Next-generation DTCs greatly increase tuning ratio
San Diego, California, June 19, 2012 – Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation (Peregrine), a fabless provider of high-performance radio-frequency (RF) integrated circuits (ICs), today announced from booth # 2009 at the International Microwave Symposium (IMS2012) in Montreal, two new Digitally Tunable Capacitors (DTCs)—the PE64101 and PE64102 (PE64101/2) DTCs. The 5-bit, 32-state DTCs, designed using Peregrine’s DuNE™ tuning technology, enable wide-band tunable networks and minimize mismatch losses, improve system efficiency, and reduce radio complexity for cost-sensitive applications, such as RFID, phase shifters, and wireless communications, among others.
The PE64102 DTC has a tuning ratio of 7.4:1, and a capacitance range of 1.88 – 14.0 pF in 391 fF steps for shunt configuration. The PE64101 DTC features a tuning range of 4.3:1 and a capacitance range of 1.38 – 5.9 pF in 146 fF steps for shunt configuration. Both of the new devices are available in a miniature, 2 mm x 2 mm QFN package and, therefore, enable a smaller overall footprint. Additionally, both of the new DTCs feature low power consumption of 75 µA in normal operation—45 µA in standby—making them well suited for battery-powered portable applications. The devices also feature IIP3 linearity of 60 dBm across a wide tuning range, and are immune to latch up. They are controlled by an SPI interface and can be mounted in series or shunt configuration.
“With the increasing numbers of radios on wireless devices, and the increasing number of frequency bands, tuning is now a necessity,” said Mark Schrepferman, director of marketing for Peregrine’s High-Performance Solutions business unit. “Following the 2011 launch of our PE64904/5 DTCs for cellular handsets, the PE64101/2 DTCs address the performance requirements of the broader market, simplify tuning architectures and improve the performance of a variety of applications in the industrial, military and aerospace, automotive, medical, and infrastructure markets.”
Development Tool Support
Peregrine also announced the availability of evaluation kits for measuring the impedance and loss of the PE64101/2 DTCs, today. The kits include a USB interface board and cable, and are priced at $168.00 each. They can be purchased in July through Peregrine’s global network of fully-trained DTC Advocates.
Packaging, Pricing & Availability
The PE64101/2 DTCs are available in a 12-lead 2 mm x 2 mm QFN package. The PE64101 is priced at $0.74 each, in 10,000-unit quantities. The PE64102 is priced at $0.66 each, in 10,000-unit quantities. Samples can be ordered in July, through Peregrine’s global direct sales representatives. Volume-production quantities can also be ordered in July, through Peregrine’s DTC Advocates.
About Peregrine Semiconductor
Peregrine Semiconductor is a fabless provider of high-performance radio frequency integrated circuits (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, 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 https://psemi.bonfirela.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.