Date: 16/09/2010

Fully symmetric RF switch from Peregrine

Peregrine Semiconductor has released the PE42662 SP6T (single pole, six throw) RF switch, the industry's first fully symmetric RF switch. The PE42662 RF switch provides design flexibility to manufacturers of 3G front-end modules used in multi-band GSM/EDGE/WCDMA handsets. The switch employs six fully symmetric transmit ports.

The PE42662 is the latest release in Peregrine's UltraCMOS silicon-on-sapphire (SOS) mobile wireless switch portfolio targeted at the high-volume cellular handset market. The 50-Ohm switch is manufactured using Peregrine's STeP 3 UltraCMOS process and features HaRP technology enhancements to deliver high linearity and good harmonic performance: 2fo/3fo = -40 dBm @ 35 dBm TX (900 MHz) and 33 dBm TX (1900 MHz). The PE42662 switch also features an IIP3 of +68 dBm at 50-Ohm; low transmit insertion loss of 0.5 dB at 900 MHz, 0.6dB at 1900MHz; and very high Isolation of 38dB at 900MHz and 33dB at 1900MHz. The switch handles maximum +35 dBm input power with world-class ESD tolerance of 4000V HBM at ANT port, and 2000V HBM on all ports.

"The combination of performance and design flexibility of Peregrine's new PE42662 raises the bar for RF switches," said Dylan Kelly, vice president of Mobile Wireless Solutions business unit at Peregrine Semiconductor. "RF frontend module designers can now develop cleaner layouts with a common universal die, reduce time and cost in the development process, and still address the multiple variations required to support different modules and 3G handsets without compromising increased feature integration, ruggedness and high performance," he added.

The PE42662 switch also include an on-chip CMOS decode logic that facilitates three-pin low voltage CMOS control and low-power standby state and on-chip SAW filter over-voltage protection devices.