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SP4T Switch Enables Wideband and High-frequency Applications
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- pSemi® Corporation, a Murata company focused on semiconductor integration, announces the production readiness of a new SP4T switch targeted for wideband and high frequency applications up to 52 GHz. New pSemi SP4T switch streamlines and simplifies fixed-beam beamforming architectures. Offered in a compact 3 × 3 LGA package, the PE42546  is designed to enhance 5G millimeter wave (mmWave) systems and short-range connectivity with best-in-class linearity, switching time and power handling combined with superior manufacturability and ease-of-use. This low-loss SP4T is part of a family of mmWave SPDT and SP4T switches designed to simplify layout and assembly while improving overall system efficiency in designs for wireless infrastructure, point-to-point communication, test and measurement and satellite communication applications. "With the market release of this packaged version of our low-insertion loss broadband RF switch, we continue to demonstrate our capability to advance the mmWave cutting edge," says Vikas Choudhary, vice president of sales and marketing at pSemi. "This product will accelerate mmWave usage in multiple applications and significantly improve manufacturability and ease-of-use for our customers." Features & Benefits
The PE42546 UltraCMOS® SP4T switch delivers RF performance, reliability and size to meet challenging mmWave system designs from 9 kHz to 52 GHz and is available in a 20-lead 3 × 3 mm LGA package. Superior wideband coverage — Best-in-class performance with proprietary design technique delivers RF performance up to 52 GHz. Low latency — Extremely fast switching for rapid transmit and receive data patterns in advanced communication schemes. Industry-leading power handling and linearity — Highest input P1dB and IP3 enable high data rate transmission capability in wireless communication. Beamforming – a 5G mmWave SP4T Case Study
As demand for virtual reality, augmented reality, 5G mmWave and connectivity applications increases, so does the demand for beamforming using phased arrays. The PE42546  SP4T offers a wider range of design options and flexibility combined with manufacturability for phased arrays using fixed beamformers. Beamforming architecture falls into two major categories:
Adaptive beamformers
Fixed or switched beamformers
Adaptive beamformers generally handle multiple users and require independently controlled phase shifters and attenuators such as pSemi's beamforming front ends . Devising the control circuit for handling multiple users can add to the expense and complexity of a design. In contrast, fixed or switched beamformers employ high-performing RF switches like the PE42546  to establish point-to-point communication with limited users. The latter architecture, illustrated below, offers several advantages over the former:
Simplified architecture and overall cost
Reduced design and system complexity
Faster beam switching
High-power transmission support
The PE42546 's superior RF performance, high linearity, low insertion loss, and compact footprint makes it a perfect candidate for applications like fixed or switched beamformers in 5G mmWave applications. To read about a test and measurement use case, visit our newsroom . More Information
About pSemi
pSemi Corporation is a Murata company driving semiconductor integration. pSemi builds on Peregrine Semiconductor's 30-year legacy of technology advancements and strong IP portfolio but with a new mission: to enhance Murata's world-class capabilities with high-performance RF, analog and mixed-signal solutions. With a strong foundation in RF integration, pSemi's product portfolio now spans power management, connected sensors, antenna tuning and RF frontends. These intelligent and efficient semiconductors enable advanced modules for smartphones, base stations, personal computers, electric vehicles, data centers, IoT devices and healthcare. From headquarters in San Diego and offices around the world, pSemi's team explores new ways to make electronics for the connected world smaller, thinner, faster and better. To view pSemi's semiconductor advancements or to join the pSemi team, visit www.psemi.com . The Peregrine Semiconductor name, Peregrine Semiconductor logo and UltraCMOS are registered trademarks and the pSemi name, pSemi logo, HaRP and DuNE are trademarks of pSemi Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies. The pSemi website is copyrighted by pSemi Corporation. All rights reserved. Media Contact

pSemi Announces Industry-leading 5G mmWave Switch Reaches Volume Production

Easing antenna tuning with digital capacitor ICs
Article By : Bill Schweber
Now, the tuning battle is over 5G and even 4G phones supporting multiple bands and embedded antennas such as the widely used PIFA. The need for what’s called antenna tuning—either by adjusting the antenna itself or via a matching circuit between power-amplifier output and the antenna—is almost as old as wireless itself. Even in those early days, electromagnetic theory and hands-on practical experimentation showed that effective power transfer and optimal antenna performance, measured by several parameters, require that the source impedance and the load impedance be complex conjugates. The problem has not gone away, but instead has morphed into a new and more-challenging form. Traditionally, antenna-matching circuits were built into smaller, lower-power radio designs; in other cases, they were and still are offered as commercial units in external enclosures. This was due to the high-power ratings spanning tens, hundreds, or even thousands of watts, along with the physically larger values needed at the lower frequencies of tens or several hundred megahertz. Some of these external tuners were designed for a single band, while others for multiband use cases, such as amateur or ham radio, which had front-panel switchers to enable adjustment settings for the different bands in use (Figure 1). Figure 1 This variable L-network random wire antenna tuner is designed for manually matching the low output impedance of transmitter (up to 200 watts) to the high impedance of a random wire (or vice versa) from 2 to 30 MHz. Source: MFJ Enterprises
Many of them are one-off, hand-crafted works combining artful form and required function (Figure 2). Figure 2 Many amateur-radio enthusiasts prefer to design and fabricate their own antenna-matching units for their bands of interest and power levels, such as this one covering 3 to 30 MHz and handling up to 150 watts. Note the toroidal transformer with multiple windings. Source:  http://pa-11019.blogspot.com/2011/
Newer antenna tuners incorporate autonomous self-controlled auto-tuning using an internal processor or allow an external PC to do so via an USB port. New applications, new approaches
But as the saying goes, times have changed. Now, the tuning battle is over 5G and even 4G phones supporting multiple bands and embedded antennas such as the widely used planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA). Smartphones are relatively low-power devices operating above a gigahertz with multiple bands, which must be supported with seamless band transitions and handoffs. The associated LC values are small, which simplifies the challenge in some ways, but also makes it harder in other ways. Complicating the situation, the matching values are not static but are dynamic in routine use as user’s hand changes location and angle, and phone’s position moves with respect to the head and body. Certainly, expecting the user to tune and optimize the antenna-matching circuit in use is simply not an option. Fortunately, there are now solutions to this dilemma via antenna-tuner ICs. These ICs address the issue by allowing digital setting of up to 16 capacitance values, thus changing the electrical characteristics just enough to optimize the matching or get close enough. Among the vendors are Peregrine Semiconductor (PE64909), Qorvo (QM13025), Skyworks Solutions (SKY59272-707LF), and Infineon (BGSC2341ML10). Unlike lower-frequency matching circuits with capacitance in the tens of picofarads, and even extending to the microfarads range, these ICs allow tweaking of very small capacitance shifts. For example, the Peregrine Semiconductor’s PE64909 device is a digitally tunable capacitor for 100-3,000 MHz (Figure 3). Figure 3 The PE64909 antenna tuner IC has a simple function and schematic (above), but its equivalent-circuit model is more complicated (below). Source:  Peregrine Semiconductor
In operation, a system processor can use a four-bit code to select one of 16 capacitance values via its 3-wire, SPI-compatible serial interface, serving from 0.6 pF to 2.35 pF (a 3.9:1 tuning ratio) in discrete steps of 117 femtofarad (fF). That’s clearly a modest dynamic range and a small step size, but it’s enough for the application. Qorvo notes that there are two ways to use capacitance to adjust the antenna appearance (Figure 4). Figure 4 Antenna tuning can be accomplished via aperture tuning or impedance tuning, each with distinct tradeoffs in attributes and capabilities. Source:  Qorvo
Aperture tuning optimizes the total antenna efficiency from the antenna terminal’s free space, and it can do so across multiple bands. It can provide advantages with respect to antenna efficiency for both transmit and receive communications, improving total radiated power (TRP) and total isotropic sensitivity (TIS) by 3 dB or more in some situations. Impedance tuning maximizes power transfer between the RF front-end and the antenna, and it increases the TRP and TIS by minimizing mismatch loss between the antenna and antenna front-end. It also helps to compensate for environmental effects such as a person’s hand position on a smartphone. Beyond antenna tuning
According to Qorvo, “Today, aperture tuning is the primary method used in handsets to overcome reduced antenna area and efficiency. Mid-tier and higher-end smartphones use a combination of aperture and impedance tuning to support the ever-broadening range of frequency bands, especially for 5G.”
These ICs are somewhat analogous to the widely used digital potentiometers (digipots), except those typically have 256 or more steps spread over a fairly wide kilohm range along with a much-larger relative step size. All this makes me wonder if commercially available digi-inductors will be coming soon as well. Beyond antenna tuning, I’d like to think that creative engineers are already looking at these parts and finding unforeseen uses for them. Historically, that’s been the reality as components which originally targeted one class of situations are soon adopted and adapted to address other problems. Perhaps these tunable pico-farad capacitors will be used to compensate for or cancel circuit parasitics in a balanced or differential topology. Or perhaps they will be used for precise calibration and measurement in some Wheatstone-bridge type of arrangement…you never know. Have you used these antenna tuner ICs? Do you see other non-primary uses for them to solve problems where just the right amount of tiny capacitance added would improve circuit or system performance? This article was originally published on  Planet Analog . Bill Schweber is an electronics engineer who has written three textbooks on electronic communications systems, as well as hundreds of technical articles, opinion columns, and product features. In past roles, he worked as a technical website manager for multiple EE Times sites and as both Executive Editor and Analog Editor at EDN. At Analog Devices, he was in marketing communications; as a result, he has been on both sides of the technical PR function, presenting company products, stories, and messages to the media and also as the recipient of these. Prior to the marcom role at Analog, Bill was Associate Editor of its respected technical journal, and also worked in its product marketing and applications engineering groups. Before those roles, he was at Instron Corp., doing hands-on analog- and power-circuit design and systems integration for materials-testing machine controls. He has a BSEE from Columbia University and an MSEE from the University of Massachusetts, is a Registered Professional Engineer, and holds an Advanced Class amateur radio license. He has also planned, written, and presented online courses on a variety of engineering topics, including MOSFET basics, ADC selection, and driving LEDs.

Easing antenna tuning with digital capacitor ICs

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SP4T Switch Portfolio Enables Wideband and High Frequency Applications
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- pSemi® Corporation, a Murata company focused on semiconductor integration, announces the production readiness of a new SP4T switch targeted for wideband and high frequency applications up to 67 GHz. New pSemi SP4T switch streamlines and simplifies filter bank designs. An industry-first, this compact and energy-efficient switch is designed to enhance 5G millimeter wave (mmWave) systems and short-range connectivity. Offering best-in-class insertion loss, linearity, switching time and power handling for frequencies up to 67 GHz, the PE42545  is part of a family of mmWave switches that can help designers simplify layouts and improve overall system efficiency in test and measurement, wireless infrastructure, non-terrestrial networks and point-to-point communication applications. "As commercial mmWave deployment accelerates, our customers need high-performance switches that are broadband, very low insertion loss and stellar return loss for a high-performing mmWave signal chain," says Vikas Choudhary, vice president of sales and marketing at pSemi. "With more than 30 years of expertise in high-frequency semiconductor invention and manufacturing, pSemi provides high-performance, dependable mmWave solutions that our customers and partners can count on." Features & Benefits
The PE42545 UltraCMOS® SP4T switch delivers RF performance, reliability and size to meet challenging mmWave system designs from 9 kHz to 67 GHz and is available in flip-chip die form. Superior wideband coverage — Best-in-class performance with proprietary design technique delivers RF performance up to 67 GHz. Low latency — Extremely fast switching for rapid transmit and receive data patterns in advanced communication schemes. Industry-leading power handling and linearity — Highest input P1dB and IP3 enable high data rate transmission capability in wireless communication. Test & Measurement – a mmWave SP4T Case Study
The test and measurement industry faces the unique challenge of needing to stay ahead of the 5G mmWave technology learning curve to deliver advanced testing solutions. Equipment must support higher power handling, high linearity, low insertion loss and fast switching to efficiently pressure test scenarios up to 67 GHz under extreme conditions. For test and measurement designers seeking to simplify complex broadband designs, a single PE42545 SP4T can replace multiple SPDTs used in cascaded filter bank configurations to reduce space and offer band-select paths with less insertion loss. Having access to scalable and reliable components ensures designers can easily adapt system designs to different band configurations as 3GPP standards evolve in 5G, 5G-Advanced and 6G. More Information
About pSemi
pSemi Corporation is a Murata company driving semiconductor integration. pSemi builds on Peregrine Semiconductor's 30-year legacy of technology advancements and strong IP portfolio but with a new mission: to enhance Murata's world-class capabilities with high-performance RF, analog and mixed-signal solutions. With a strong foundation in RF integration, pSemi's product portfolio now spans power management, connected sensors, antenna tuning and RF frontends. These intelligent and efficient semiconductors enable advanced modules for smartphones, base stations, personal computers, electric vehicles, data centers, IoT devices and healthcare. From headquarters in San Diego and offices around the world, pSemi's team explores new ways to make electronics for the connected world smaller, thinner, faster and better. To view pSemi's semiconductor advancements or to join the pSemi team, visit www.psemi.com . The Peregrine Semiconductor name, Peregrine Semiconductor logo and UltraCMOS are registered trademarks and the pSemi name, pSemi logo, HaRP and DuNE are trademarks of pSemi Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies. The pSemi website is copyrighted by pSemi Corporation. All rights reserved. Media Contact

11:15 EDT
pSemi Announces Industry-leading 5G mmWave Switch Reaches Volume Production

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Highly Integrated ICs Readily Enabled by Design-in Support Software to Speed System Development and Enhance System Performance
DENVER, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- INTERNATIONAL MICROWAVE SYMPOSIUM (IMS) – In IMS Booth #7078, pSemi® Corporation, a Murata company focused on semiconductor integration, announces the production readiness of two new mmWave ICs targeted for active antenna systems in 5G base stations, 5G customer premises equipment and point-to-point radio communication applications. In addition to the 8-channel beamforming front end and dual-channel up-down converter ICs, pSemi offers a complete support package of tools and technical expertise to simplify mmWave design and development. The new RF SOI ICs are the latest in our mmWave portfolio that offers full IF-to-RF coverage across the n257, n258, and n260 bands in the industry's smallest form factors. New mmWave ICs targeted for active antenna systems in 5G base stations, 5G customer premises equipment and point-to-point radio communication applications. "As the n257 band reaches global mainstream use, pSemi is pleased to introduce a suite of mmWave products and tools to support this growing demand," says Vikas Choudhary, vice president of sales and marketing at pSemi. "With an established history in high-frequency semiconductor innovation and manufacturing, pSemi has the expertise and infrastructure required to deliver mmWave solutions with the performance and quality our customers and partners can trust." Read more for the highlights or click to access the beamformer and up-down converter product briefs. Beamformer & Up-down Converter IC Features & Benefits
The PE188200 beamformer IC (n257 band) and PE128300 up-down converter IC (n257, n258 band) offer a wide range of features and benefits to 5G FR2 system designers, including:
Smallest footprint per channel – Monolithically integrated RF SOI ICs with the industry's smallest form factors make it easy to build large arrays without the need for extra routing. Full IF-to-RF coverage – Up-down converters can be paired with up to four pSemi beamformers to support massive-MIMO, hybrid-beamforming and other active antenna configurations. Additionally, the PE188200 8-channel beamformer IC offers:
Flexible antenna design – The 8-channel beamformer IC supports four dual-polarized or eight single-polarity antenna elements, and scaled configurations for optimum array gain, EIRP, and antenna directivity. Beamforming accuracy – Linear POUT at the desired EVM with low RMS phase and amplitude error for increased array gain and antenna directivity ensures accurate beamforming. Additionally, the PE128300 dual-channel up-down converter IC offers:
Highly integrated solution – Industry's first dual-channel up-down converter saves expensive real estate with the smallest footprint. Low power consumption – Best-in-class up-down converter IC performance enables more efficient system thermal management. Minimize system impairments – Optimal I/Q balance adjustment and minimal LO leakage results in improved EVM performance. mmWave Control Software
In addition to samples and evaluation kits (EVK) pSemi offers a complete support package of software tools and technical expertise to help customers get up to speed working with our beamformer ICs, up-down converter ICs, or arrayed combinations of both. Graphical User Interface (GUI)– The software GUI assures proper operation of register programming for effective, efficient code implementation. API Integration – Optimize your performance across channels with our GUI and API integration. Speed up software development and demonstration by embedding pSemi software within customer-specific code. Comprehensive User's Manual – Thorough user's manual for each product contains register programming requirements and operational details. pSemi Technology & Quality Advantage
From prototypes to volume shipments, pSemi delivers performance, integration and reliability bundled in a mmWave support package built on 30+ years of high-frequency semiconductor expertise. RF SOI Innovation – 30+ years of RFIC design innovation, with technical experts seasoned in delivering the highest levels of integration in the industry's smallest form factors. Patents & IP – Inventor of RF SOI technology with 1000+ patents that continue to push the boundaries of high-frequency semiconductor performance. Quality & Manufacturability – Backed by Murata, a trusted supplier with proven experience in high-volume manufacturing that meets the highest reliability and quality standards. More Information
These discrete RFICs will be featured and demonstrated as a part of the Murata antenna-integrated module in the pSemi IMS Booth #7078 from June 21 to June 23, 2022. For more information on the beamformer and up-down converter RFICs, contact  the pSemi team. About pSemi
pSemi Corporation is a Murata company driving semiconductor integration. pSemi builds on Peregrine Semiconductor's 30-year legacy of technology advancements and strong IP portfolio but with a new mission: to enhance Murata's world-class capabilities with high-performance RF, analog and mixed-signal solutions. With a strong foundation in RF integration, pSemi's product portfolio now spans power management, connected sensors, antenna tuning and RF frontends. These intelligent and efficient semiconductors enable advanced modules for smartphones, base stations, personal computers, electric vehicles, data centers, IoT devices and healthcare. From headquarters in San Diego and offices around the world, pSemi's team explores new ways to make electronics for the connected world smaller, thinner, faster and better. To view pSemi's semiconductor advancements or to join the pSemi team, visit www.psemi.com . The Peregrine Semiconductor name, Peregrine Semiconductor logo and UltraCMOS are registered trademarks and the pSemi name, pSemi logo, HaRP and DuNE are trademarks of pSemi Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies. The pSemi website is copyrighted by pSemi Corporation. All rights reserved. Media Contact

11:15 EDT
pSemi Announces First mmWave Beamformer and Up-down Converter ICs Reach Volume Production

Arctic Sand Technologies, founded in 2011, brings rapid power conversion semiconductors to market, based on technology developed by MIT. The company's products offer significant improvements in power conversion efficiency, transient performance and EMI, in footprints 2-4x smaller than the best in class competitors today and with a significantly lower profile, enabling smaller, thinner, lighter and more power efficient products to be realized.

Arctic Sand Technologies

With design centers in London , UK and San Diego , CA , USA , Peregrine Semiconductor Corp 's power IC team will integrate and collaborate with Arctic Sand Technologies 's teams in Boston and Silicon Valley .

Peregrine acquires MIT spin-off Arctic Sand

Aemulus is a Penang-based semiconductor company.

Aemulus

Aemulus Corporation and Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation collaborate on the development of a new microwave frequency tester .

Aemulus and Peregrine Semiconductor Collaborate to Advance High Frequency Testing.
Strategic Partnership Aligns Two Industry Leaders in Development of New Microwave Test Capability.

Arrow Electronics (NYSE: ARW) provides products, services and solutions to industrial and commercial users of electronic components and enterprise computing solutions. Arrow Electronics serves as a supply channel partner for suppliers and original equipment manufacturers, contract manufacturers and commercial customers through a global network.

Arrow Electronics

X-Microwave is an Austin-based stealth technology company developing RF systems. On August 30th, 2021, X-Microwave was acquired by Quantic Electronics. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

X-Microwave

MaxLinear (NASDAQ: MXL) provides radio-frequency and mixed-signal semiconductor solutions for broadband communications applications. It offers products including linearization IP and Qorvo power amplifiers. The company was founded in 2003 and is based in Carlsbad, California.

MaxLinear

Peregrine Semiconductor

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Companies in this collection develop everything from microprocessors to flash memory, integrated circuits specifically for quantum computing and artificial intelligence to OLED for displays, massive production fabs to circuit design firms, and everything in between.

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Peregrine Semiconductor is a fabless provider of high performance radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs). The comapny's solutions leverage UltraCMOS technology, which enables the design, manufacture, and integration of multiple radio frequency, or RF, mixed signal, and digital functions on a single chip. Peregrine's products deliver a combination of performance and monolithic integration. The company's solutions target a broad range of applications in the aerospace and defense, broadband, industrial, mobile wireless device, test and measurement equipment, and wireless infrastructure markets.

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James S Cable		Chief Executive Officer, President	Current
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Name	Paul D'addario
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