17 September 2014

Peregrine launches 18GHz UltraCMOS SP4T RF switches

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 PE42542 and PE42543 18GHz single-pole four-throw (SP4T) broadband RF switches.

Expansion of the firm’s high-frequency portfolio – launched in 2013 with the PE42520 and PE42521 SPDT 13GHz switches – represents the first RF SOI switches to deliver a high-performance alternative to incumbent gallium arsenide (GaAs) technology, it is claimed. Peregrine says that the new switches uniquely offer test & measurement, wireless backhaul and military systems designers additional features such as broad bandwidth, low-frequency power handling, high ESD protection and a fast settling time.

“Peregrine is reaching high-frequency performance levels previously considered unachievable in RF SOI,” says senior marketing manager Kinana Hussain. “Our in-house, high-frequency design expertise, coupled with our UltraCMOS technology, has enabled Peregrine to break the 13GHz RF SOI barrier last year and expand our high-frequency portfolio to 18GHz today, with a roadmap to many more high-frequency components.”

Peregrine’s entire high-frequency portfolio features high linearity that meets or exceeds GaAs switch performance across the entire frequency band, the firm claims. Because they are based on UltraCMOS technology, the components feature several attributes that GaAs technology cannot match, it adds, including:

• broad bandwidth that maintains performance across the frequency range;
• low-frequency power handling that maintains signal fidelity as the power passes through;
• fast settling time that avoids the gate-lag phenomenon;
• high linearity of 58dBm (IIP3) that ensures minimal signal compression;
• high ESD rating that offers four times more protection; and
• low power consumption that uses less than 5% power.

In addition, the PE42542 and PE42543 18GHz RF switches offer standard 1.8V and 3.3V input logic control and consistent performance across a wide 2.3-5.5V supply range. For special RF requirements, the PE42543 has a fast switching time of 500ns.

The PE42542 and PE42543 are SP4T RF switches accommodating a frequency range between 9kHz and 18GHz and offering low-frequency power handling of 10dBm at 9kHz. They also offer consistent performance across a wide supply range with no drift in insertion loss and phase. Both switches feature 120µA power-supply-current consumption (a fraction of what is required by competing GaAs switches, it is reckoned).

The PE42542 has high linearity of 58dBm IIP3 and 118dBm IIP2, a fast switching time of 3µs, and a high ESD rating of 3.5kV HBM, 150V MM and 500V CDM on all pins. Its fast settling time of 7µs eliminates gate lag in test & measurement equipment.

The PE42543 has a high linearity of 59dBm IIP3 and 113dBm IIP2, a fast switching time of 500ns, a fast settling time of 2µs, and a high ESD rating of 2.5kV HBM, 150V MM and 250V CDM on all pins.
Isolation is high: 55dB @ 3GHz, 33dB @ 13.5GHz, 29dB @ 16GHz and 26dB @ 18GHz for the PE42542 and 55dB @ 3GHz, 32dB @ 13.5GHz, 28dB @ 16GHz and 25dB @ 18GHz for the PE42543.

Samples, evaluation kits and volume-production parts are available now. Offered in a RoHS-compliant, 29-lead 4mm x 4mm LGA package, the PE42542 and PE42543 are $18.15 each in 10,000-quantity orders.

See related items:

Peregrine introduces new CMOS RF switches

Tags: Peregrine CMOS SOI RF switches

Visit: www.psemi.com