Failsafe SPDT switch suitable for cellular infrastructure

2nd November 2016

Guerrilla RF

Alice Matthews

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Datasheet

The first member of Guerrilla RF's growing list of failsafe switch and amplifier devices has been introduced - the GRF6011. Failsafe refers to the characteristic whereby one switch path defaults to a low loss state, when all power is removed.

A key application for this Single-Pole, Double-Throw (SPDT) switch is at the Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) in a Tower Mounted Amplifier (TMA), where, according to Guerrilla RF, this failsafe functionality is typically implemented using expensive mechanical relays or cumbersome Schottky diode switches external to a traditional LNA device. The GRF6011 is well suited for applications including cellular boosters, cellular infrastructure and L-Band satcom. It is offered in a small 1.5x1.5mm DFN-6 package and requires a minimal number of external components.

“Guerrilla RF is proud to offer this high linearity switch which provides a cost effective, high reliability failsafe capability along with a tiny application footprint,” said Alan Ake, Vice President of Applications and Technical Marketing at Guerrilla RF. “The device’s flexible biasing capability allows for supply and control inputs anywhere in the 3-5V range.”

According to EJL Wireless, the ability to incorporate the failsafe capability within the GRF6011 switch and also eliminate the external relay or diode switches is a major step forward in reducing the overall size and BOM cost of a typical TMA unit.

Key features:

GRF6011 provides failsafe operation with one RF path defaulting to a low insertion loss state, with all power removed and the other path defaulting to a high insertion loss state.
The device requires only a few external capacitors for DC blocking, thus providing a compact application footprint.
At 1900MHz, typical 3.3V RF performance is as follows: Insertion Loss: < 0.45dB, IP1dB: > 31dBm, IIP3: >50dBm.