CML Microcircuits unveiled a new I/Q modulator in its family of RF integrated circuits. The CMX993 is a highly integrated, general-purpose RF quadrature modulator that operates between 100 MHz to 1 GHz, with excellent wide-band noise performance. Additional features include gain control and uncommitted differential amplifiers (see the figure).
The product’s I/Q architecture supports a wide range of modulation types to meet the challenging requirements of wireless data and two-way radio systems. Various integrated, selectable functions help maintain performance across multiple modulations and bandwidths.
The quadrature modulator provides translation from baseband I/Q signals to a modulated RF signal. Wideband inputs can be driven single-ended or differentially. The device offers two integrated and matched double-balanced mixers driven from a buffered quadrature split local oscillator (LO). LO frequency is divided by either two or four. The mixers form an I/Q vector modulator with programmable gain stages, offering 30-dB of gain control in 2.5-dB steps.
The digital C-BUS control interface (SPI-compatible) allows for gain control as well as the power management of individual internal blocks for optimum system performance. Because the C-BUS interface operates from its own power supply, the CMX993 can be interfaced to baseband devices of differing voltages.
The CMX993 is available now. It operates at 3.3 V (1.8 V I/O) and comes in a 48-pin VQFN package. An evaluation kit (EV9930) is available.
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