Rad-hard UltraCMOS™ process demonstrates best-in-class performance
Aix-en-Provence, France, November 14, 2006 — Peregrine Semiconductor, a supplier of the industry’s most advanced RF CMOS integrated circuits, today announced that its European subsidiary, Peregrine Semiconductor Europe, has been chosen by the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop the first Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) device for integration into European space applications. The procurement proposal is established under the European Component Initiative (ECI), an action plan that aims to develop and qualify in Europe, using European Technology, components that are intended for space applications.1
“Our mutual commitment to develop the ultra-high performance rad-hard RFICs for consumption in Europe’s space programs begins with an ultra-low phase noise, low-power Phase Locked-Loop (PLL) frequency synthesizer, designed to enable superior RF performance in European satellite payload applications,” said Ron Reedy, Peregrine’s Chief Technical Officer. “The current Peregrine portfolio of UltraCMOS PLLs has given us a strong foundation upon which we intend to further develop leading-edge RFIC performance for Europe and the world,” he added.
“We are confident that UltraCMOS is the right process technology and Peregrine is the right partner for the satellite commercial market as well as for ESA,” stated Massimo Claudio Comparini, Electronics Technical Officer and Director of Industrial Integration of Alcatel Alenia Space, a global leader in advanced on-board equipment and space systems. “The inherently rad-hard nature of the silicon-on-sapphire substrate makes it highly suitable for space applications requiring performance leadership. We expect to take full advantage of its capabilities through the use of standard components, as well as custom solutions, to boost the competitiveness of our extended family of space products,” he added.
The current Peregrine Integer-N, Fractional-N, and DSM PLL portfolio consists of commercial and space-level devices, with ultra-low phase noise at <-210 dBc/Hz normalized, and exceptional performance: 3.2 GHz operation; serial, parallel and hardwire programming; 6-bit reference counters; integrated 10/11 prescaler; phase detection; and 100krads Total Dose radiation tolerance.
About UltraCMOS™ Technology
UltraCMOS™ mixed-signal process technology is a patented variation of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology on a sapphire substrate providing with high yields and competitive costs. This technology delivers significant performance advantages over competing processes such as GaAs, SiGe BiCMOS and bulk silicon CMOS in applications where RF performance, low power and integration are paramount.
About Peregrine Semiconductor
Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets high-performance communications ICs for the wireless infrastructure and mobile wireless; broadband communications; space, defense and avionics markets. Manufactured on the Company’s proprietary UltraCMOS™ mixed-signal process technology, Peregrine products are uniquely poised to meet the needs of a global RF design community in high-growth applications such as WCDMA and GSM digital cellular, broadband, DTV, DVR and rad-hard space and defense programs. Peregrine 0.25µm and 0.5µm UltraCMOS devices are manufactured in its 6” CMOS facility located in Sydney, Australia and in Tokyo, Japan through an alliance with OKI Electric Industry Co., Ltd. The Company, headquartered in San Diego, California, maintains global sales support operations and a worldwide technical distribution network. Additional information is available on the web at psemi.com.
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The Peregrine Semiconductor name, logo and UTSi are registered trademarks and UltraCMOS is a trademark of Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
1 ESCC website; European Component Initiative; https://spacecomponents.org/public/eci/