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LMX2581: harmonic outputs are hi and affecting my demod image rejection

Part Number: LMX2581

I am running differential outputs with 50 ohm pullups and driving into a demod chip that has input imped of 100 ohms. At 750M I'm measuring a high second harmonic level of -10dBc. I am only getting 18dB image rejection from the demod and I believe it is these harmonics that are creating the issue. Page 7 in the data sheet shows typical 2nd harmonic level of -25dBc. I'm using output A and output B is disabled. Is this performance to be expected? Is there anything I can do to reduce the harmonic content in the output? Would using the inductor give better harmonic performance? My system needs to tune from 740 to 2400M.

  • Hi Charles,

    We have paged our device expert, he will get back to you next week.

    Best,

    Evan Su

  • Charles,

    I measured this a while ago, but got much better results than -10 dBc.

    Regards,

    Dean

  • Thanks for responding Dean,

    -15dBc is still a ways from the -25dBc in the data sheet . Also, not sure I would consider -15 much better than -10. How did you measure this? Single ended or differential. I measured single ended so that may account for some of it since differential should cancel some of the second harmonic..

    Same questions:

    Is there anything I can do to reduce the harmonic content in the output? Are there any hidden registers where I can change the bias on the output drivers? Would using the inductor give better harmonic performance?

  • Hi Charles,

    Datasheet specifies the 2nd harmonic at 2700MHz. 

    Dean's data is showing similar harmonic at 2700MHz. At 750MHz, it is around, maybe 23dBc. 

    We measured output power and harmonic single-ended with the unused terminal (either P or M) AC-coupled to ground via 50Ω resistor.

    Harmonic is not controllable in register, there is no register we can use to tweak the harmonic.

    Your application requires 740M-2400MHz, inductor pull-up is not practical.

  • I misread his chart before. Yes, the blue line does look better. Any idea of why I might be seeing such a high 2nd harmonic relative to what you are measuring? Any suggestions on what might be causing this?

  • Charles,

    From the measurements I took, I used 50 ohm pull-up with no special modifications.  2nd harmonic relates to variation from an ideal 50% duty cycle. 

    My results showed that the optimal 2nd harmonic level was for around a setting of OUT_PWR=20.    So you might try tinkering with this field.