Product category:
Communications ICs (Wireless)
News Release from: Teravicta Technologies | Subject: TT612
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 18 July 2002
MEMS-based switch cuts RF losses
The Teravicta TT612 is an ultralow-loss 0 to 6GHz RF MEMS single-pole, double-throw switch.
Teravicta Technologies has unveiled its first product The company is focused on becoming the leading RF MEMS solutions company by supplying high-quality, next-generation microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-based RF components and subsystems to markets such as cellular telephone, wireless LANs, broadband fixed wireless, and aerospace/defence
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 1 May 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
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The company's initial product, the Teravicta TT612, is an ultralow-loss, 0 to 6GHz RF MEMS single-pole, double-throw (SPDT) switch.
A dozen leading product suppliers in the above markets have already sampled an evaluation board containing the Teravicta TT612 SPDT switch.
"We knew that our MEMS-based technology had inherent performance advantages for wireless applications, but quality, reliability, and cost were absolutely essential to us and our prospective customers", said Teravicta President Robert Miracky.
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"So we made the decision to achieve that reliability and validate the market through key customer evaluation of our packaged switch before making public announcements about our company's products and capabilities".
MEMS-based products synergistically combine both mechanical and electronic devices on a monolithic microchip to provide tremendous performance advantages over solid-state components, especially for wireless applications.
"The wireless market is quickly becoming aware of the performance and cost advantages RF MEMS can offer", said Marlene Bourne, senior analyst at In-Stat/MDR.
"The fact that Teravicta is sampling its packaged RF MEMS switch is an important milestone in the development of the RF MEMS sector".
RF switches are key components in nearly all radios and wireless products.
Immediate benefits of RF MEMS switches for end users are longer battery life and greater connection quality - extended range of communication, fewer dropped calls, enhanced call quality, and increased bandwidth for wireless data applications.
Longer term, as the wireless industry moves to the new 2.5G and 3G standards, handsets employing RF MEMS will more easily meet the requirements placed on them by the need to deliver high-quality broadband data.
Teravicta's TT612 switch combines ultralow losses (0.14dB at 2GHz) with near-perfect linearity (IP3 > 65dBm) and high-power handling capability (3W continuous RF power), enclosed in a convenient surface-mount package.
The RF performance of Teravicta's switch is far superior to that of conventional solid-state alternatives such as gallium arsenide FETs and PIN diodes that are used in today's wireless voice and data products.
Evaluation boards of the TT612 SPDT are now available to qualified customers.
(This was Electronicstalk's Top Story on 17 July 2002).
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