22 June 2012

Peregrine adds new 8GHz SP4T RF switch to portfolio

At this week’s 2012 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium (IMS) in Montreal, Canada (17-22 June), Peregrine Semiconductor Corp of San Diego, CA, USA, a fabless provider of radio-frequency (RF) integrated circuits (ICs) based on silicon-on-sapphire (SOS), introduced its SP4T PE42540 RF switch.

Designed on the latest UltraCMOS process technology version, STeP5, the HaRP technology-enhanced PE42540 switch has a frequency range of 10Hz to 8GHz, with low insertion loss of 0.8dB @ 3GHz, 1.0dB @ 6GHz, and 1.2dB @ 8GHz. The highly-linear switch is well suited for applications requiring highly-linear RF performance and fast settling time, such as Test and Measurement (T&M), and Automated Test Equipment (ATE), says the firm.

The absorptive PE42540 is comprised of four symmetric RF ports, with high isolation RFX to RFX of 45dB @ 3GHz, 39dB @ 6GHz, and 31dB @ 8GHz. On-chip CMOS decode logic facilitates a two-pin low voltage CMOS control interface and an optional external VSS feature. Additionally, the switch features high linearity of 58dBm IIP3, with high ESD tolerance of 2kV HBM on RFC, and 1kV HBM on all other pins. It also has a maximum input-power-handling capability of 30dBm @ 8GHz into 50 Ω.

“The PE42540 switch complements our PE42551 and PE42552 switches with extended frequency and low insertion loss,” said Mark Schrepferman, director of marketing for Peregrine’s High-Performance Solutions business unit. “We believe this is the industry’s highest-performance SP4T switch, in terms of bandwidth, insertion loss, and linearity.”

The PE42540 is available in a 32-lead, 5mm x 5mm QFN package, for $4.87 each, in 10,000-unit quantities. Samples and volume-production quantities can be ordered in late June through Peregrine’s global sales representatives and worldwide distribution partners.

Tags: Peregrine Switches

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