23.9dBm IIP3 provided in an ultra-small 3mm x 2mm package

Analog Devices, which acquired Linear Technology, announced the release of the LTC5553, a double-balanced mixer that provides the industry's best matching bandwidth capabilities from 3 GHz to 20 GHz.

This mixer can be used as an up- or down-converter. Furthermore, the LTC5553 offers excellent linearity with 23.9dBm IIP3 at 14GHz and 21.5dBm IIP3 at 17GHz. This device integrates an LO buffer requiring only 0dBm input drive, eliminating the need for external high-power LO amplifier circuitry. Additionally, the LTC5553 integrates a wideband balloon transformer into the chip. Consequently, all ports operate with single-ended 50Ω matching within their respective specified frequency ranges.

In addition, leakage between LO and RF at 17 GHz is -32 dBm, providing excellent inter-port isolation performance and alleviating external filtering requirements. Based on all these features, users can benefit from minimal external components, a simple design, and a very small solution size.

The very wide bandwidth and performance of the LTC5553 make it ideal for a wide range of applications, including 5G microwave backhaul, broadband radio services, satellite broadband radio, radar systems, active antenna arrays, X and Ku band transceivers, test equipment, spectrum analysis, and satellite communication.

The LTC5553 is available in an ultra-small 12-pin 3mm x 2mm plastic QFN package. This device is designed to operate at case temperatures of –40°C to 105°C, and the ambient operating temperature range has been further extended. This mixer also operates at a single 3.3V supply voltage and consumes 132mA of current. In addition, the LTC5553 can be shut down via the enable pin.

When disabled, the maximum standby current is only 100μA. The enable pin can be driven to turn the device on and off immediately within 0.2μs, and it supports time-division duplex (TDD) or burst mode transmitters and receivers. The LTC5553 starts at $22 per unit in 1,000-unit quantities. Both samples and production models are available for immediate purchase.