19-2872; Rev 3; 10/10

KIT
ATION
EVALU BL E
AVAILA
300MHz-to-450MHz Low-Power,
Crystal-Based ASK Transmitter
General Description Features

MAX1472
The MAX1472 is a crystal-referenced phase-locked o 2.1V to 3.6V Single-Supply Operation
loop (PLL) VHF/UHF transmitter designed to transmit
OOK/ASK data in the 300MHz to 450MHz frequency o Low 5.3mA Operating Supply Current*
range. The MAX1472 supports data rates up to o Supports ASK with 90dB Modulation Depth
100kbps, and adjustable output power to more than
+10dBm into a 50Ω load. The crystal-based architec- o Output Power Adjustable to More than +10dBm
ture of the MAX1472 eliminates many of the common o Uses Small Low-Cost Crystal
problems with SAW transmitters by providing greater
modulation depth, faster frequency settling, higher o Small 3mm  3mm 8-Pin SOT23 Package
tolerance of the transmit frequency, and reduced o Fast-On Oscillator 220µs Startup Time
temperature dependence. Combined, these improve-
ments enable better overall receiver performance when
using a superheterodyne receiver such as the MAX1470
or MAX1473.
The MAX1472 is available in a 3mm x 3mm 8-pin
SOT23 package and is specified for the automotive
(-40°C to +125°C) temperature range. An evaluation kit *At 50% duty cycle (315MHz, 2.7V supply, +10dBm output
is available. Contact Maxim Integrated Products for power)
more information.
Applications Ordering Information
Remote Keyless Entry TEMP PIN- TOP
PART
RF Remote Controls RANGE PACKAGE MARK
Tire Pressure Monitoring MAX1472AKA+T -40°C to +125°C 8 SOT23 AEKS
Security Systems +Denotes a lead(Pb)-free/RoHS-compliant package.
T = Tape and reel.
Radio-Controlled Toys
Wireless Game Consoles
Wireless Computer Peripherals
Wireless Sensors

Typical Application Circuit Pin Configuration

* TOP VIEW
+
1 XTAL1 XTAL2 8
+
3.0V
2 GND MAX1472 VDD 7 XTAL1 1 8 XTAL2

50Ω GND 2 7 VDD

ANTENNA 220pF 680pF MAX1472
3 PAGND DATA 6
DATA INPUT PAGND 3 6 DATA

4 PAOUT ENABLE 5 PAOUT 4 5 ENABLE

STANDBY OR
POWER-UP
SOT23

*Optional power adjust resistor.

________________________________________________________________ Maxim Integrated Products 1

For pricing, delivery, and ordering information, please contact Maxim Direct at 1-888-629-4642,
or visit Maxim’s website at www.maxim-ic.com.
 300MHz-to-450MHz Low-Power,
Crystal-Based ASK Transmitter
ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM RATINGS
MAX1472

VDD to GND ..........................................................-0.3V to +4.0V Operating Temperature Range .........................-40°C to +125°C

All Other Pins to GND ................................-0.3V to (VDD + 0.3V) Storage Temperature Range .............................-60°C to +150°C
Continuous Power Dissipation (TA = +70°C) Lead Temperature (soldering, 10s) .................................+300°C
8-Pin SOT23 (derate 8.9mW/°C above +70°C)............714mW Soldering Temperature (reflow) .......................................+260°C

Stresses beyond those listed under “Absolute Maximum Ratings” may cause permanent damage to the device. These are stress ratings only, and functional
operation of the device at these or any other conditions beyond those indicated in the operational sections of the specifications is not implied. Exposure to
absolute maximum rating conditions for extended periods may affect device reliability.

ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS
(Typical Application Circuit, output power is referenced to 50Ω, VDD = 2.1V to 3.6V, VENABLE = VDD, TA = -40°C to +125°C, unless
otherwise noted. Typical values are at VDD = 2.7V, TA = +25°C, unless otherwise noted.) (Note 1)
PARAMETER SYMBOL CONDITIONS MIN TYP MAX UNITS
SYSTEM PERFORMANCE
Supply Voltage VDD 2.1 3.6 V
VENABLE = VDD
5.3 9.4
(Note 2)
VENABLE = VDD,
fRF = 315MHz 9.1 16.6
VDATA = VDD
VENABLE = VDD,
1.5 2.3
VDATA = 0V
Supply Current IDD mA
VENABLE = VDD
5.7
(Note 2)
VENABLE = VDD,
fRF = 433MHz 9.6
VDATA = VDD
VENABLE = VDD,
1.7 2.7
VDATA = 0V
VENABLE < VIL, TA < +85°C (Note 3) 5 350 nA
Standby Current ISTDBY
VENABLE < VIL TA < +125°C (Note 3) 1.7 µA
Frequency Range fRF (Note 1) 300 450 MHz
Data Rate (Note 3) 0 100 kbps
Modulation Depth ON to OFF POUT ratio (Note 4) 90 dB
TA = +25°C, VDD = 2.7V (Notes 5, 6) 7.3 10.3 12.8
Output Power POUT TA = +125°C, VDD = 2.1V (Notes 5, 6) 3.3 6.0 dBm
TA = -40°C, VDD = 3.6V (Notes 5, 6) 13.7 16.2
To fOFFSET < 50kHz (Note 7) 220
Turn-On Time tON µs
To fOFFSET < 5kHz (Note 7) 450
fRF = 315MHz (Note 8) 43.6
Transmit Efficiency with CW %
fRF = 433MHz (Note 8) 41.3
Transmit Efficiency at 50% fRF = 315MHz (Note 9) 37.6
%
Duty Cycle fRF = 433MHz (Note 9) 35.1

2 _______________________________________________________________________________________
 300MHz-to-450MHz Low-Power,
Crystal-Based ASK Transmitter
ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS (continued)

MAX1472
(Typical Application Circuit, output power is referenced to 50Ω, VDD = 2.1V to 3.6V, VENABLE = VDD, TA = -40°C to +125°C, unless
otherwise noted. Typical values are at VDD = 2.7V, TA = +25°C, unless otherwise noted.) (Note 1)
PARAMETER SYMBOL CONDITIONS MIN TYP MAX UNITS
PHASE-LOCKED LOOP PERFORMANCE
VCO Gain 330 MHz/V
fOFFSET =100kHz -84
fRF = 315MHz
fOFFSET = 1MHz -91
Phase Noise dBc/Hz
fOFFSET =100kHz -82
fRF = 433MHz
fOFFSET = 1MHz -89
fRF = 315MHz -50
Maximum Carrier Harmonics dBc
fRF = 433MHz -50
fRF = 315MHz -75
Reference Spur dBc
fRF = 433MHz -81
Loop Bandwidth 1.6 MHz
Crystal Frequency fXTAL fRF / 32 MHz
Oscillator Input Impedance From each XTAL pin to GND 6.2 pF
Frequency Pushing by VDD 3 ppm/V
DIGITAL INPUTS
Data Input High VIH VDD - 0.25 V
Data Input Low VIL 0.25 V
Maximum Input Current 2 nA
Pulldown Current 25 µA
Note 1: 100% tested at TA = +25°C. Guaranteed by design and characterization over temperature.
Note 2: 50% duty cycle at 10kHz data.
Note 3: Guaranteed by design and characterization, not production tested.
Note 4: Generally limited by PC board layout.
Note 5: Output power can be adjusted with external resistor.
Note 6: Guaranteed by design and characterization at fRF = 315MHz.
Note 7: VENABLE < VIL to VENABLE > VIH. fOFFSET is defined as the frequency deviation from the desired carrier frequency.
Note 8: VENABLE > VIH, VDATA > VIH, Efficiency = POUT/(VDD x IDD).
Note 9: VENABLE > VIH, DATA toggled from VIL to VIH, 10kHz, 50% duty cycle, Efficiency = POUT/(VDD x IDD).

_______________________________________________________________________________________ 3
 300MHz-to-450MHz Low-Power,
Crystal-Based ASK Transmitter
Typical Operating Characteristics
MAX1472

(Typical Application Circuit, VDD = 2.7V, TA = +25°C, unless otherwise noted.)

SUPPLY CURRENT vs. SUPPLY VOLTAGE SUPPLY CURRENT vs. SUPPLY VOLTAGE SUPPLY CURRENT vs. SUPPLY VOLTAGE
13 1.9 13

MAX1472 toc01

MAX1472 toc02

MAX1472 toc03
VENABLE = VIH, VENABLE = VIH, +125°C VENABLE = VIH,
12 VDATA = VIH, 1.8 VDATA = VIL, 12 VDATA = VIH,
+25°C
fRF = 315MHz fRF = 315MHz fRF = 433MHz
11 1.7 11
SUPPLY CURRENT (mA)

SUPPLY CURRENT (mA)

SUPPLY CURRENT (mA)

+85°C -40°C
-40°C +25°C
10 1.6 10
+125°C
9 1.5 9 +85°C
+85°C
8 1.4 8 +125°C
-40°C
7 1.3 7
+25°C
6 1.2 6

5 1.1 5
2.0 2.4 2.8 3.2 3.6 2.0 2.4 2.8 3.2 3.6 2.0 2.4 2.8 3.2 3.6
SUPPLY VOLTAGE (V) SUPPLY VOLTAGE (V) SUPPLY VOLTAGE (V)

SUPPLY CURRENT vs. SUPPLY VOLTAGE OUTPUT POWER vs. SUPPLY VOLTAGE OUTPUT POWER vs. SUPPLY VOLTAGE
2.2 14 14
MAX1472 toc04

MAX1472 toc06
VENABLE = VIH, +125°C VENABLE = VIH, MAX1472 toc05 VENABLE = VIH,
VDATA = VIL, 13 VDATA = VIH, 13 VDATA = VIH,
fRF = 433MHz +85°C fRF = 315MHz -25°C fRF = 433MHz
2.0 +25°C
12 12
SUPPLY CURRENT (mA)

OUTPUT POWER (dBm)

OUTPUT POWER (dBm)

11 -40°C
11 -40°C
1.8
10
+125°C 10 +125°C
9
1.6 +85°C 9
-40°C
8 +85°C
+25°C 8
1.4 7

6 7

1.2 5 6
2.0 2.4 2.8 3.2 3.6 2.0 2.4 2.8 3.2 3.6 2.0 2.4 2.8 3.2 3.6
SUPPLY VOLTAGE (V) SUPPLY VOLTAGE (V) SUPPLY VOLTAGE (V)

REFERENCE SPUR MAGNITUDE FREQUENCY STABILITY TRANSMIT POWER EFFICIENCY

vs. SUPPLY VOLTAGE vs. SUPPLY VOLTAGE vs. SUPPLY VOLTAGE
-65 2 55
MAX1472 toc08
MAX1472 toc07

MAX1472 toc09

-67
1 50 -40°C
-69
OFFSET FREQUENCY (ppm)
REFERENCE SPUR (dBc)

-71 +25°C
0 45
EFFICIENCY (%)

-73
-75 315MHz -1 315MHz 40
433MHz
-77
-2 35
-79 433MHz +125°C
+85°C
-81
-3 30
-83 CW OUTPUT
fRF = 315MHz
-85 -4 25
2.0 2.4 2.8 3.2 3.6 2.0 2.4 2.8 3.2 3.6 2.0 2.4 2.8 3.2 3.6
SUPPLY VOLTAGE (V) SUPPLY VOLTAGE (V) SUPPLY VOLTAGE (V)

4 _______________________________________________________________________________________
 300MHz-to-450MHz Low-Power,
Crystal-Based ASK Transmitter
Typical Operating Characteristics (continued)

MAX1472
(Typical Application Circuit, VDD = 2.7V, TA = +25°C, unless otherwise noted.)

TRANSMIT POWER EFFICIENCY TRANSMIT POWER EFFICIENCY TRANSMIT POWER EFFICIENCY

vs. SUPPLY VOLTAGE vs. SUPPLY VOLTAGE vs. SUPPLY VOLTAGE
50 50 45

MAX1472 toc12
MAX1472 toc10

MAX1472 toc11
-40°C +25°C
45 -40°C
45 40 +25°C
+25°C -40°C
40

EFFICIENCY (%)
EFFICIENCY (%)

EFFICIENCY (%)

40 35

+125°C 35
+125°C
35 30
+85°C 30 +85°C
+125°C
30 +85°C OOK OUTPUT AT 25 OOK OUTPUT AT
CW OUTPUT 25
50% DUTY CYCLE 50% DUTY CYCLE
fRF = 433MHz
fRF = 315MHz fRF = 433MHz
25 20 20
2.0 2.4 2.8 3.2 3.6 2.0 2.4 2.8 3.2 3.6 2.0 2.4 2.8 3.2 3.6
SUPPLY VOLTAGE (V) SUPPLY VOLTAGE (V) SUPPLY VOLTAGE (V)

SUPPLY CURRENT AND OUTPUT POWER

PHASE NOISE vs. OFFSET FREQUENCY vs. EXTERNAL RESISTOR SUPPLY CURRENT vs. OUTPUT POWER
MAX1472 toc14
-40 12 12 10

MAX1472 toc15
MAX1472 toc13

fRF = 315MHz fRF = 315MHz

-50 POWER 9
10 10
-60
8
SUPPLY CURRENT (mA)
PHASE NOISE (dBc/Hz)

SUPPLY CURRENT (mA)

OUTPUT POWER (dBm)

-70
8 CURRENT 8
-80 7
CW
-90 6 6 6
-100 5
4 4
-110
4
-120 50% DUTY CYCLE
2 2
-130 3

-140 0 0 2
10 100 1k 10k 100k 1M 10M 0.1 1 10 100 1000 0 2 4 6 8 10
fOFFSET (Hz) EXTERNAL RESISTOR (Ω) OUTPUT POWER (dBm)

FREQUENCY SETTLING TIME AM DEMODULATION OF PA OUTPUT

MAX1472 toc16 MAX1472 toc17

DATA RATE
= 100kHz
ENABLE
25kHz/div
TRANSITION
FROM LOW
TO HIGH

START: 0s 1ms 15%/div

ENABLE
2.5kHz/div TRANSITION
FROM LOW
TO HIGH

START: 0s 1ms
START: 0s STOP: 20µs

_______________________________________________________________________________________ 5
 300MHz-to-450MHz Low-Power,
Crystal-Based ASK Transmitter
Pin Description
MAX1472

PIN NAME FUNCTION

1 XTAL1 1st Crystal Input. fRF = 32 x fXTAL.
2 GND Ground. Connect to system ground.
3 PAGND Ground for the Power Amplifier (PA). Connect to system ground.
Power-Amplifier Output. This output requires a pullup inductor to the supply voltage, which may be part
4 PAOUT
of the output-matching network to a 50Ω antenna.
5 ENABLE Standby/Power-Up Input. A logic low on ENABLE places the device in standby mode.
6 DATA OOK Data Input. Power amplifier is ON when DATA is high.
7 VDD Supply Voltage. Bypass to GND with capacitor as close to the pin as possible.
8 XTAL2 2nd Crystal Input. fRF = 32 x fXTAL.

Detailed Description Power Amplifier (PA)

The PA of the MAX1472 is a high-efficiency, open-drain,
The MAX1472 is a highly integrated OOK/ASK transmit-
switch-mode amplifier. With proper output matching net-
ter operating over the 300MHz to 450MHz frequency
work, the PA can drive a wide range of impedances,
range. The IC includes a complete PLL and a highly
including the small-loop PC board trace antenna and
efficient PA. The device can also be easily placed into
any 50Ω antenna. The output-matching network for a
a 5nA low-power shutdown mode.
50Ω antenna is shown in the Typical Application Circuit.
Shutdown Mode The output-matching network suppresses the carrier har-
The ENABLE pin is internally pulled down with a 15µA monics and transforms the antenna impedance to an
current source. If the pin is left unconnected or pulled optimal impedance at PAOUT (pin 4), which is about
low, the MAX1472 goes into shutdown mode, where the 250Ω .
supply current drops to less than 5nA. When ENABLE When the output matching network is properly tuned,
is high, the IC is enabled and is ready for transmission the PA transmits power with high efficiency. The Typical
after 220µs (frequency settles to within 50kHz). Application Circuit delivers 10.3dBm at 2.7V supply with
The 220µs turn-on time of the MAX1472 is mostly domi- 9.1mA of supply current. Thus, the overall efficiency is
nated by the crystal oscillator startup time. Once the 44%. The efficiency of the PA itself is more than 52%.
oscillator is running, the 1.6MHz PLL loop bandwidth
allows fast-frequency recovery during power-amplifier
Applications Information
toggling. Output Power Adjustment
It is possible to adjust the output power down to
Phase-Locked Loop -10dBm with the addition of a resistor. The addition of
The PLL block contains a phase detector, charge the power-adjust resistor also reduces power con-
pump, integrated loop filter, VCO, 32X clock divider, sumption. See the Supply Current and Output Power
and crystal oscillator. This PLL requires no external vs. External Resistor and Supply Current vs. Output
components, other than a crystal. The relationship Power graphs in the Typical Operating Characteristics
between the carrier and crystal frequency is given by: section. It is imperative to add both a low-frequency
fXTAL = fRF / 32 and a high-frequency decoupling capacitor as shown
The lock-detect circuit prevents the PA from transmit- in the Typical Application Circuit.
ting until the PLL is locked. In addition, the device shuts
down the PA if the reference frequency is lost.

6 _______________________________________________________________________________________
 300MHz-to-450MHz Low-Power,
Crystal-Based ASK Transmitter
Crystal Oscillator Output Matching to 50Ω

MAX1472
The crystal oscillator in the MAX1472 is designed to When matched to a 50Ω system, the MAX1472 PA is
present a capacitance of approximately 3.1pF between capable of delivering more than +10dBm of output
the XTAL1 and XTAL2 pins. If a crystal designed to power at VDD = 2.7V. The output of the PA is an open-
oscillate with a different load capacitance is used, the drain transistor that requires external impedance
crystal is pulled away from its intended operating fre- matching and pullup inductance for proper biasing.
quency, thus introducing an error in the reference fre- The pullup inductance from PA to VDD serves three
quency. Crystals designed to operate with higher main purposes: It resonates the capacitance of the PA
differential load capacitance always pull the reference output, provides biasing for the PA, and becomes a
frequency higher. For example, a 9.84375MHz crystal high-frequency choke to reduce the RF energy cou-
designed to operate with a 10pF load capacitance pling into VDD. The recommended output-matching net-
oscillates at 9.84688MHz with the MAX1472, causing work topology is shown in the Typical Application
the transmitter to be transmitting at 315.1MHz rather Circuit. The matching network transforms the 50Ω load
than 315.0MHz, an error of about 100kHz, or 320ppm. to a higher impedance at the output of the PA in addi-
In actuality, the oscillator pulls every crystal. The crys- tion to forming a bandpass filter that provides attenua-
tal’s natural frequency is really below its specified fre- tion for the higher order harmonics.
quency, but when loaded with the specified load Output Matching to PC Board Loop
capacitance, the crystal is pulled and oscillates at its Antenna
specified frequency. This pulling is already accounted In most applications, the MAX1472 PA output has to be
for in the specification of the load capacitance. impedance matched to a small-loop antenna. The
Additional pulling can be calculated if the electrical antenna is usually fabricated out of a copper trace on a
parameters of the crystal are known. The frequency PC board in a rectangular, circular, or square pattern.
pulling is given by: The antenna has an impedance that consists of a lossy
component and a radiative component. To achieve
Cm ⎛ 1 1 ⎞ 6
high radiating efficiency, the radiative component
fp = ⎜ − ⎟ × 10 should be as high as possible, while minimizing the
2 ⎝ Ccase + Cload Ccase + Cspec ⎠ lossy component. In addition, the loop antenna has an
inherent loop inductance associated with it (assuming
where: the antenna is terminated to ground). For example, in a
typical application, the radiative impedance is less than
fp is the amount the crystal frequency is pulled in ppm. 0.5Ω, the lossy impedance is less than 0.7Ω, and the
Cm is the motional capacitance of the crystal. inductance is approximately 50nH to 100nH.
Ccase is the case capacitance. The objective of the matching network is to match the
Cspec is the specified load capacitance. PA output to the small loop antenna. The matching
components thus transform the low radiative and resis-
Cload is the actual load capacitance. tive parts of the antenna into the much higher value of
When the crystal is loaded as specified, i.e., Cload = the PA output, which gives higher efficiency. The low
Cspec, the frequency pulling equals zero. radiative and lossy components of the small loop anten-
na result in a higher Q matching network than the 50Ω
network; thus, the harmonics are lower.

_______________________________________________________________________________________ 7
 300MHz-to-450MHz Low-Power,
Crystal-Based ASK Transmitter
Layout Considerations Functional Diagram
MAX1472

A properly designed PC board is an essential part of

any RF/microwave circuit. On the PA output, use con-
trolled-impedance lines and keep them as short as
possible to minimize losses and radiation. At high fre- DATA AND
ENABLE
quencies, trace lengths that are on the order of λ/10 or GATE
longer can act as antennas. VDD

Keeping the traces short also reduces parasitic induc- MAX1472

tance. Generally, 1in of PC board trace adds about PA PAOUT
20nH of parasitic inductance. The parasitic inductance
can have a dramatic effect on the effective inductance.
For example, a 0.5in trace connecting a 100nH induc- PAGND
tor adds an extra 10nH of inductance, or 10%. LOCK DETECT 32 x PLL
To reduce the parasitic inductance, use wider traces GND
and a solid ground or power plane below the signal
XTAL1 CRYSTAL-
traces. Using a solid ground plane can reduce the par- OSCILLATOR
asitic inductance from approximately 20nH/in to 7nH/in. XTAL2 DRIVER
Also, use low-inductance connections to ground on all
GND pins, and place decoupling capacitors close to all
VDD connections.

Chip Information Package Information

PROCESS: CMOS For the latest package outline information and land patterns,
go to www.maxim-ic.com/packages. Note that a “+”, “#”, or
“-” in the package code indicates RoHS status only. Package
drawings may show a different suffix character, but the drawing
pertains to the package regardless of RoHS status.

PACKAGE PACKAGE LAND

OUTLINE NO.
TYPE CODE PATTERN NO.
8 SOT23 K8SN+1 21-0078 90-0176

8 _______________________________________________________________________________________
 300MHz-to-450MHz Low-Power,
Crystal-Based ASK Transmitter
Revision History

MAX1472
REVISION REVISION PAGES
DESCRIPTION
NUMBER DATE CHANGED
1 4/05 — —
Updated EC table Max supply currents, added lead-free note, and corrected
2 6/09 1, 2, 3, 6, 8
Electrical Characteristics notes
Removed Maximum Crystal Inductance spec from Electrical Characteristics
3 10/10 3
table

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implied. Maxim reserves the right to change the circuitry and specifications without notice at any time.

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