Peregrine Semiconductor has introduced two integrated products – a True DC switch and an X-band core chip, both built using the company's UltraCMOS technology.
"Peregrine has introduced a broad range of industry leading integrated products and technologies over its more than 25 year history," said Duncan Pilgrim, vice president of marketing. "Today, we continue that legacy of innovative integration with two groundbreaking products that include RF, digital and analogue components on a single die."
At the lower end of the frequency spectrum, Peregrine claims it has set a new standard with the first RF integrated switch to achieve true DC capability. With a frequency range from 0 to 8000 MHz, the PE42020 is said to effectively operate in a previously unobtainable portion of the frequency spectrum. This frequency expansion will be attractive to those who rely on accuracy and precision, such as test and measurement.
The PE42020 features an IIP3 performance of 63dBm and port to port isolation of 37dB at 6GHz. It supports 1.8V and 3.3V control logic and operates in temperatures ranging from -40 to 85°C.
Meanwhile, higher frequencies are addressed with an integrated X-band CMOS chip that applies MMIC design techniques to offer accurate signal control with minimal power loss. These design techniques, such as Lange couplers, have only been used by III-V technologies because of silicon's lossy nature at higher frequencies. Peregrine says it has solved this challenge by using an UltraCMOS sapphire substrate.
Author
Graham Pitcher
Source: www.newelectronics.co.uk