15 October 2014

Peregrine launches high-linearity SPDT RF switch enabling dual-band architecture for DOCSIS 3.1 cable CPE devices

Peregrine Semiconductor Corp of San Diego, CA, USA – a fabless provider of radio-frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) based on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) – has launched the UltraCMOS PE42722, a high-linearity RF switch that enables a dual upstream/downstream band architecture in cable customer premises equipment (CPE) devices.

By using a dual-band architecture, multi-service operators (MSOs) have the flexibility to offer their customers new and expanded services while CPEs can comply with the new DOCSIS 3.1 cable industry standard. MSOs also benefit from the switch supporting both DOCSIS 3.0 and 3.1, allowing a simple and cost-effective transition to DOCSIS 3.1, says the firm.

CPE devices, such as set-top boxes, cable modems and home gateways, have previously supported only one upstream and downstream band at a time. Until now, no switch has met the linearity requirements necessary to support a dual-band architecture, says Peregrine. When upgrading to a different high-speed service plan, the customer is currently faced with the inconvenience of physically changing the CPE device to get the hardware necessary to support the higher upstream and downstream band requirements. The introduction of the PE42722 high-linearity switch marks the first time that dual upstream/downstream bands can reside in the same CPE device, claims the firm. Once CPE devices are equipped with the PE42722 switch, the exchanging of hardware will no longer be necessary.

“By enabling a dual-band architecture, customers will be able to make a simple phone call to their cable service provider, who can then, ‘with the flip of a switch’, upgrade their customer’s high-speed data service plan,” says senior marketing manager Kinana Hussain. “The added bonus of also complying with the DOCSIS 3.1 standard makes this switch a must-have for all next-generation CPE devices.”

An additional benefit of the PE42722 high-linearity switch is its compliance with the DOCSIS 3.0 and 3.1 cable standards. The cable industry faces the challenge of supporting the customer’s increasing demand for more high-speed home data, says Peregrine. To meet this rise in data consumption, the industry announced the DOCSIS 3.1 standard in October 2013. These new DOCSIS 3.1 requirements put enormous pressure on the entire cable industry eco system, from CPE devices to the infrastructure, the firm adds. To ease the infrastructure transition to the higher speeds and eliminate the need to replace the CPE, these devices must incorporate the flexibility to accommodate multiple upstream/downstream frequency band definitions. To create a dual-band architecture, a switch must be placed directly at the cable modem (CM) connector before the filters and needs to comply with the stringent DOCSIS 3.1 CM spurious emissions requirements of -50dBmV. Such a low spurious level requires the switch harmonic performance to be better than -115dBc.The PE42722 is claimed to be the only RF switch available that can achieve these high harmonic requirements (with 2fo = -117dBc @ 170MHz and 3fo = -134dBc @ 170MHz).

Picture: Peregrine’s new UltraCMOS PE42722 high-linearity RF switch.

Covering a frequency range of 5-1794MHz, the PE42722 readily supports an average input power greater than 65dBmV (with PIN,CW = 80dBmV and PIN,Peak = 85dBmV). The switch’s low insertion loss (0.2dB @ 204MHz, 0.3dB @ 1218MHz, 0.7dB @ 1700MHz and 0.85dB @ 1794MHz) preserves noise figure and receiver sensitivity and achieves superior signal quality, says Peregrine, along with providing high isolation (50dB @ 204MHz, 40dB @ 612MHz, 33dB @ 1218MHz, and 29dB @ 1794MHz). The PE42722 also features low current consumption of 130µA, standard +1.8V and +3.3V logic support, a wide voltage supply range of 2.3-5.5V, and 1.5kV ESD protection on all pins.

Offered in a 32-lead 5mm x 5mm QFN package, volume-production parts, samples and evaluation kits are available now. For 10,000-quantity orders, each PE42722 switch is $3.38.

See related items:

Soitec announces financing and construction of CPV plant in Portugal

Tags: Peregrine SOI RF switches

Visit: www.psemi.com