About Peregrine Semiconductor Broadband Microwave Switches



    The company «Peregrine Semiconductor» is already known to our readers. She specializes in the development of KNS technology - Silicon On Sapphire, (UltraCMOS), which has increased radiation resistance and is used for both civilian and highly reliable (Space, Hi-Rel) applications. Advantages of the technology are: low power consumption, low cost, high linearity, extended temperature range and scalability. By these parameters, they oust some traditional GaAs switches from companies such as Skyworks, MACOM, RFMD (Qorvo), Hittite (ADI) from the market. Switching speed and operating capacities are generally lower than those of other manufacturers.

    This article provides an overview of the Peregrine Semiconductor broadband switches and performs a comparative analysis.

    Of the products of the company "Peregrine Semiconductor" microwave switches have the widest range - more than 50 products, which continues to expand - in the direction of increasing operating frequencies, linearity, operating temperatures, etc.

    Broadband Switch Overview


    The main parameters of broadband switches with an upper operating frequency from 8 to 60 GHz from Peregrine Semiconductor are shown in Table 1 below. Due to their high linearity, the company introduced a new evaluation criterion: P0.1dB, instead of the usual P1dB. Other companies, in particular MACOM, began to use this criterion.

    Table 1 Peregrine Semiconductor Broadband Switches

    The company's new products are broadband switches PE42525 (-40 ... + 105 ° С), PE426525 (-55 ... + 125 ° С) with a band of 9 kHz - 60 GHz and a record switching time in the line: 8 ns. Their main characteristics are shown in Fig. 1 below. Samples (crystals) are currently available, mass production is planned for early 2017. To control these switches, two antiphase signals with levels of -3 V / +3 V and a current of only 450 nA are needed. They are available in the Flip-Chip package and are pin compatible with the PE42524 switch in the 10 MHz - 40 GHz band. Fig. 1. Loss, reflection and isolation of the PE42525 / PE426525 switches depending on the frequency. Note that the switches PE95420, PE95421 are radio-resistant components that are available through E2V




    which carries out testing and export control. At the moment, licenses are issued only for international projects. The PE42020 is a “True DC” chip, or “A True Constant Voltage Switch,” which can switch both constant voltage and microwave signals up to 8 GHz.

    Comparative analysis of SPDT switches up to 25/40/60 GHz


    Let us conduct a comparative analysis of the switches. Unfortunately, direct comparison of products from different manufacturers is rarely possible, therefore, the figures stated above are conditional. This is due to the fact that, as a rule, a specific switch is developed to meet the requirements of a large customer. Microwave measurements outside these requirements are usually not performed. As a result, the switch can be operated far beyond the declared frequency band, but its use there is not guaranteed by the manufacturer. The same factor explains the large spread in individual parameters, it would seem one class of switches.

    We will conduct a comparative analysis of the “up to 25 GHz” switches, taking the Peregrine Semiconductor company PE42522 as the basis. Their main parameters are shown in Table 2 below. Obviously, by the combination of parameters, PE42522 can hardly be called "the best in its class." Nevertheless, he has some competitive advantages. So, IP3 at the 59dBm input has only a MACOM switch, the power consumption of which is> 1000 times higher. Losses and isolation at low frequencies also look good. The PE42522 has a single control input compatible with 3.3 V logic, which is convenient for the user. When a negative voltage is applied, the microcircuit can be used in a bypass mode.

    Table 2. Comparison of PE42522 with leading global manufacturers:



    Let's continue the comparison for the “up to 40 GHz” class based on PE42524. The main parameters of the switches are shown in Table 3 below. Here, Peregrine Semiconductor is setting small records. PE42524 is ahead of everyone (in the table) both in terms of consumption of 15 nW and in terms of permissible power of 32 dBm! And - she is already far from the slowest. :) Record consumption was achieved due to the rejection of the power supply of the microcircuit itself, which, however, led to bipolar antiphase control of -3.3 / +3.3 V. If we talk about isolation in the entire frequency range and IP3 input, it is better than PE42524 only ADRF5021 and again due to the many times more power consumption.

    Table 3. Comparison of PE42524 with leading global manufacturers:



    The “up to 60 GHz” class based on PE426525 completes our small comparative analysis. Here we can already talk about the "best switch in the class" in terms of a combination of parameters. These include: low consumption of 2.7 μW, isolation, maximum power, IP3 input. In terms of switching speed, PE426525 is second only to AMMC-2008. Its losses at some frequencies are better than those of the analogs of Hittite (ADI) and Avago. We also note the extended operating temperature range (-55 ... + 125 degrees C) - the widest in the entire line of Peregrine Semiconductor switches.

    Table 4. Comparison of PE426525 with world leading manufacturers: We wish Peregrine Semiconductor success in its new developments. Who knows, maybe in 2018 we will see UltraCMOS switches up to 80 GHz?





    You can also download the following articles from the ETF website :

    “UltraCMOS from Peregrine Semiconductor - a new technology for creating Si mixers”
    “Firm Peregrine Semiconductor: Chips for phase control and more!”
    "Two-pole switch PE42020 - new from Peregrine Semiconductor"

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