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RF5163
Rev A12 DS061114
7628 Thorndike Road, Greensboro, NC 27409-9421 · For sales or technical
support, contact RFMD at (+1) 336-678-5570 or sales-support@rfmd.com.
Theory of Operation and Application Information
RF5163PCBA Evaluation Board
The RF5163 is a two-stage device with a nominal gain of 20dB in the 2.4GHz to 2.5GHz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical
(ISM) band. The RF5163 is designed primarily for fixed IEEE802.11g/n WLAN applications requiring exceptionally linear RF
output powers of +23dBm to +28dBm.
The RF5163 requires a single positive supply of 5.0V nominal to operate to full specifications. Power control is provided
through two (2) separate and independent methods. The first method is through two (2) bias control pins (VREG1 and VREG2). In
most applications, both VREG1 and VREG2 are tied together and used as a single control input. The second method is through
the use of a dedicated Power Down (P_Down) pin. Applying less than (<) 0.6VDC to the RF5163 P_Down pin fully turns “ON”
both VCC and VCC1 power circuits. Applying 2.5VDC to 3.5VDC to the RF5163 P_Down pin fully turns “OFF” both VCC and VCC1 cir-
cuits. Turning the RF5163 “ON” and/or “OFF” by using the P_Down pin is accomplished without regard to system voltage regu-
lator turn-on and turn-off settling time restraints.
There is some external matching on the input and output of the RF5163, thus allowing the RF5163 to be used in other applica-
tions outside the 2.4GHz to 2.5GHz ISM band (such as IEEE802.16d/e in the 2.3GHz band). Both the input and output of the
device require a series DC-blocking capacitor. In some cases, a capacitor used as a matching component can also serve as the
blocking cap. The circuits used on the RF5163PCBA and RF5163PCBA-WD Evaluation Boards are optimized for VCC=+5.0VDC
operation.
The RF5163 is not difficult to implement, however, care in printed circuit board layout and component selection is highly rec-
ommended when implementing 2.5GHz capable circuits. Critical passive components in the RF5163PCBA Evaluation Board
circuit are interstage and output matching components (C13, C15, and C16). In these cases, high-Q (Quality factor) capacitors
suitable for RF application are used on the evaluation board (an evaluation board bill of material (BOM) is available upon
request). High-Q components are not required in every design, but it is strongly recommended that the initial design be imple-
mented with the same components used on the RF5163PCBA Evaluation Board. After establishing initial baseline perfor-
mance, less costly components may be substituted to evaluate performance impact.
The input matching inductor L1 and the DC blocking capacitor C14 helps to tune the peak of the small-signal gain response as
well as improve the linearity of the PA. The input impedance of the PA will not be 50
Ω with this input match so do not use a
Smith Chart for guidance for value selection and parts placement. With a 50
Ω input into the input match as shown on the
Evaluation Board schematic, the PA will perform as expected with an expected input return loss of ~-2dB. The input L1 should
be placed with reference to the position as shown on the RF5163PCBA Evaluation Board schematic.
The interstage matching capacitor, C13, along with the combined inductance of the internal bond wire, the short length of cir-
cuit board trace, and the parasitic inductance of the capacitor, tunes the peak of the small-signal gain response. The trace
length between C13 and RF5163 pins 14 and 15 should be kept as close to the evaluation board schematic as possible.
The output matching capacitors are C15 and C16. These capacitors are placed with reference to position along transmission
line segments TL1 and TL2, as shown on the RF5163PCBA Evaluation Board schematic. These segments should be duplicated
as closely as possible. Due to variations in FR-4 characteristics and PCB manufacturer process variations, some benefit is
obtained from small adjustments to TL1 and TL2 length when the evaluation board is duplicated. Prior to full scale manufactur-
ing, the board layout of early prototypes should include some additional exposed ground areas around C15 and C16 to opti-
mize this part of the circuit. The AC coupling capacitor, C10, may be placed very close to C15. The output match is complete at
C15.
R3 at RF5163 pin 4 (P_Detect) desensitizes the P_Detect line from the value of C12. Without R3, the value of C12 may affect
error vector magnitude (EVM) under certain operational conditions.
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