Peregrine Semiconductor has announced two new products – a true DC switch and an X-band core chip. The products are built on Peregrine’s UltraCMOS technology which integrates RF, digital and analog components onto a single chip.
A True DC Switch from 0 Hz to 8 GHz
At the lower end of the frequency spectrum, Peregrine has set a new standard with the industry’s first and only RF integrated switch to achieve true DC capability. With a wide frequency range from 0 Hz to 8 GHz, the UltraCMOS True DC switch (PE42020) effectively operates in a previously unobtainable portion of the frequency spectrum. This frequency expansion enables these UltraCMOS switches to replace electro-magnetic relays and RF Mems switches – these markets have not seen any significant innovation for some time.
The True DC SPDT switch can handle up to 30 dBm of power at 0 Hz and 36 dBm at 8 GHz while maintaining excellent RF performance and linearity from DC through 8 GHz. While low-frequency operation typically requires a slow switching time, this switch uses advanced circuitry to remove this dependence, resulting in a 10 microsecond switching time, and a 15 microsecond settling time which is critical in test-and-measurement applications. The PE42020 features a high-linearity (IIP3) performance of 63 dBm, and high port-to-port isolation of 37 dB at 6 GHz. It supports standard +1.8 V and +3.3 V control logic and operates over a temperature range of -40 to +85 degree C. Moreover, for the first time, it can also switch DC to AC peak voltages in the range of +10 V to -10 V at currents of up to 80 mA.
The switch supports 1000 V HBM ESD tolerance and is available in a compact 20-lead 4x4 mm QFN plastic package. The PE42020 switch is sampling now, and will ship in early 2015.
High Frequency Intelligent Integration: An X-band Core Chip
At the higher end of the frequency spectrum, Peregrine has introduced an integrated X-band UltraCMOS core chip that consists of a 7-Bit Phase Shifter, 7-Bit Digital Step Attenuator and a high isolation switch. It has a compact digital serial interface control with true CMOS compatibility. The X-band chip can handle up to +18 dBm of power from 9 to 10.1 GHz with a 31.75 dB attenuation range in 0.25 dB steps. The phase shifter offers 358 degrees of phase range with a resolution of 7 degrees. It maintains high attenuation and phase accuracy over frequency and temperature and exhibits low power consumption. The X-band segment of the frequency spectrum is sued by many modern satellite and radar systems, including synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and phased-array radar. Applications include weather monitoring, air traffic control, defense tracking and earth observation. Peregrine’s integrated chips offer a significantly reduced form factor, delivering a distinct advantage within these systems that are tightly packaged within a small physical area. It also provides high degree of reliability demanded by these critical applications.
It will be available for sampling in early 2015.
