RF antenna switch aims for quad-band GSM

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Apr 13, 2005

Available now from Peregrine Semiconductor is the PE4269 SP6T RF antenna switch die for quad-band GSM antenna switch modules.

Available now from Peregrine Semiconductor, the PE4269 SP6T RF antenna switch die for quad-band GSM antenna switch modules (ASMs) is a device that showcases the extraordinary flexibility of UltraCMOS technology.

The PE4269, based on the extremely popular PE4263 antenna switch introduced last autumn, has begun shipping into Japan and Korea to fulfill orders in the millions of units.

The PE4269 RF switch provides a unique, high-performance solution to the ASM market by offering high power at 41dBm P1dB and monolithic integration of key elements including a control logic decoder and driver.

The PE4269, as with all Peregrine products, is developed on the company's patented UltraCMOS process technology, a technological breakthrough which advances RF designs past traditional roadblocks in performance and size, and allows for semicustom modifications in order to meet customer's exact specifications.

Peregrine's high-performance RF products offers a simple, and profoundly different approach to solving the toughest high-power, multi-throw cellular switching challenges and are the first and only CMOS-based devices that can be connected directly to the GSM handset antenna.

Superior performance, lower insertion loss, smaller footprint and higher integration make Peregrine products ideal alternatives to pin-diode or pHEMT-based designs.

"UltraCMOS has proven itself among the largest OEMs in the world as a technology that delivers fundamental advantages of repeatability, reliability and RF monolithic integration".

"These benefits are ultimately enjoyed in terms of form, function and price by consumers like you and me", stated Jussi Salminen, Wireless Sector Marketing and Business Development Director at Peregrine.

"The PE4269 alternative offers board layout flexibility for RF designers, eliminating any need to re-route and thus ensuring peak performance".

"It's just one more reason engineers don't have to settle for limitations of competing solutions", he added.

The 50ohm PE4269 2.6V RF switch operates from 100 to 3000MHz and features: 1500V ESD tolerance at all ports; no blocking capacitors; 45dB of isolation; low insertion loss of 0.55dB at 915MHz; and fast switch settling time.

The PE4269, priced at $0.60 (10,000 units), is in high-volume production and is and is available in die form (1.24 x 1.20mm) from Peregrine.