Peregrine Semiconductor Corp of San Diego, CA, USA, a fabless provider of radio-frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) based on silicon-on-sapphire (SOS), has launched the PE42820 and PE42821 single-pole double-throw (SPDT) switches for high-power wireless applications, providing a combination of high-power handling and linearity while offering an integrated approach that reduces board area, power consumption and design-in complexity compared to traditional discrete solutions, it is claimed. The combination makes the PE42820/821 suitable for transmit/receive, filter bank and antenna band switching applications in high-power RF systems such as wireless infrastructure devices and land mobile radios for public safety and military environments, adds the firm.
The new switching ICs can replace discrete solutions including traditional pin diodes used in land mobile radios (LMR), and mechanical relays used in LTE-enabled small cells or distributed antenna systems. Those discrete solutions cannot deliver both the high power handling and high linearity required for broadband frequency support as required for LMR and LTE convergence, says Peregrine. In contrast, the PE42820/821 switching ICs offer high 30W power handling while enabling what is claimed to be excellent linearity across the entire 30MHz to 2.7GHz frequency range. This combination, enabled by Peregrine's UltraCMOS technology with HaRP enhancements, improves signal clarity and range in high-power RF systems, says the firm.
In addition, Peregrine says that its monolithic approach integrates flexible control voltage ranges, eliminating the need for external bias control circuitry. This reduces the system bill of materials, saving on board space and current consumption, while simplifying design for a more reliable long-term solution, it adds.
"The increased complexity that comes from supporting additional frequency bands in high-power wireless applications necessitates a new approach to system design," says Mark Schrepferman, director of Peregrine's communications and industrial product line. "Discrete solutions utilizing pin diodes and mechanical relays simply cannot support the required linearity from UHF/VHF through LTE operation while still meeting the size, cost and performance expectations of high-power wireless systems. Our monolithic approach offers a reliable solution to these challenges and provide customers with a route to future proofing their designs as they move to accommodate additional frequency bands."
In addition to high linearity (82dBm IIP3 @ 850MHz; 76dBm IIP3 @ 2.7GHz), the PE42820 and PE42821 switching ICs feature low insertion loss (0.35 from 30MHz-1GHz; 0.20 from 1-2GHz; and 0.80 from 2-2.7GHz) and ESD of 1.5kV HBM on all pins. The PE42820/1 high-power switches operate with a wide supply range of 2.3-5.5V. The PE42821 is a feature- and pin-compatible version of the PE42820 with a faster switching time of 6s.
The PE42820/821 switches are supplied in RoHS-compliant, 5mm x 5mm 32-lead QFN packages. Pricing for both devices starts at $11.69 in 10,000 unit quantifies. Both samples and volume-production quantities are available.
Peregrine has also announced availability of the PE42820/1 Evaluation Kits, available through its global direct sales representatives and worldwide distribution partners.
