Peregrine ships RF switch for TVs, set-top boxes and DVRs

Peregrine Semiconductor Corp., founder of RF SOI (silicon on insulator) and pioneer of advanced RF solutions, introduces the UltraCMOS PE42721 75-Ohm RF switch for designers of digital TV (DTV) tuner modules, cable TV (CATV) signal switching and distribution systems, multi-tuner digital video recorders (DVRs) and set-top boxes. The switch is ideal for geographic markets – such as China, Japan, Korea and Latin America – where broadband-TV devices must accommodate multiple RF inputs for cable, satellite and terrestrial reception while avoiding interference between these signals. To achieve this, the PE42721 switch features isolation so high that only this one tuner chip is needed in each device, which reduces the overall tuner footprint and cost of the system. Peregrine’s switch also delivers best-in-class linearity and electrostatic-discharge (ESD) performance because it pairs the high isolation with low insertion loss, which improves the signal fidelity by reducing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).

“This latest extension of Peregrine’s 75-Ohm switch portfolio offers broadband consumer-device and infrastructure designers a cost- and space-saving RF switch that prevents signal distortion,” says Mark Schrepferman, director of the commercial and industrial product line with Peregrine’s High Performance Solutions Business Unit.

Features, Packaging, Pricing & Availability

Peregrine’s PE42721 is a single-pole, double-throw (SPDT) switch that balances the requirements for high isolation and low insertion loss, while also reducing noise figure in broadband TV systems that require switching between two RF sources. Peregrine’s new switch provides isolation of greater than 55 dB across the entire, broad frequency range from 5 MHz to 2.2 GHz. The switch features excellent video feedthrough of 4 mVpp for reduced distortion. In addition, it delivers low insertion loss (0.4 dB @ 220 MHz; 0.5 dB @ 870 MHz; and 0.65 dB @ 2.2 GHz), which enhances overall system performance by reducing the noise figure (NF) of the RF receive path and improving the SNR. The high linearity (CTB/CSO of -99/-105 dBc) improves TV systems’ dynamic range, as well. The PE42721 supports 1.8 V and 3.3 V control logic, and high ESD performance. Its packaging is RoHS compliant, 12-lead QFN, and it measures 3 x 3 mm. Samples and volume-production parts are available now and priced at $0.45 each in 10K-quantity orders. Evaluation kit boards are $95. For more detail, view the PE42721 press kit for images and datasheet.