[August 20, 2012]

Peregrine Semiconductor Unveils SPDT RF Switch for Battery-Powered and Automotive Telematics Applications

Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation (NASDAQ: PSMI), a fabless provider of high-performance radio-frequency (RF) integrated circuits (ICs), today announced the availability of the SPDT PE42421 RF switch, which is available in a miniature, 6-lead SC-70 package. With its small package size, strong ESD performance of 2 kV on the RFC port, low voltage support down to 1.8V VDD, and low power consumption of 9 microamperes (typ.), the new switch is well suited for battery-powered portable applications, as well as automotive-telematics applications, such as vehicle entry systems and emergency calls.

The 50 Ohm, reflective UltraCMOS^® PE42421 switch features high linearity of 50 dBm (News - Alert) IIP3 and on-chip, low-voltage CMOS control logic. It can be controlled using either single-pin or complementary-control inputs. Additionally, the switch features low insertion loss of 0.35 dB @ 1.0 GHz and 0.50 dB @ 2.0 GHz, with high isolation of 30 dB @ 1 GHz and 20 dB @ 2 GHz. Using a nominal +3V power-supply voltage, a typical input 1 dB compression point of +33.5 dBm can be achieved.

"Customers continue to push for low power and high ESD performance in the smallest package size possible, in order to deliver optimal RF performance in their portable device, and automotive-telematics designs," said Mark Schrepferman, director of marketing for Peregrine Semiconductor's high-performance solutions business unit. "The PE42421 switch meets these needs, and also makes customers' manufacturing processes more reliable."

Development Tool Support

Peregrine Semiconductor also announced the PE42421 Evaluation Kit (part # EK42421-01), today. The kit includes a USB interface board and cable, and is priced at $95.00. It can be ordered from Peregrine's global direct sales representatives and global distribution network.

Packaging, Pricing & Availability

The PE42421 switch is available in a 6-lead SC-70 package for $0.30 each, in 10,000-unit quantities. Samples and volume-production quantities can be ordered today, through Peregrine's global direct sales representatives. For more information, visit http://www.psemi.com.

About Peregrine Semiconductor

Peregrine Semiconductor (NASDAQ: PSMI) is a fabless provider of high performance radio frequency integrated circuits, or RFICs. Our solutions leverage our proprietary UltraCMOS^® technology, which enables the design, manufacture, and integration of multiple RF, mixed-signal, and digital functions on a single chip. Our products deliver what we believe is an industry-leading combination of performance and monolithic integration, and target a broad range of applications in the aerospace and defense, broadband, industrial, mobile wireless device, test and measurement equipment, and wireless infrastructure markets. UltraCMOS technology combines the ability to achieve the high levels of performance of traditional specialty processes, with the fundamental benefits of standard CMOS, the most widely-used semiconductor process technology. UltraCMOS technology utilizes a synthetic sapphire substrate, a near-perfect electrical insulator, providing low parasitic capacitance, and enabling high signal isolation, and excellent broadband linearity. These attributes result in RF devices with excellent high-frequency performance and power-handling performance, reduced crosstalk between frequencies, and enhanced network efficiency. We have engineered design advancements, including our patented HaRP™ technology which significantly improves harmonic and linearity performance; and our patent-pending DuNE™ technology, a circuit design technique that we have used to develop our advanced Digitally Tunable Capacitor (DTC) products. We offer a broad portfolio of high-performance RFICs including switches, digital attenuators, mixers/upconverters, prescalers, frequency synthesizers, Digitally Tunable Capacitors (DTCs), and DC-to-DC converter products; and we are currently developing Power Amplifiers (PAs). Our products are sold worldwide through our direct sales and field applications engineering staff, and our network of independent sales representatives, and distribution partners. Additional information is available on the Company's website at http://www.psemi.com.

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The Peregrine Semiconductor name, logo and UltraCMOS are registered trademarks, and DuNE and HaRP are trademarks of Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation in the U.S.A., and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Editorial Contact:
Michelle Ragsdale
Sr. Public Relations Generalist
9369 Carroll Park Dr.
San Diego, CA (News - Alert) 92121
Phone: 858-795-0154
mragsdale@psemi.com

Tags / Keywords: RF CMOS IC, RF switch, SPDT, automotive telematics, battery powered

Hi-res photo and block diagram available through editorial contact, or Flickr (feel free to publish):

Photo http://www.flickr.com/photos/peregrinesemiconductor/7550660844/sizes/l/

Block Diagram http://www.flickr.com/photos/peregrinesemiconductor/7550660672/sizes/l/

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