Peregrine Semiconductor SP4T RF switch achieves best-in-class linearity

SAN DIEGO, USA: Peregrine Semiconductor Corp., a leading supplier of high-performance RF CMOS and mixed-signal communications ICs, announced the new PE42440 SP4T (single pole four throw) RF switch.

The PE42440, designed on Peregrine’s green UltraCMOS silicon-on-sapphire (SOS) process technology, features excellent broadband RF performance from 50 MHz up to 3 GHz. The HaRP-enhanced switch has best-in-class linearity, making it ideal for general purpose TRx switching in cellular and 2.4 GHz industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) radio bands; antenna tuning; and filter bank tuning/switching in a wide range of applications, including cellular radios and radio modules; antenna tuning of UHF bands through 3 GHz; RFID antenna tuning; 2.4 GHz ISM; Femtocells and other industrial applications.

The new reflective PE42440 switch delivers market-leading RF performance unmatched by its competition: an IIP3 of +67 dBm and P1dB of 41.5 dBm (across the range); Insertion Loss of 0.45 dB; and very high Isolation of 34 dB (at 1 GHz). The 50-Ohm switch handles maximum +33 dBm input power (500 MHz to 3 GHz) with world-class ESD tolerance of 4.0 kV HBM on the RFC pin.

Additional features include integrated CMOS control logic, decoder for 2-pin control that accepts 1.8V and 2.75V control logic levels, and a low 4.5 Ohm series ON resistance. A single Vdd supply pin eliminates the need for multiple power supplies and power up sequencing which is typically required on competitive devices. As with all SOS-based UltraCMOS RFICs, the device settles fast without gate lag or insertion loss drift, and no blocking capacitors are required.

The PE42440, packaged in the 16-lead 3mmx3mm QFN, is available in volume today and is priced at $0.67 each (100K units).