Peregrine extends 3G handset switch offering

January 18, 2006

Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation, a supplier of RF CMOS and mixed-signal communications ICs, unveiled the PE42671 SP7T Cellular Handset Switch at the IEEE Microwave Theory and Technique (MTT) Society's Radio & Wireless Symposium held in San Diego. This new device complements the SP6T and SP7T RF ICs launched last quarter from the Company's next-generation UltraCMOS process with HaRP technology enhancements. The newest device addresses the specific design requirements of next-generation dual-mode WCDMA handsets.

The PE42671 is the industry's only monolithic 3GPP IMD-compliant SP7T device capable of dual-band WCDMA and GSM requirements. Additionally, the switch offers the industry's most flexible combination of communication paths: two transmit ports that can be used for GSM/PCS/EDGE, two transmit/receive ports that can be used for either WCDMA or as receive ports, and three symmetric receive ports. This unique design allows engineering flexibility and ease-of-development not currently available in the high-throw RF switch arena. Like its predecessors, the PE42671 is a highly integrated solution that simplifies and lowers the cost of RF designs by reducing overall part count in an ASM by as many as 6 devices and 13 wire bonds.

PE42671 is also the world's most linear and usable SP7T switch with its exceptional harmonic performance (2fo = -88 dBc and 3fo = -80 dBc) IP3 of +68 dBm; world-class 1.5 KV ESD tolerance; 2.75 V operating voltage and ultra-low power consumption.

"The UltraCMOS switch product line is proof positive that the turning point is now," stated Jim Cable, CEO of Peregrine Semiconductor. "To bring to market a monolithic SP7T RF switch with 4 TX ports and an IP3 of +68 dBm on CMOS is an outstanding accomplishment. Yet even more extraordinary is the global acceptance of ASM, FEM and transmit module manufacturers, and how UltraCMOS has become the enabling technology upon which future RF project roadmaps are being designed. It's truly time to switch," he added.

The PE42671 continues in Peregrine's tradition of delivering world-class RF performance: TX-RX Isolation of +47 dB at 900 MHz and +40 dB at 1900 MHz; P1dB compression point of +41 dBm; and 0.65 dB of insertion loss at 900 MHz. On-chip CMOS decode logic facilitates both 1.8 V and 2.75 V three-pin CMOS control inputs, while no blocking capacitors and on-chip SAW filter over-voltage protection devices ensure ease-of-integration.

The PE42671 die is priced at $0.75 ea. (25K units) Orders are being taken for the devices which are available in die form and sampling to select customers directly from Peregrine.