUENCY

(MAX2900/MAX2901/MAX2902)

MAX2900 toc09

FREQUENCY (MHz)

RF POWER (dBm)

925920915910905

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

18

900 930

A
B

C

E

F

D

A: VCC = 4.5V, TA = -40°C
B: V

CC

= 4.5V, TA = +25°C

C: V

CC

= 4.5V, TA = +85°C

D: V

CC

= 2.7V, TA = -40°C

E: V

CC

= 2.7V, TA = +25°C

F: V

CC

= 2.7V, TA = +85°C