Part 1 of this FAQ looked at the venerable electromechanical RF switch – still widely used in some applications, where it is the only viable option – and use of PIN diodes as RF switches. This part looks at analog and MEMS-based switches. Q: What is an analog switch? A: It’s conceptually straightforward: in basic […]
RF switches, Part 1: Mechanical and PIN-diode switches
There’s a ubiquitous and increasing need to switch RF signals ranging into the tens of GHz; four basic switch technologies – electromechanical, PIN diode, analog, and MEMS – are available, each with different features and capabilities. The need to switch RF signals has been a necessary design function since the earliest days of “wireless.” This […]
Monolithic SoI Wi-Fi front-end module includes LNA, PA, two RF switches
pSemi Corporation (formerly Peregrine Semiconductor) has announced the PE561221 monolithic SoI front-end module. Ideal for Wi-Fi home gateways, routers and set-top boxes, this high-performance module uses a smart bias circuit to deliver a high linearity signal and excellent long-packet error vector magnitude (EVM) performance The PE561221 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi FEM integrates a low-noise amplifier (LNA), […]
Digital step attenuators come in 2-bit, 5-bit, 6-bit or 7-bit configurations
AT IMS, pSemi Corporation (formerly Peregrine Semiconductor), announced the expansion of its digital step attenuator (DSA) portfolio with a family of value, high-performance DSAs. The four digital step attenuators feature industry-leading attenuation accuracy at an entry-level price point. “pSemi has a long, successful history of digital step attenuator development,” says Jim Cable, CTO at pSemi. “Our team […]
GaN FET driver excels at solid-state light detection and LiDAR apps
In IMS Booth #1349, pSemi Corporation (formerly known as Peregrine Semiconductor), a Murata company focused on semiconductor integration, announces the availability of the PE29101 gallium nitride (GaN) field-effect transistor (FET) driver for solid-state light detection and ranging (LiDAR) systems. The PE29101 boasts the industry’s fastest rise times and a low minimum pulse width. This high-speed […]
Fully integrated 8-channel LED boost PSiP uses switched capacitor architecture
pSemiTM Corporation (formerly Peregrine Semiconductor), a Murata company focused on semiconductor integration, introduces the PE23300, the industry’s only fully integrated LED boost power supply in package (PSiP) based on a charge-pump, switched-capacitor architecture that offloads most of the power-conversion work from the inductor to capacitors in the charge pump. Powering up to eight LED strings at […]
