Programmable Pad Attenuates 40 GHz

Feb. 25, 2014

A programmable 10-b digital attenuator provides as much as 32-dB attenuation from 14 to 40 GHz.

Broadband programmable 10-b digital attenuator model DTA-14G40G-32-CD-2 operates from 14 to 40 GHz with as much as 32-dB attenuation controlled in attenuation steps as fine as 0.04 dB. It suffers 9-dB typical insertion loss with 2.0:1 typical VSWR and handles as much as +24 dBm input power with a typical 1-dB compression point of +10 dBm. The component features attenuation flatness of ±0.74 dB for 10-dB attenuation and ±1.61 dB for 30-dB attenuation. The attenuation accuracy is ±0.26 dB for 0 to 10 dB attenuation, ±0.08 dB for 10 to 20 dB attenuation, and ±0.10 dB for 20 to 30 dB attenuation. The maximum on-time switching speed of 1 μs and maximum off-time switching speed of 0.5 μs. The attenuator, which measures 2.0 × 1.8 × 0.5 in., draws 40 mA at +15 VDC.

Planar Monolithics Industries (PMI), Inc., 7311-F Grove Rd., Frederick, MD 21704; (301) 662-5019, FAX: (301) 662-1731.

About the Author

Jack Browne | Technical Contributor

Jack Browne, Technical Contributor, has worked in technical publishing for over 30 years. He managed the content and production of three technical journals while at the American Institute of Physics, including Medical Physics and the Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology. He has been a Publisher and Editor for Penton Media, started the firm’s Wireless Symposium & Exhibition trade show in 1993, and currently serves as Technical Contributor for that company's Microwaves & RF magazine. Browne, who holds a BS in Mathematics from City College of New York and BA degrees in English and Philosophy from Fordham University, is a member of the IEEE.