Peregrine Semiconductor Corp., a 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 UltraCMOStrade 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.

“We continue to push the limits of our RFIC portfolio, achieving performance with UltraCMOS that cannot be matched with GaAs-based and other SOI devices,” said Mark Schrepferman, Director of the Communications and Industrial Product Line at Peregrine. “No other SP4T RF switch on the market can deliver the broad combination of exceptional features found in this device, making it ideal for many general-purpose RF applications entering the market today. When you add all the environmental benefits of SOS, it’s clear that UltraCMOS is the IC-of-choice over GaAs-based devices and the growing concerns about toxic e-Waste."

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 1.8 and 2.75 V 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 3x3 mm QFN, is available in volume today and is priced at $0.67 each (100K units).