ZNBG3116

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 ZNBG series 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 -2.8 volts, can also be used to supply other external circuits.

The ZNBG3115/16 includes bias circuits to drive up to three external FETs. A control input to the device selects either one of two FETs as operational, the third FET is permanently active. This feature of ZNBG series  is normally used as an LNB polarisation switch. Also specific to Universal LNB applications is the 22kHz tone detection and logic output feature which is used to enable high and low band frequency switching. The ZNBG3115/16 has been designed to cope with DiSEqC™ ready set top boxes and rejects all transients from channel switching. Drain current setting of the ZNBG3115/16 is user selectable over the range 0 to 15mA, this is achieved with addition of a single resistor. The series also offers the choice of drain voltage to be set for the FETs, the 3115 gives 2.2 volts drain whilst the 3116 gives 2 volts.

These ZNBG series 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.

ZNBG series 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. 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.  Additionally each stage has its own individual current limiter. 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 ZNBG3115/16 are available in QSOP16 and QSOP20 for the minimum in device size. Device operating temperature is -40 to 80°C to suit a wide range of environmental conditions.