Peregrine Semiconductor Corp., a fabless provider of high-performance radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs), announced it has launched an Automotive Electronics Council (AEC) Q100-certified SPDT RF switch. The HaRP™ technology-enhanced PE42359 switch is certified to AEC-Q100 Grade 2, meaning it is qualified for operation in the extended temperature range of -40 to +105 degrees Celsius. The switch is available in a miniature 6-lead SC-70 package and is appropriate for automotive applications such as Remote Keyless Entry (RKE), emergency communication systems, Tire-Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS), automotive multimode compenser modules, and automatic toll systems.
The AEC-Q100 certification was developed to provide automotive manufacturers and suppliers with a set of industry-wide methods and procedures designed to assist in obtaining the best, most robust device for the application. AEC-Q100-certified products are graded by temperature range, with Grade 2 certification involving putting the IC through reliability stress tests over the wide temperature range of -40 to +105 degree C. Several thousand samples of the IC must uccessfully withstand the stress tests for an extended period of time, in order to be certified. Having achieved ISO/TS 16949 quality system certification one year ago, today’s introduction of the PE42359 switch exemplifies Peregrine’s commitment to providing high-performance, high-quality products for the automotive industry.
“The launch of the PE42359 RF switch reaffirms our commitment to expanding our product portfolio to reach new markets and customers,” said Gene Lyons, Peregrine’s vice president of Quality Assurance. “We now have a proven ability to manufacture products that meet the rigorous quality and performance requirements of the automotive market.”
“The growing trend toward more telematics and infotainment in today’s automobiles is creating demand for high-performance RFICs that meet the stringent reliability standards of the AEC-Q100 stress test qualification,” said Mark Schrepferman, director of the communications and industrial product line for Peregrine’s High-Performance Solutions business unit. “UltraCMOS® is an advanced form of Silicon-onInsulator process utilizing a highly-insulating sapphire substrate, which enables our products to operate reliably at elevated temperatures. This, along with the repeatability of a CMOS manufacturing process, makes our products well suited for automotive applications.”
The PE42359 switch has high ESD protection of 2 kV HBM on all pins enables high product reliability, resulting in a longer product life with enhanced customer satisfaction. This is essential for automotive applications, as warranty repairs can be costly for manufacturers. The switch has low insertion loss of 0.35 dB @ 1GHz, 0.5 dB @ 2 GHz; and high isolation of 30 dB @ 1000 MHz, resulting in improved overall RF performance. Using a nominal +3V power supply voltage, a typical input 1 dB compression point of +33.5 dBm can be achieved. With low power consumption of only 9 microamperes, and a minimum power supply voltage of just 1.8V, the PE42359 enables longer battery life in portable applications such as RKE devices.
Development Tool Support
Peregrine also announced availability of the PE42359 Evaluation Kit today (part # EK42359-01, $70.00). The kit enables designers to demonstrate the PE42359 switch in their applications. It can be ordered now, from Peregrine’s global direct sales representatives and worldwide distribution partners.
Packaging, Pricing & Availability
The PE42359 switch is available in a miniature 6-lead SC-70 package, for $0.39 each in 10k-unit quantities. Samples and volumeproduction quantities can be ordered today, through Peregrine’s global direct sales representatives and worldwide distribution partners. For more information, visit http://www.psemi.com.