High-Performance RF Demands Products ideally suited for Wireless Infrastructure, ISM and Broadband markets
San Diego, California, December 15, 2009 — Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation, a leading supplier of high-performance RF CMOS and mixed-signal communications ICs, today announced the first pair in a series of new SPDT RF switches addressing the needs of wireless infrastructure, 2.4GHz Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM), and broadband applications for fiber optics and Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service (MMDS). The PE4250 and PE4251 are the result of a joint design and development activity with long-standing partner OKI Electric Ltd. (Tokyo). Product engineers from both OKI and Peregrine collaborated to develop leading-edge design techniques to meet market demands, resulting in the latest high-performance UltraCMOS™ Silicon-on-Sapphire (SOS) RFICs.
The new PE4250 reflective and PE4251 absorptive 50-Ohm SPDT RF switches deliver best-in-class linearity and are pin- and logic-compatible, environmentally friendly alternatives to gallium-arsenide (GaAs)-based ICs. These HaRP™-enhanced devices, offered in the tiny RoHS-compliant 8-lead MSOP package, operate near DC through 3 GHz and deliver market-leading RF performance with P1dB of +30.5 dBm and IP3 (typ) of +59 dBm; and fast switching speed of 150 nS. The PE4250 and PE4251 utilize Peregrine’s HaRP™ Technology which eliminates gate and phase lag and results in fast settling time and no insertion loss drift. In addition, the devices have extremely low Insertion Loss (IL) of 0.55 to 0.75 dB typical from 10MHz to 3GHz; high Isolation across the operating range (51-40 dB for PE4250 and 62-43 dB for PE4251); and excellent ESD protection of 4000 V HBM. Flexible 3.3V or 5.0V dual supply voltage with 55/75 uA supply current, respectively, allows customers to select either supply voltage without sacrificing IIP3 linearity or degradation in P1dB performance. The new switches feature single-pin or complementary control inputs and no blocking capacitors are required.
The new devices are in volume production and are priced at $0.66/25Ku (PE4250) and $0.68/25Ku (PE4251).
About Environmentally-friendly UltraCMOS™ Technology
UltraCMOS™ mixed-signal process technology is a patented variation of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology on a sapphire substrate providing with high yields and competitive costs. It combines the RF, mixed-signal, and digital capabilities of any other CMOS process, yet tolerates the high power required for high-performance wireless applications. Significant performance advantages exist over competing processes such as GaAs, SiGe, BiCMOS and bulk silicon CMOS in applications where RF performance, low power and integration are paramount. The Company’s revolutionary design inventions, such as HaRP™ technology which enables dramatic improvements in harmonic results, linearity and overall RF performance; and DuNE™ technology, the industry’s most advanced digital tuning capability, are paving the way for unprecedented RF IC development. More importantly, UltraCMOS- based RFICs offer an environmentally friendly option to arsenic-based GaAs ICs which have historically been widely used in RF and wireless systems. With the global move toward ‘green engineering’ and reduction of hazardous substances (RoHS), UltraCMOS SOS devices are poised to offer engineers and manufacturers alike a simple, responsible solution for the next-generation designs demanded by the environmentally conscious consumer.
About Peregrine Semiconductor
Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets high-performance communications RF ICs for the wireless infrastructure and mobile wireless; broadband CATV/DTV; communications infrastructure; and high-rel markets. Manufactured on the Company’s proprietary UltraCMOS™ mixed-signal process technology, Peregrine products are uniquely poised to meet the needs of a global RF design community in high- growth applications such as WCDMA, EDGE and GSM digital cellular and mobile TV; broadband communications such as DTV/PCTV/DVR; and in high-reliability applications such as telecom infrastructure, industrial, automotive, military and satellite systems. Peregrine UltraCMOS devices are manufactured under licensed foundry partnerships with world-class CMOS semiconductor manufacturers located in Japan, Taiwan, Korea and Australia. The Company, headquartered in San Diego, California, maintains global sales support operations and a worldwide technical distribution network. Additional information is available on the web at www.psemi.com.
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The Peregrine Semiconductor name and logo are registered trademarks and UltraCMOS, HaRP and DuNE are trademarks of Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.