NLB-310

NLB-310
Cascadable Broadband GaAs MMIC Amplifier
DC to 10GHz

The NLB-310 cascadable broadband InGaP/GaAs MMIC amplifier is a

low-cost, high-performance solution for general purpose RF and Package: Micro-X, 4-pin, Plastic
microwave amplification needs. This 50Ω gain block is based on a
reliable HBT proprietary MMIC design, providing unsurpassed Features
performance for small-signal applications. Designed with an external ■ Reliable, Low-Cost HBT Design
bias resistor, the NLB-310 provides flexibility and stability. The NLB- ■ 12.7dB Gain, +12.6dBm
310 is packaged in a low cost, surface-mount plastic package, P1dB at 2Ghz

providing ease of assembly for high-volume tape-and-reel ■ High P1dB of

+14.9dBm at 6.0GHz
requirements. +13.1dBm at 10.0GHz
■ Single Power Supply Operation
■ 50Ω I/O Matched for High
Frequency Use

Applications
■ Narrow and Broadband
Commercial and Military Radio
Designs
■ Linear and Saturated Amplifiers
■ Gain Stage or Driver Amplifiers
for MWRadio/Optical Designs
Functional Block Diagram (PTP/PMP/LMDS/UNII/VSAT/
WLAN/Cellular/DWDM)

Ordering Information
NLB-310 Cascadable Broadband GaAs MMIC Amplifier DC to 10GHz
NLB-310-T1 Tape & Reel, 1000 Pieces
NLB-310-E Fully Assembled Evaluation Board
NBB-X-K1 Extended Frequency InGaP Amp Designer’s Tool Kit

RF Micro Devices Inc. 7628 Thorndike Road, Greensboro, NC 27409-9421 DS131015

For sales or technical support, contact RFMD at +1.336.678.5570 or [email protected].
RF MICRO DEVICES® and RFMD® are trademarks of RFMD, LLC. BLUETOOTH is a trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc., U.S.A. and licensed for use by RFMD. All other trade names,
trademarks, and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2013, RF Micro Devices, Inc. 1 of 9
NLB-310

Absolute Maximum Ratings

Parameter Rating Unit Caution! ESD sensitive device.

RF Input Power +20 dBm

Power Dissipation 300 mW
Device Current 70 mA RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous
Substances): Compliant per EU Directive
Channel Temperature 200 °C 2011/65/EU.

Operating Temperature -45 to +85 °C

Storage Temperature -65 to +150 °C Exceeding any one or a combination of the Absolute
Maximum Rating conditions may cause permanent
Exceeding any one or a combination of these limits may cause permanent damage. damage to the device. Extended application of Absolute
Maximum Rating conditions to the device may reduce
device reliability. Specified typical performance or
functional operation of the device under Absolute
Maximum Rating conditions is not implied.
Nominal Operating Parameters
Specification
Parameter Unit Condition
Min Typ Max
General Performance VD = +4.6V, ICC = 50mA, Z0 = 50Ω, TA = +25°C
Small Signal Power Gain, S21 12.0 12.7 dB f = 0.1GHz to 1.0GHz

10.7 dB f = 1.0GHz to 4.0GHz

10.0 dB f = 4.0GHz to 6.0GHz

8.5 9.7 dB f = 6.0GHz to 10.0GHz

9.6 dB f = 10.0GHz to 12.0GHz

Gain Flatness, GF ±0.3 dB f = 5.0GHz to 10.0GHz

Input VSWR 1.6:1 f = 0.1GHz to 4.0GHz

1.75:1 f = 4.0GHz to 7.0GHz

1.6:1 f = 7.0GHz to 11.0GHz

Output VSWR 1.5:1 f = 0.1GHz to 4.0GHz

1.8:1 f = 4.0GHz to 7.0GHz

1.6:1 f = 7.0GHz to 11.0GHz

Output Power at -1dB 12.6 dBm f = 2.0GHz

Compression, P1dB
14.9 dBm f = 6.0GHz

13.1 dBm f = 10.0GHz

Noise Figure, NF 5.0 dB f = 3.0GHz

Third Order Intercept, IP3 +28.9 dBm f = 2.0GHz

+27.9 f = 6.0GHz

Reverse Isolation, S12 -17 dB f = 0.1GHz to 20.0GHz

Device Voltage, VD 4.4 4.6 4.8 V

Gain Temperature Coefficient, -0.0015 dB/°C

/

RF Micro Devices Inc. 7628 Thorndike Road, Greensboro, NC 27409-9421 DS131015

For sales or technical support, contact RFMD at +1.336.678.5570 or [email protected].
The information in this publication is believed to be accurate. However, no responsibility is assumed by RF Micro Devices, Inc. ("RFMD") for its use, nor for any infringement of patents or other rights of
third parties resulting from its use. No license is granted by implication or otherwise under any patent or patent rights of RFMD. RFMD reserves the right to change component circuitry, recommended
application circuitry and specifications at any time without prior notice. 2 of 9
NLB-310

Specification
Parameter Unit Condition
Min Typ Max
MTTF versus Temperature
at ICC = 50mA
Case Temperature 85 °C

Junction Temperature 125 °C

MTTF >1,000,000 hours

Thermal Resistance
θJC 174 °C/W

RF Micro Devices Inc. 7628 Thorndike Road, Greensboro, NC 27409-9421 DS131015

For sales or technical support, contact RFMD at +1.336.678.5570 or [email protected].
The information in this publication is believed to be accurate. However, no responsibility is assumed by RF Micro Devices, Inc. ("RFMD") for its use, nor for any infringement of patents or other rights of
third parties resulting from its use. No license is granted by implication or otherwise under any patent or patent rights of RFMD. RFMD reserves the right to change component circuitry, recommended
application circuitry and specifications at any time without prior notice. 3 of 9
NLB-310

Pin Names and Descriptions

Pin Name Description Interface Schematic
1 RFIN RF input pin. This pin is NOT internally DC blocked. A DC blocking
capacitor, suitable for the frequency of operation, should be used
in most applications. DC coupling of the input is not allowed,
because this will override the internal feedback loop and cause
temperature instability.

2 GND Ground connection. For best performance, keep traces physically

short and connect immediately to ground plane.

3 RFOUT RF output and bias pin. Biasing is accomplished with an external

series resistor and choke inductor to VCC. The resistor is selected
to set the DC current into this pin to a desired level. The resistor
value is determined by the following equation:

Care should also be taken in the resistor selection to ensure that

the current into the part never exceeds maximum datasheet
operating current over the planned operating temperature. This
means that a resistor between the supply and this pin is always
required, even if a supply near 5.0V is available, to provide DC
feedback to prevent thermal runaway. Because DC is present on
this pin, a DC blocking capacitor, suitable for the frequency of
operation, should be used in most applications. The supply side of
the bias network should also be well bypassed.
4 GND Same as pin 2.

Package Drawing

RF Micro Devices Inc. 7628 Thorndike Road, Greensboro, NC 27409-9421 DS131015

For sales or technical support, contact RFMD at +1.336.678.5570 or [email protected].
The information in this publication is believed to be accurate. However, no responsibility is assumed by RF Micro Devices, Inc. ("RFMD") for its use, nor for any infringement of patents or other rights of
third parties resulting from its use. No license is granted by implication or otherwise under any patent or patent rights of RFMD. RFMD reserves the right to change component circuitry, recommended
application circuitry and specifications at any time without prior notice. 4 of 9
 NLB-310

Typical Bias Configuration

NOTE: Application notes related to biasing circuit, device footprint, and thermal considerations are available on request.

Recommended Bias Resistor Values

Supply Voltage, VCC (V) 8 10 12 15 20
Bias Resistor, RCC (Ω) 60 100 140 200 300

RF Micro Devices Inc. 7628 Thorndike Road, Greensboro, NC 27409-9421 DS131015

For sales or technical support, contact RFMD at +1.336.678.5570 or [email protected].
The information in this publication is believed to be accurate. However, no responsibility is assumed by RF Micro Devices, Inc. ("RFMD") for its use, nor for any infringement of patents or other rights of
third parties resulting from its use. No license is granted by implication or otherwise under any patent or patent rights of RFMD. RFMD reserves the right to change component circuitry, recommended
application circuitry and specifications at any time without prior notice. 5 of 9
NLB-310

Extended Frequency InGaP Amplifier Designer’s Tool Kit (NBB-X-K1)

This tool kit was created to assist in the design-in of the RFMD NBB- and NLB- series InGap HBT gain block amplifiers. Each tool
kit contains the following:

 5 each NBB-300, NBB-310 and NBB-400 Ceramic Micro-X Amplifiers

 5 each NLB-300, NLB-310 and NLB-400 Plastic Micro-X Amplifiers
 2 Broadband Evaluation Boards and High Frequency SMA Connectors
 Broadband Bias Instructions and Specification Summary Index for ease of operation

RF Micro Devices Inc. 7628 Thorndike Road, Greensboro, NC 27409-9421 DS131015

For sales or technical support, contact RFMD at +1.336.678.5570 or [email protected].
The information in this publication is believed to be accurate. However, no responsibility is assumed by RF Micro Devices, Inc. ("RFMD") for its use, nor for any infringement of patents or other rights of
third parties resulting from its use. No license is granted by implication or otherwise under any patent or patent rights of RFMD. RFMD reserves the right to change component circuitry, recommended
application circuitry and specifications at any time without prior notice. 6 of 9
NLB-310

Tape and Reel Dimensions (all dimensions in millimeters)

14.732 mm (7”) REEL Plastic, Micro-X

ITEMS SYMBOL SIZE (mm) SIZE (inches)
Diameter B 178 +0.25/-4.0 7.0 +0.079/-0.158
FLANGE Thickness T 18.4 MAX 0.724 MAX
Space Between Flange F 12.8 +2.0 0.50 +0.08
Outer Diameter O 76.2 REF 3.0 REF
Spindle Hole Diameter S 13.716 +0.5/-0.2 0.540 +0.020/-0.008
HUB
Key Slit Width A 1.5 MIN 0.059 MIN
Key Slit Diameter D 20.2 MIN 0.795 MIN

RF Micro Devices Inc. 7628 Thorndike Road, Greensboro, NC 27409-9421 DS131015

For sales or technical support, contact RFMD at +1.336.678.5570 or [email protected].
The information in this publication is believed to be accurate. However, no responsibility is assumed by RF Micro Devices, Inc. ("RFMD") for its use, nor for any infringement of patents or other rights of
third parties resulting from its use. No license is granted by implication or otherwise under any patent or patent rights of RFMD. RFMD reserves the right to change component circuitry, recommended
application circuitry and specifications at any time without prior notice. 7 of 9
NLB-310

Typical Performance

RF Micro Devices Inc. 7628 Thorndike Road, Greensboro, NC 27409-9421 DS131015

For sales or technical support, contact RFMD at +1.336.678.5570 or [email protected].
The information in this publication is believed to be accurate. However, no responsibility is assumed by RF Micro Devices, Inc. ("RFMD") for its use, nor for any infringement of patents or other rights of
third parties resulting from its use. No license is granted by implication or otherwise under any patent or patent rights of RFMD. RFMD reserves the right to change component circuitry, recommended
application circuitry and specifications at any time without prior notice. 8 of 9
NLB-310

Note: The s-parameter gain results shown above include device performance as well as evaluation board and connector loss
variations. The insertion losses of the evaluation board and connectors are as follows:

1GHz to 4GHz = -0.06dB

5GHz to 9GHz = -0.22dB
10GHz to 14GHz = -0.50dB
15GHz to 20GHz = -1.08dB

RF Micro Devices Inc. 7628 Thorndike Road, Greensboro, NC 27409-9421 DS131015

For sales or technical support, contact RFMD at +1.336.678.5570 or [email protected].
The information in this publication is believed to be accurate. However, no responsibility is assumed by RF Micro Devices, Inc. ("RFMD") for its use, nor for any infringement of patents or other rights of
third parties resulting from its use. No license is granted by implication or otherwise under any patent or patent rights of RFMD. RFMD reserves the right to change component circuitry, recommended
application circuitry and specifications at any time without prior notice. 9 of 9