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With the advent of multiband multistandard mobile communications systems, designers are seeking higher integration in the front-end modules. Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation, applying its advanced UltraCMOS process featuring HaRP technology enhancements, has made substantial improvements to its RF switches. Consequently, the first two devices developed on this process, the single-pole six-throw (SP6T) PE42660 and single-pole, seven-throw (SP7T) PE42672 RF switches, provide unprecedented linearity and harmonics performance.

Designed for quad-band GSM and GSM/WCDMA handset applications, these switches provide for an ever-increasing number of RF paths to connect to the antenna through a single CMOS device. Also, the PE42672, a monolithic SP7T switch with onboard CMOS decoder, is a highly integrated solution that simplifies and lowers the cost of RF designs by reducing overall parts count by as many as six devices and 13 wire bonds. Both devices deliver high RF performance and exceptional linearity. For instance, PE42672 offers second- and third-harmonic distortion of -85 dBc and -79 dBc. While PE42660 offers second-and third-harmonic distortions of -88 dBc and -85 dBc, respectively. Other features include IP3 better than +70 dBm; world class 1.5 kV ESD tolerance, 2.75 V operating voltage and ultra-low-power consumption.

Furthermore, PE42660 switch is drop-in compatible with the PE4263 GSM handset switch released last fall, and is now in production with design wins from major antenna switch module (ASM) manufacturers, according to Peregrine. The PE42660 has two high-power transmit (Tx) ports and four high isolation receive (Rx) ports. The Tx ports are symmetric and designed as paths for the 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800MHz or 1900 MHz bands. Likewise, the Rx ports are also symmetric and can be assigned to any of these frequency bands. The 2.75 V device has a switching time of less than 2 µs, and typical and maximum operating currents are 13 µA and 20 µA, respectively.

In addition, the two UltraCMOS-based RF switches deliver transmit-receive (Tx-Rx) isolation of 44/48 dB at 900 MHz and 38/40 dB at 1900 MHz; P1dB compression point of +41 dBm; and 0.55 dB of insertion loss at 900 MHz. On-chip CMOS decode logic facilitates both 1.8 V and 2.75 V three-pin CMOS control inputs, while no blocking capacitors and on-chip SAW filter overvoltage protection devices ensure ease of integration.

The PE42672 is priced at $0.70 ea. (25K units) and the PE42660 is priced at $0.60 ea. (10K units).
Peregrine Semiconductor Corp.
San Diego, Calif.
(858) 731-9400
www.psemi.com

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