Avago Technologies Introduces PIN Diodes in the Low-Cost

Avago Technologies introduced three high-performance PIN diode chips in the low-cost, RoHS-compliant, lead-free SOD-323 (small outline diode) plastic package. The two-pin SOD-323 package has dimensions of only 1.7 mm x 1.25 mm x 0.95 mm, significantly smaller than the 3 mm x 2.5 mm x 1.1 mm form-factor offered by the three-lead SOT (small outline transistor)-23, and 2 mm x 2.1 mm x 1.1 mm offered by the SOT-323 packages.

The three new products expand Avago Technologies’ extensive range of surface-mount PIN diodes in industry-standard packages, including SOT-23, SOT 143, SOT-323 and SOT-363, while offering the same performance characteristics. In the new SOD-323 PIN diode series, the Avago HSMP-389Z is optimized for RF switching applications where low insertion loss, low series resistance at low current, and low capacitance are required. The HSMP-386Z is suitable for low-distortion and low-current switching applications as well as attenuation applications that require low current or power consumption. The HSMP-381Z is optimized for low distortion and high-linearity attenuation. All versions are specified for operation at up to 3 GHz and address wireless infrastructure, CATV, DBS LNB/multiswitch, mobile handset, cordless phone and WLAN applications.
“For today’s RF applications that need only a single PIN diode, our customers prefer the smaller, less-expensive SOD-323 package over the SOT-23 and SOT-323,” said Steve Saw CY, worldwide product marketing manager for silicon diode/RFIC products in Avago Technologies’ Wireless Semiconductor Division. “To meet their needs, we are expanding our product package portfolio, while maintaining the performance characteristics they require for their demanding, next-generation wireless designs.”

Performance characteristics of the SOD-323 PIN diodes include:

oThe HSMP-389Z features low series resistance (Rs) of 3.8 ohms at 1 mA, 1.8 ohms at 5 mA, 1.5 ohms at 10 mA (typical at 100 MHz); low total capacitance (CT) of 0.20 pF typ. at reverse voltage (VR) of 5 V at 1 MHz; and short carrier lifetime (t) of 200 ns at forward current (IF) of 10 mA and reverse current (IR) of 5 mA.

oThe HSMP-386Z features Rs of 15 ohms at 1 mA, 4.5 ohms at 5 mA, 1.5 ohms at10 mA (typ. at 100 MHz); CT of 0.23 pF typ. at 5 V VR and 1 MHz; and t of 500 ns at 50 mA IF and 250 mA IR.

oThe HSMP-381Z features Rs of 70 ohms at1 mA, 18 ohms at 5 mA, 7 ohms at 10 mA (typ. at 100 MHz); CT of 0.30 pF typ. at 5 V VR and 1 MHz; and t of 1500 ns at 50 mA IF and 250 mA IR.

For applications requiring two or more PIN diodes, the three-lead SOT-23 or SOT-323, the four-lead SOT-143 or the six-lead SOT-363 are still a preferred choice, since they can contain up to four diodes in a single package, minimizing board space.