Peregrine Semiconductor Sets New Standards of Performance for High-Frequency CMOS RF Switches

Building upon the core capabilities of Peregrine’s UltraCMOS® technology, the new, high-linearity switches support operation at 13 GHz, combined with high power handling of +36 dBm, enabling levels of performance previously thought to be impossible with CMOS. The devices are ideal for numerous high-frequency applications that require high power handling, such as signal-path and filter bank switching in the Test-and-Measurement, wireless backhaul, and military markets, among others.



“Peregrine has, once again, set new levels of performance, achieving high-frequency and high-power capability without compromising the core capabilities of UltraCMOS,” said Dave Shepard, vice president of Peregrine’s High-Performance Solutions business unit. “The PE42520 and PE42521 switches, along with our new PE43704 DSA, are the first in our line of high-frequency, high-power products. We look forward to continuing to support applications that require broadband performance of 13 GHz and beyond.”



The PE42520/21 switches support operation up to 13 GHz at 36 dBm and feature HaRP™ technology, resulting in IIP3 of 66 dBm, and IIP2 of 115 dBm. The PE42520 supports frequencies down to 9 KHz, while the PE42521 is a fast-switching variant that operates down to 100 MHz. Both devices have low gate lag, a key feature for test-and-measurement applications. The insertion loss of the PE42520 and PE42521 is 0.7 dB at 7.5 GHz. Both devices have isolation of greater than 41 dB at 7.5 GHz.



Development Tool Support

Peregrine also unveiled the PE42520 and PE42521 Evaluation Kits today, to enable designers to evaluate the new switches in their applications.