New RF Switch from Peregrine Semiconductor Delivers High Linearity and Isolation Performance to Broadband TV Applications

PE42750 addresses FCC 15.115 isolation spec, offers unpowered operation

San Diego, California, June 1, 2011 – Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation, a fabless provider of high- performance radio-frequency (RF) integrated circuits (ICs), today announced availability of the RoHS- compliant PE42750 75-Ohm RF Switch for broadband consumer applications including cable televisions (CATV), digital television (DTV), multi-tuner digital video recorders (DVR), set-top boxes, PCTVs and video game consoles. Manufactured on Peregrine’s UltraCMOS™ technology, the HaRP™-enhanced single- pole, double-throw (SPDT) device features high linearity and isolation performance in both powered and unpowered states, addressing the stringent broadband requirements of the FCC 15.115 specification.

The PE42750 RF switch features isolation of 63dB at 1 GHz (typ). Isolation levels are maintained in the unpowered state in compliance with the FCC 15.115 standard for CATV-to-antenna isolation. During unpowered operation, the ports are terminated to prevent reflected signals between the terrestrial and cable antennas. This high level of isolation is an important feature to ensure high performance in consumer TV applications.

“The PE42750 provides a great solution for broadband device manufacturers such as the cable set-top box,” said Mark Schrepferman, marketing director for Peregrine’s HPS business unit. “Until now, manufacturers of these types of products have used mechanical relays or multiple solid-state switches in their designs for high-isolation switching. The PE42750 is an elegant alternative that not only meets the FCC isolation specification, it does so in a solution that is smaller, more cost effective, more reliable, and easier to implement in the design,” he added.

Peregrine’s new switch covers a broad frequency range from 5 MHz to 2200 MHz with a single positive supply and CMOS control, and delivers low insertion loss (0.7 dB @ 5MHz and 1.0 dB @ 1000MHz); high IIP3 (47.5 dBm at 5–2200 MHz); and ESD performance of 2000V HBM on all ports.

The PE42750 is available now in volume production, supplied in a 3x3mm 12-lead QFN package priced at $0.57 in 10K quantity orders. Samples are available to qualified customers through Peregrine’s global sales representatives and its worldwide distribution partners.

About Peregrine Semiconductor

Peregrine Semiconductor is a fabless provider of high performance radio frequency integrated circuits, or RFICs. Our solutions leverage our proprietary UltraCMOS™ technology, which enables the design, manufacture, and integration of multiple RF, mixed-signal, and digital functions on a single chip. Our products deliver what we believe is an industry leading combination of performance and monolithic integration, and target a broad range of applications in the aerospace and defense, broadband, industrial, mobile wireless device, test and measurement equipment, and wireless infrastructure markets. UltraCMOS technology combines the ability to achieve the high levels of performance of traditional specialty processes, with the fundamental benefits of standard CMOS, the most widely used semiconductor process technology. UltraCMOS technology utilizes a synthetic sapphire substrate, a near-perfect electrical insulator, providing low parasitic capacitance and enabling high signal isolation and excellent broadband linearity. These attributes result in RF devices with excellent high-frequency performance and power handling performance, reduced crosstalk between frequencies, and enhanced network efficiency. We have engineered design advancements, including our patented HaRP™ technology which significantly improves harmonic and linearity performance, and our patent-pending DuNE™ technology, a circuit design technique that we have used to develop our advanced digitally tunable capacitor (DTC) products. We offer a broad portfolio of high performance RFICs including switches, digital attenuators, frequency synthesizers, mixers and prescalers, and are developing power amplifiers (PAs), DTCs, and DC-DC converters. Our products are sold worldwide through our direct sales and field applications engineering staff and our network of independent sales representatives and distribution partners. Additional information is available on the Company website 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.