BF R38 0F

Dri v er A m pl i fier fo r 434 M Hz I S M-

Ban d A ppl i c ati ons

Appl i c ati o n N ote A N 196

Revision: Rev1.1
2010-09-28

RF and P r otec ti on D evi c es

Edition 2010-09-28
Published by
Infineon Technologies AG
81726 Munich, Germany
2010 Infineon Technologies AG
All Rights Reserved.

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 BFR380F
Driver Amplifer for 434 MHz ISM-Band Applications

Application Note AN196

Revision History: 2010-09-28
Previous Revision: Rev1.0
Page Subjects (major changes since last revision)
6 Table 2 updated

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Last Trademarks Update 2009-10-19

Application Note AN196, Rev1.1 3 / 17 2010-09-28

 BFR380F
Driver Amplifer for 434 MHz ISM-Band Applications

List of Content, Figures and Tables

Table of Content
1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................5
2 Typical Measurement Results.........................................................................................................10
3 Measured Graphs .............................................................................................................................11
4 Evaluation Board and layout Information......................................................................................15
Authors..............................................................................................................................................16

List of Figures
Figure 1 BFR380F in TSFP-3 Package..............................................................................................................5
Figure 1 Applications for HomeSolutions (Home Comfort, Control and Security) ...........................................7
Figure 2 Schematic for Home Control application at 434 MHz application (operator side) ...............................8
Figure 3 Schematics of the application circuit ....................................................................................................9
Figure 4 Insertion power gain of the BFR380F driver for 434 MHz application ...............................................11
Figure 5 Input 1dB Compression point of the BFR380F driver for 434 MHz application .................................11
Figure 6 Input matching of the BFR380F driver for 434 MHz application ........................................................12
Figure 7 Output matching of the BFR380F driver for 434 MHz application .....................................................12
Figure 8 Reverse isolation of the BFR380F driver for 434 MHz application ....................................................13
Figure 9 Stability K-factor of the BFR380F driver for 434 MHz application .....................................................13
rd
Figure 10 3 order intercept point of the BFR380F driver for 434 MHz application ..........................................14
Figure 11 Photo Picture of Evaluation Board .....................................................................................................15
Figure 12 PCB Layer Information .......................................................................................................................15

List of Tables
Table 1 Pin definition.........................................................................................................................................5
Table 2 Infineons bipolar transistors for different driver applications ...............................................................6
Table 3 Applications for Industrial-Solutions ( Industrial automation) ...............................................................7
Table 4 Bill-of-Materials.....................................................................................................................................9
Table 5 Summary of Measurement results (at room temperature) .................................................................10

Application Note AN196, Rev1.1 4 / 17 2010-09-28

 BFR380F
Driver Amplifer for 434 MHz ISM-Band Applications

Introduction

1 Introduction

1.1 Features
High linearity driver amplifier
Output 1dB compression point 16.4 dBm
at 434 MHz
Pb-free (RoHS compliant) package
Qualified according to AEC Q101

Figure 1 BFR380F in TSFP-3 Package

1.2 Applications

The BFR380F from Infineon Technologies is a bipolar Transistor dedicated for high linearity
applications. Packaged into a TSFP-3 Package, this transistor is easy-to-use for the
designs. The pin configuration is shown in Table 1.

Table 1 Pin definition

Pin Pin name Comments
1 B Base of the BFR380F transistor
2 E Emitter of the BFR380F transistor
3 C Collector of the BFR380F transistor

Additionally, Infineon offers a range of other transistors which can be used either as a driver or a
second stage amplifier. Table 2 presents different bipolar transistors and their different applications
as driver amplifiers.

Application Note AN196, Rev1.1 5 / 17 2010-09-28

 BFR380F
Driver Amplifer for 434 MHz ISM-Band Applications

Introduction

Table 2 Infineons bipolar transistors for different driver applications

Application Frequency / MHz BFR380F BFP450 BFP650 BFP750
FM 78 110 X
VHF 170 470 X
UHF 470 880 X X
ISM 434 / 868 X X
GSM 900 X
DECT 1900 X
SDARS 2330 X X
WiMax Low 2300 2700 X X
WiMax Middle 3300 3700 X X
5.8 GHz Cordless Phone 5800 X

Thus, the BFR380F component fits to many applications related to signal reception/transmission like
industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) applications. On those conditions of use, the transmission
module needs high output power and moreover, high linearity in order to achieve the ISM standards
requirements.

1.3 Using the BFR380F in Home- or Industrial Applications

For example you can use the Infineons BFR380F as a Short Range Device (SRD). SRDs are
required for applications over short distances where low power transmission of informations is
needed. Two large areas of application of SRDs using IMD-Bands are the fields of Home-and
Industrial-solutions for example. So there are many applications in those fields. You could have a look
for some applications for Home-Solutions in Figure 1 and for Industrial-Solutions in Table 3.

In summary, SRDs are made specifially for wireless or radio applications with limited ranges. Often in
such cases you have small data transmissions with confirming the relevant specification to supply low
cost but effective solutions transferring the informations which are necessary. Normal standards like
802.11 or 802.15 and other specifications are ideal for many applications, but SRDs are using
proprietary radio designs which are without the overheads of the protocol stack. So if you work with
SRDs you dont need to test the conformance in such a high level like Zigbee or Bluetooth.
Correspondingly, developments with SRDs may be a better solution of many applications of radio
frequency.

Application Note AN196, Rev1.1 6 / 17 2010-09-28

 BFR380F
Driver Amplifer for 434 MHz ISM-Band Applications

Introduction

Figure 1 Applications for HomeSolutions (Home Comfort, Control and Security)

Table 3 Applications for Industrial-Solutions ( Industrial automation)

- manufacturing production processes
- oil and gas production
- electric power generation and distribution
- water and wastewater treatment

This documentation presents the BFR380F performances in a driver configuration for 434
MHz applications (Figure 2). This structure can also be used for ISM-band 868 MHz
applications.

Application Note AN196, Rev1.1 7 / 17 2010-09-28

 BFR380F
Driver Amplifer for 434 MHz ISM-Band Applications

Introduction

Figure 2 Schematic for Home Control application at 434 MHz application (operator side)

This documentation presents BFR380Fs performance in a driver configuration for 434 MHz ISM-
Band applications (please refer to the Table 5 for results). The application circuit of the driver
BFR380F for using the 434 MHz ISM-Band is defined on the Figure 3.

The circuit provides a Gain of about 23.2 dB at 434 MHz. The output 1dB compression point is
located at 16.4 dBm (using a power sweep from -30 dBm to 0 dBm at input). The measurements are
made in reference to input and output of the amplifier (filter and cable losses substracted).

The input and output are matched to 50 and present an input return loss of about 10 dB and an
output return loss of nearly 30 dB. The device BFR380F is unconditionally stable from DC to 10 GHz.
Concerning the small signal linearity, the output 3rd order intercept point of the application reaches
21.7 dBm (using two tones spaced 1 MHz at 434 MHz).

Application Note AN196, Rev1.1 8 / 17 2010-09-28

 BFR380F
Driver Amplifer for 434 MHz ISM-Band Applications

Introduction

2. Application Information
1.4 Schematics

Figure 3 Schematics of the application circuit

Table 4 Bill-of-Materials
Symbol Value Unit Size Manufacturer Comment
C1 69 pF 0402 Various Input Matching/DC Block
C2 100 nF 0402 Various RF signal to ground
C3 100 nF 0402 Various RF signal to ground
C4 6 nF 0402 Various Output Matching/ DC Block
L1 6.2 nH 0402 Murata LQG series Input Matching/DC Block
L2 12 nH 0402 Murata LQG series Output Matching/DC Block
R1 5.1 k 0402 Various Base current settings
R2 2.2 0402 Various Stability
Q BFR380F TSFP-3 Infineon Technologies SiGe C: bipolar transistor

Application Note AN196, Rev1.1 9 / 17 2010-09-28

 BFR380F
Driver Amplifer for 434 MHz ISM-Band Applications

Typical Measurement Results

2 Typical Measurement Results

Table 5 Summary of Measurement results (at room temperature)

Vcc=3V, Ic=56mA, freq=434MHz
Parameter Symbol Value Unit Comment/Test Condition
Frequency Range Freq 434 MHz
DC Voltage Vcc 3 V
DC Current Icc 56 mA
Gain G 23.2 dB
Input P1dB IP1dB 5.8 dBm Input Power sweep from Pin=-300 dBm
Output P1dB OP1dB 16.4 dBm
Input Return Loss RLin 9.5 dB Input Power Pin=-30 dBm
Output Return Loss RLout 21.8 dB
Reverse Isolation IRev 29 dB
Input IP3 IIP3 1.5 dBm
Output IP3 OIP3 21.7 dBm Pin=-30 dBm, f1=433.5 MHz, f2=434.5 MHz
Noise Figure NF 3.3 dB
Stability k >1.1 -- Unconditionnally stable from 0 to 10 GHz
Note: the measurements showed in Table 3 are including the PCB and SMA losses of 0.1dB.

Application Note AN196, Rev1.1 10 / 17 2010-09-28

 BFR380F
Driver Amplifer for 434 MHz ISM-Band Applications

Measured Graphs

3 Measured Graphs

Insertion Power Gain

30
434 MHz
23.21 dB

20

10

0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000
Frequency (MHz)

Figure 4 Insertion power gain of the BFR380F driver for 434 MHz application

Figure 5 Input 1dB Compression point of the BFR380F driver for 434 MHz application

Application Note AN196, Rev1.1 11 / 17 2010-09-28

 BFR380F
Driver Amplifer for 434 MHz ISM-Band Applications

Measured Graphs

Input Matching
0

-5

434 MHz
-9.771 dB
-10

-15
100 600 1100 1600 2100 2600 3100 3600 4100 4600 5000
Frequency (MHz)

Figure 6 Input matching of the BFR380F driver for 434 MHz application

Output Matching
0

-5

-10

-15

434 MHz
-20 -22.25 dB

-25

-30
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000
Frequency (MHz)

Figure 7 Output matching of the BFR380F driver for 434 MHz application

Application Note AN196, Rev1.1 12 / 17 2010-09-28

 BFR380F
Driver Amplifer for 434 MHz ISM-Band Applications

Measured Graphs

Reverse Isolation
0

-10

-20
434 MHz
-29.01 dB

-30

-40

-50
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000 5500 6000
Frequency (MHz)

Figure 8 Reverse isolation of the BFR380F driver for 434 MHz application

Figure 9 Stability K-factor of the BFR380F driver for 434 MHz application

Application Note AN196, Rev1.1 13 / 17 2010-09-28

 BFR380F
Driver Amplifer for 434 MHz ISM-Band Applications

Measured Graphs

rd
Figure 10 3 order intercept point of the BFR380F driver for 434 MHz application

Application Note AN196, Rev1.1 14 / 17 2010-09-28

 BFR380F
Driver Amplifer for 434 MHz ISM-Band Applications

Evaluation Board and layout Information

4 Evaluation Board and layout Information

Figure 11 Photo Picture of Evaluation Board

Figure 12 PCB Layer Information

Application Note AN196, Rev1.1 15 / 17 2010-09-28

 BFR380F
Driver Amplifer for 434 MHz ISM-Band Applications

Authors

Authors
Andr Dewai, RF Engineer of Business Unit RF and Protection Devices
Dietmar Stolz, Staff engineer of Business Unit RF and Protection Devices

Application Note AN196, Rev1.1 16 / 17 2010-09-28

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Published by Infineon Technologies AG AN196