MAX2051 Highest linearity, up/downconverting, 850MHz to 1550MHz SiGe mixer delivers unparalleled spurious intermodulation rejection

Unparalleled linearity and suppression over the 50MHz to 1000MHz IF bandwidth.

SUNNYVALE, CA—May 28, 2009—Maxim Integrated Products (NASDAQ: MXIM) introduces the MAX2051, the industry's highest performance, fully integrated, 815MHz to 1550MHz SiGe passive mixer. Designed specifically for multicarrier cable head-end downstream video, cable modem termination systems (CMTS), video-on-demand and DOCSIS®-compliant edge QAM modulation, and wireless-infrastructure applications, the MAX2051 delivers an unparalleled combination of linearity and spurious suppression over an exceptionally wide IF bandwidth of 50MHz to 1000MHz. When configured as a downconverter, this single IC provides 35dBm of IIP3, 24dBm of IP1dB, 7.4dB of conversion loss, and a 7.8dB noise figure. In addition, it exhibits outstanding levels of 2 x 1, 2 x 2, and 3 x 3 spurious suppression, with typical values of 88dBc, 79dBc, and 101dBc (with a -14dBm input level), respectively, over the entire 50MHz to 1000MHz IF band. Its high linearity and excellent spurious suppression are critical for ensuring DOCSIS-compliant transmission into the 50MHz to 1000MHz spectrum in cable head-end systems.

As an upconverter, the MAX2051 delivers equally impressive performance with 33.4dBm of IIP3, a low conversion loss of only 7.5dB, and better than 61dBc of LO ±2IF and 78dBc of LO ±3IF suppression. This device is ideal for all point-to-point and point-to-multipoint microwave and fixed broadband wireless-access base-station applications, which require first IF to second IF upconversion stages covering the 850MHz to 1550MHz band.

Maxim's proprietary SiGe process enables the MAX2051 to integrate a state-of-the-art, double-balanced mixer core with an LO amplifier, two baluns, plus dozens of discrete components—all into one monolithic device. When compared to the closest competing solution, the MAX2051 reduces the total board space by 72%, and reduces the discrete part count by 25%. The device's outstanding spurious performance also eases the filtering requirements of close-in harmonics, thus enabling simpler, smaller, and more cost-effective filter designs.

To complement the mixer's exceptionally wide IF range, the MAX2051 includes a similarly wide-range LO buffer circuit that is optimized for high-side LO injection architectures covering the 1200MHz to 2250MHz frequency spectrum. The on-board 0dBm drive LO buffer provides ±3dB drive-variance control, thus ensuring stable gain, NF, and IIP3 performance over temperature, supply, and input power. The MAX2051 also has excellent gain-variation performance of 0.01dB/°C over the -40°C to +85°C industrial temperature range.

The MAX2051 is packaged in a compact, 5mm x 5mm, lead-free, 20-pin TQFN package. Prices start at $14.98 (1000-up, FOB USA).