Analog Devices Inc. HMC1168LP5ETR

HMC1168LP5ETR Overview

HMC1168LP5ETR is the tape-and-reel ordering option of Analog Devices' HMC1168, a 12.47 GHz to 13.72 GHz MMIC voltage controlled oscillator with a half frequency output. It integrates the resonator, negative resistance device, and varactor structure inside a compact 5 mm × 5 mm package, allowing designers to build a microwave local oscillator path without an external resonator or external matching network. In practical systems, the device is used in point-to-point radios, VSAT terminals, radar-related microwave subsystems, and test platforms where stable LO generation, useful output power, and low phase noise are all important.

Technical Context

In a microwave signal chain, HMC1168LP5ETR typically sits in the local oscillator section of a synthesizer or PLL-based RF front end. The VTUNE pin controls the oscillation frequency, the internal doubler generates the main RFOUT signal, and the RFOUT/2 path provides a lower-frequency output that can be routed to a prescaler or PLL synthesizer input. This architecture is useful because it reduces prescaler input frequency without adding residual phase noise in the same way an external divide chain might. The buffered RFOUT stage also improves output matching and helps isolate the VCO core from load changes, which reduces pulling and improves frequency stability in real boards.

Key Specifications

• Output Frequency: 12.47 GHz to 13.72 GHz, covering a useful Ku-band LO range for microwave radios, VSAT links, and related front-end designs.
• Half Frequency Output: 6.235 GHz to 6.86 GHz, helping simplify PLL and prescaler interfacing when the full RF output is too high for the following stage.
• RFOUT Power: 10 dBm typical, reducing the amount of additional gain often needed before mixers, multipliers, or distribution stages.
• RFOUT/2 Power: +2 dBm typical, providing a practical lower-frequency reference output for synthesizer locking and monitoring paths.
• SSB Phase Noise: -113 dBc/Hz typical at 100 kHz offset, helping communication and radar systems maintain cleaner spectra and better modulation performance.
• Tuning Voltage: 2 V to 13 V, giving the loop designer enough control range to place the oscillator across its specified band.
• Tuning Sensitivity: 75 MHz/V to 350 MHz/V, which matters directly in loop filter design, control voltage noise budgeting, and modulation linearity planning.
• Supply Current: 190 mA typical at 5 V, allowing realistic power budgeting for compact microwave modules and bias networks.
• Frequency Drift: 1.2 MHz/°C, giving designers a clear expectation for thermal movement across the operating environment.
• Operating Temperature: -40°C to +85°C, making the device suitable for industrial and outdoor microwave hardware where ambient conditions vary.

Pinout & Package

HMC1168LP5ETR uses a 32-lead LFCSP/QFN-style package with a 5 mm × 5 mm body and an exposed pad that must be tied directly to RF/DC ground. For PCB layout, the RF traces should be controlled to 50 Ω impedance, the package ground pins and exposed pad should connect to a solid ground plane, and multiple vias should be placed under and around the ground region to keep return current paths short. This is especially important for preserving phase noise, output matching, and thermal performance in high-frequency layouts.

• Pin 19 - RFOUT: Main RF signal output, AC-coupled, used as the primary microwave LO output.
• Pin 12 - RFOUT/2: Half-frequency output, AC-coupled, useful for PLL prescaler or synthesizer interface design.
• Pin 21 - VCC: 5 V supply input, where low-noise biasing is important to avoid degrading phase noise through supply pushing.
• Pin 29 - VTUNE: Tuning and modulation input, used to set oscillator frequency and therefore critical in loop filter connection.
• Pins 5 and 11 - GND: RF/DC ground pins that must be tied cleanly into the ground system.
• Exposed Pad: Mandatory RF/DC ground connection for mechanical, thermal, and RF grounding integrity.
• NC Pins: No-connect pins that may be tied to RF/DC ground without degrading device performance.

For purchasing, the HMC1168LP5ETR suffix identifies the 7-inch tape-and-reel version, which is useful for SMT production and batch assembly workflows.

Key Features

• Integrated resonator and monolithic VCO core: This reduces external RF tuning complexity in microwave radio and VSAT designs, helping engineers shorten development cycles and lower layout sensitivity.
• Half-frequency output architecture: In PLL-based synthesizer applications, RFOUT/2 gives an easier interface to prescalers and lock circuits, reducing the need for extra divider hardware and preserving system noise performance.
• Low phase noise over temperature: In higher-order modulation radios and precision test equipment, lower phase noise improves spectral cleanliness and supports better system-level signal integrity.
• 10 dBm typical RF output power: In LO drive paths for mixers or following gain blocks, this output level reduces external amplification requirements and can simplify the surrounding RF chain.
• No external matching components required: For compact microwave modules and evaluation builds, this reduces BOM count, eases PCB integration, and makes first-pass bring-up more predictable.
• Buffered RF output stage: In real application boards where load conditions vary, the output buffer improves matching and helps reduce pulling caused by downstream impedance variation.
• Wide VTUNE operating range: In analog-controlled synthesizer loops, the 2 V to 13 V tuning range provides practical headroom for loop filter design and band coverage.

Applications

Point-to-Point Microwave Radio Use scenario: High-capacity microwave backhaul and fixed wireless links. IC role: HMC1168LP5ETR works as the local oscillator that feeds the upconversion or downconversion path. Use value: Its low phase noise and 10 dBm typical output help support cleaner modulation performance and reduce external LO drive requirements.

VSAT and Satellite Terminal LO Chains Use scenario: Ku-band satellite user terminals and VSAT transceiver modules. IC role: The device generates a microwave LO while the RFOUT/2 node can assist the PLL or prescaler path in frequency synthesis. Use value: This architecture helps simplify synthesizer implementation and is well suited for compact RF modules where board area and stability matter.

Radar and Defense Microwave Modules Use scenario: Microwave source generation inside radar-related and defense-oriented RF subsystems. IC role: HMC1168LP5ETR serves as a tunable LO source for frequency generation and signal translation blocks. Use value: The monolithic structure, buffered output, and specified operation across temperature help improve frequency stability in demanding environments.

Test Equipment and Industrial RF Platforms Use scenario: Signal generators, RF evaluation platforms, and industrial control instruments using microwave synthesis. IC role: The VCO is used as a tunable signal source inside the instrument's frequency generation section. Use value: Its predictable tuning behavior and low phase noise help engineers build cleaner reference paths and more repeatable measurement systems.

Equivalent & Alternatives

For engineers searching for an HMC1168LP5ETR equivalent, the first question is whether you need a close-band MMIC VCO alternative or a broader synthesizer-level substitute. HMC1168LP5ETR is best understood as a compact analog-tuned microwave VCO with RFOUT and RFOUT/2, not as a fully integrated programmable PLL.

• HMC1169: In an HMC1168LP5ETR vs HMC1169 comparison, HMC1169 keeps the same general MMIC VCO architecture with half-frequency output, but shifts the operating band upward to 12.92 GHz to 14.07 GHz and increases typical output power to 11.5 dBm. Choose HMC1169 when your LO plan sits slightly higher in frequency or when a bit more output drive is useful. Choose HMC1168LP5ETR when your target band centers inside 12.47 GHz to 13.72 GHz and you want coverage optimized around that lower range.
• ADF5610: Compared with HMC1168LP5ETR, ADF5610 is not a pin-compatible replacement. It is a PLL with integrated VCO, SPI control, programmable dividers, and an RF output range reaching 7.3 GHz to 14.6 GHz, with divider outputs down to 57 MHz. ADF5610 is better for frequency-agile synthesizers, programmable radios, and designs that need digital control and wideband tuning. HMC1168LP5ETR is better when a simpler analog-tuned microwave LO with direct RFOUT and RFOUT/2 is preferred.

Selection advice: Choose HMC1168LP5ETR for compact microwave LO generation with low phase noise, half-frequency output, and reduced BOM complexity. Choose HMC1169 when the required LO band is shifted upward. Choose ADF5610 when digital programmability, wider frequency agility, and integrated PLL functionality matter more than drop-in simplicity.

Quality

For original HMC1168LP5ETR sourcing, the quality workflow should focus on four points: original manufacturer traceability, incoming inspection, ESD control, and lot-level documentation. Incoming checks should verify part marking, package condition, coplanarity, and reel labeling, followed by sample electrical confirmation against the HMC1168 datasheet where required. The device is specified with 300 V HBM and 300 V FICDM ESD sensitivity, so storage, kitting, and assembly should remain inside an ESD-controlled process. For production use, lot code traceability and package resource matching are important for auditability and long-term maintenance.

Availability

Analog Devices lists HMC1168 as recommended for new designs, and the HMC1168LP5ETR ordering option is provided in 7-inch tape-and-reel format. That combination is useful for prototype-to-volume transition, automated SMT assembly, and batch purchasing workflows. For engineering teams planning stable supply and longer project support, this status is generally more favorable than selecting older or end-of-life microwave oscillators. In practical terms, HMC1168LP5ETR is well aligned with sample builds, pilot runs, and volume-ready RF module assembly.

Manufacturer

Analog Devices Inc. is a major supplier of high-performance analog, mixed-signal, and RF/microwave components. For HMC1168LP5ETR, ADI provides the official datasheet, package resources, quality documentation, and evaluation board support, which is valuable for design verification and sourcing confidence. From an engineering perspective, that ecosystem matters because microwave VCO selection is not only about frequency range, but also about documentation depth, package support, and integration into a larger synthesizer design flow.

FAQ

Where can I find the HMC1168LP5ETR datasheet download?

The official HMC1168LP5ETR datasheet is the HMC1168 data sheet from Analog Devices. Because HMC1168LP5ETR is the tape-and-reel ordering model of the same device family, the official Analog Devices product page is the correct place to download the latest HMC1168 datasheet and verify package information.

How should I approach HMC1168LP5ETR pinout design on PCB?

For HMC1168LP5ETR pinout design, route RFOUT and RFOUT/2 with controlled 50 Ω impedance, keep VTUNE isolated from noisy digital traces, use a low-noise 5 V supply, and connect the exposed pad plus ground pins directly to the RF/DC ground plane with multiple vias. This approach helps preserve phase noise and reduces unwanted pulling or supply-induced modulation.

What is a typical HMC1168LP5ETR application?

A typical HMC1168LP5ETR application is a microwave synthesizer local oscillator in point-to-point radios, VSAT terminals, radar-related RF modules, and test instruments. The full-frequency RFOUT can drive the LO chain, while RFOUT/2 can assist the PLL or prescaler stage.

What is the best HMC1168LP5ETR equivalent to consider?

If you are looking for an HMC1168LP5ETR equivalent, HMC1169 is the closest adjacent-band MMIC option when your operating band needs to move slightly higher. If your design needs wider programmability and an integrated synthesizer, ADF5610 is a strong alternative, but it is a system-level substitute rather than a drop-in replacement.

Is HMC1168LP5ETR suitable for PLL-based frequency synthesis?

Yes. The device is specifically well suited to PLL-based microwave synthesis because the RFOUT/2 path can be used for prescaler or synthesizer interfacing, while the monotonic tuning behavior supports practical loop filter design.