Peregrine Semiconductor Expands Family of High-Linearity, Low Insertion Loss SPDT RF Switches

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation (NASDAQ: PSMI), a fabless provider of high-performance radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs), today announced the expansion of its high-linearity, low insertion loss RF switch family with the availability of the HaRP™ technology-enhanced SPDT PE42422 RF switch. The new switch provides linearity of 115 dBm IIP2, and 70 dBm IIP3; low insertion loss of 0.4 dB @ 3 GHz, and high isolation of 28 dB @ 3 GHz, enabling better overall system performance. The switch covers a wide frequency range of 100 MHz – 6 GHz and, using a nominal +3V power-supply voltage, a typical input 0.1 dB compression point of +36 dBm can be achieved. The PE42422 switch is available in a space-saving 2 x 2 mm QFN package, making it well suited for general-purpose RF switching applications, such as filter-bank switching in test equipment and base stations.

“By supporting frequencies up to 6 GHz, with high linearity, low insertion loss, and availability in the small, 2 x 2 mm QFN package, the PE42422 switch meets these requirements.”

The 50 Ohm, reflective PE42422 switch features on-chip, low-voltage CMOS control logic and a wide operating voltage range of 2.3 – 5.5V, enabling it to be used in a variety of ways. ESD performance of 4 kV HBM for RF pin to ground simplifies manufacturing and improves product reliability. Additionally, with low power consumption of 120 microamperes (typical), the PE42422 switch helps to extend battery life in portable devices.

“As data rates continue to increase, RF designs are becoming more complex, and RF designers require high-linearity, low-loss switches in small packages,” said Mark Schrepferman, director of marketing for Peregrine Semiconductor’s High-Performance Solutions business unit. “By supporting frequencies up to 6 GHz, with high linearity, low insertion loss, and availability in the small, 2 x 2 mm QFN package, the PE42422 switch meets these requirements.”

Development Tool Support

For engineers wanting to evaluate the PE42422 switch, Peregrine Semiconductor also announced the PE42422 Evaluation Kit (part # EK42422-01, $95.00), today. The kit can be ordered now, from Peregrine’s global direct sales representatives and worldwide distribution partners.

Packaging, Pricing & Availability

The PE42422 switch is available in a 12-lead, 2 mm x 2 mm QFN package for $0.83 each, in 10,000-unit quantities. Samples and volume-production quantities can be ordered today, through Peregrine’s global direct sales representatives and worldwide distribution partners. For more information, visit http://www.psemi.com.

About Peregrine Semiconductor

Peregrine Semiconductor (NASDAQ: PSMI) is a fabless provider of high-performance radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs). Our solutions leverage our proprietary UltraCMOS^® technology, which enables the design, manufacture, and integration of multiple RF, mixed-signal, and digital functions on a single chip. Our products deliver what we believe is an industry-leading combination of performance and monolithic integration, and target a broad range of applications in the aerospace and defense, broadband, industrial, mobile wireless device, test and measurement equipment, and wireless infrastructure markets. UltraCMOS technology combines the ability to achieve the high levels of performance of traditional specialty processes, with the fundamental benefits of standard CMOS, the most widely-used semiconductor process technology. UltraCMOS technology utilizes a synthetic sapphire substrate, a near-perfect electrical insulator, providing low parasitic capacitance, and enabling high signal isolation, and excellent broadband linearity. These attributes result in RF devices with excellent high-frequency performance and power-handling performance, reduced crosstalk between frequencies, and enhanced network efficiency. We have engineered design advancements, including our patented HaRP™ technology which significantly improves harmonic and linearity performance; and our patent-pending DuNE™ technology, a circuit design technique that we have used to develop our advanced Digitally Tunable Capacitor (DTC) products. We offer a broad portfolio of high-performance RFICs including switches, digital attenuators, mixers/upconverters, prescalers, frequency synthesizers, DTCs, and DC-to-DC converter products; and we are currently developing Power Amplifiers (PAs). Our products are sold worldwide through our direct sales and field applications engineering staff, and our network of independent sales representatives, and distribution partners. Additional information is available on the Company’s website at http://www.psemi.com.

The Peregrine Semiconductor name, logo and UltraCMOS are registered trademarks, and DuNE and HaRP are trademarks of Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation in the U.S.A., and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Tags/Keywords: RF CMOS IC, SPDT RF switch

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