Peregrine Semiconductor has introduced the world's first space qualified 3GHz Phase Locked Loop (PLL) integrated circuits (ICs). These products are targeted for space and defense customers, with sampling beginning mid-March.
Parts number, PE9701 and PE9702, with and without charge pump respectively, are integer-N PLLs, featuring 10/11 dual modulus prescalers, phase comparators and counter values. These PLL ICs can be programmed through a serial or parallel interface, or can be directly hard wired. They meet Class S-level screening and Rad Hard requirements.
"Finally, space and defense designers are getting the same state-of-the-art RF functionality as their commercial counterparts, and therefore do not have to degrade or derate system performance for radiation effects," said Chuck Tabbert, Director of Space and Defense Products for Peregrine Semiconductor. "This is commercial off the shelf (COTS) at its best."
Built using Peregrine Ultra-Thin-Silicon (UTSi¿) CMOS process, the PE9701/9702 can easily attain 100Krad(Si) total dose tolerance. They are immune to any latch-up (well known for Silicon-On-Insulator technologies) and will show impressive Single Event Upset (SEU).
"I encourage all of our existing and potential space and defense customers to evaluate our new PE9701 and PE9702. These PLL ICs will provide them the superior performance they need for their demanding applications," said Dr. Stav Prodromou, Peregrine's president and CEO.
"These products are the stepping stones to greater integrated functionality sorely needed in the RF subsystems of advanced satellite and military radios. We plan to continue to expand our space and defense portfolio in the future as we build our commercial wireless business, and convert those designs to meet the system requirements for radiation tolerance."
