Fast Responding, 45 dB Range,

0.5 GHz to 43.5 GHz Envelope Detector

Data Sheet

ADL6010

Rev. E

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FEATURES

Schottky diode detector with linearization

Broadband 50 Ω input impedance

Accurate response from 0.5 GHz to 43.5 GHz with minimal

slope variation

Input range of −30 dBm to +15 dBm, referred to 50 Ω

Excellent temperature stability

10 GHz

Fast envelope bandwidth: 40 MHz

Fast output rise time: 4 ns

Low power consumption: 1.6 mA at 5.0 V

2 mm × 2 mm, 6-lead LFCSP package

APPLICATIONS

Microwave point to point links

Microwave instrumentation

Radar-based measurement systems

FUNCTIONAL BLOCK DIAGRAM

4

5

6

3

2

1

LINEARIZER

RFCM

ADL6010

RFIN

RFCM

VPOS

VOUT

COMM

Figure 1.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The ADL6010 is a versatile, broadband envelope detector

covering the microwave spectrum. It provides state-of-the-

art accuracy with very low power consumption (8 mW) in a

simple, easy to use 6-lead format. The output is a baseband

voltage proportional to the instantaneous amplitude of the

radio frequency (RF) input signal. It exhibits minimal slope

variation of the RF input to envelope output transfer function

from 0.5 GHz to 43.5 GHz.

The detector cell uses a proprietary eight Schottky diode array

followed by a novel linearizer circuit that creates a linear voltmeter

with an overall scaling factor (or transfer gain) of nominally ×2.2

relative to the voltage amplitude of the input.

Although the ADL6010 is not inherently a power responding

device, it remains convenient to specify the input in this way.

Thus, the permissible input power, relative to a 50 Ω source

input impedance, ranges from −30 dBm to +15 dBm. The

corresponding input voltage amplitudes of 11.2 mV to 1.8 V

generate quasi-dc outputs from about 25 mV to 4 V above

common (COMM). A subtle aspect of the balanced detector

topology is that no even-order distortion, caused by nonlinear

source loading, occurs at the input. This is an important benefit

in applications where a low ratio coupler is used to extract a

signal sample and is a significant improvement over traditional

diode detectors.

The power equivalent of a fluctuating RF input amplitude can

be extracted by the addition of an rms-to-dc converter IC.

Alternatively, the baseband output can be applied to a suitably

fast analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and the rms value (and

other signal metrics, such as peak to average ratio) calculated in

the digital domain.

The output response accuracy is insensitive to variation in the

supply voltage, which can range from 4.75 V to 5.25 V. The

ultralow power dissipation contributes to its long-term stability.

The ADL6010ACPZN is specified for operation from −40°C to

+85°C, and the ADL6010SCPZN is specified for operation from

−55°C to +125°C. Both are available in a 6-lead, 2 mm × 2 mm

LFCSP package.