New attenuator from M/A-COM

M/A-COM, a business unit of Tyco Electronics, announced a new RoHS-compliant 6bit serial controlled attenuator designed for applications where high accuracy, monotonic performance and low cost are required.

A 6bit digital attenuator with serial logic, the MAATSS0007 is housed in a Pb-free 4mm 20-lead PQFN, plastic surface mount package. Using M/A-COM's MSAG (multi-function self aligned gate) MMIC process, the RF attenuators and E/D logic have been integrated onto a single substrate that provides a low-cost, high-performance GaAs attenuator.

The MAATSS0007 has monotonic performance from 50MHz to 3GHz, and has a total attenuation range of 34dB with a typical step size of 0.5dB. This attenuator operates on a single positive 5V supply and a control voltage of 3V to 5V.

M/A-COM explained that its highly repeatable MSAG GaAs MMIC process integrates digital and analog functions onto a single chip using selective ion implantation. The MSAG process produces robust MMIC chips with multi-function capabilities using refractory gate metal and silicon-like manufacturing processes, added the company. A new high-voltage process allowing operating voltages of 24V is now available for very high power commercial and military applications.

The MAATSS0007 is available in stock and is priced at $2 for quantities of 100,000-piece units.