FET BIAS CONTROLLER WITH POLARISATION
SWITCH AND TONE DETECTION
ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2000
DEVICE DESCRIPTION
The ZNBG series of devices are designed to
meet the bias requirements of GaAs and
HEMT FETs commonly used in satellite
receiver LNBs, PMR cellular telephones etc.
with a minimum of external components.
With the addition of two capacitors and a
resistor the devices provide drain voltage and
current control for three external grounded
source FETs, generating the regulated
negative rail required for FET gate biasing
whilst operating from a single supply. This
negative bias, at -3 volts, can also be used to
supply other external circuits.
The ZNBG3210/11 includes bias circuits to
drive up to three external FETs. A control
input to the device selects either one of two
FETs as operational using 0V gate switching
methodology, the third FET is permanently
active. This feature is particularly used as an
LNB polarisation switch. Also specific to LNB
applications is the enhanced 22kHz tone
detection and logic output feature which is
used to enable high and low band frequency
switching. The detector has been specifically
designed to reject inerference such as low
frequency signals and DiSEqC tone bursts
- without the use of additional external
components.
Drain current setting of the ZNBG3210/11 is
user selectable over the range 0 to 15mA, this
ZNBG3210
ZNBG3211
is achieved with the addition of a single
resistor. The series also offers the choice of
FET drain voltage, the 3210 gives 2.2 volts
drain whilst the 3211 gives 2 volts.
These devices are unconditionally stable
over the full working temperature with the
FETs in place, subject to the inclusion of the
recommended gate and drain capacitors.
These ensure RF stability and minimal
injected noise.
It is possible to use less than the devices full
complement of FET bias controls, unused
drain and gate connections can be left open
circuit without affecting operation of the
remaining bias circuits.
In order to protect the external FETs the
circuits have been designed to ensure that,
under any conditions including power
up/down transients, the gate drive from the
bias circuits cannot exceed the range -3.5V
to 1V. Furthermore if the negative rail
experiences a fault condition, such as
overload or short circuit, the drain supply to
the FETs will shut down avoiding excessive
current flow.
The ZNBG3210/11 are available in QSOP20
for the minimum in device size. Device
operating temperature is -40 to 70°C to suit
a wide range of environmental conditions.
FEATURES
APPLICATIONS
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Provides bias for GaAs and HEMT FETs
Drives up to three FETs
Dynamic FET protection
Drain current set by external resistor
Regulated negative rail generator
requires only 2 external capacitors
Choice in drain voltage
Wide supply voltage range
Polarisation switch for LNBs -
supporting zero volt gate switching
topology.
22kHz tone detection for band switching
Compliant with ASTRA control
specifications
QSOP surface mount package
67-1
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Satellite receiver LNBs
Private mobile radio (PMR)
Cellular telephones
ZETEX [ ZETEX SEMICONDUCTORS ]
