IN Brief:
- The PE423213 provides reflective SPDT switching between 300MHz and 10.6GHz for wireless and RF equipment.
- Typical supply current is 95nA, with insertion loss of 0.4dB at 6GHz and 100ns switching.
- The device uses a 1.6mm-square DFN package and is listed as in production, with an evaluation kit available.
pSemi has introduced the PE423213, a reflective single-pole double-throw RF switch combining a 300MHz to 10.6GHz operating range with 95nA typical supply current and a compact 1.6mm-square package for wireless equipment.
The device is manufactured using the company’s UltraCMOS+ silicon-on-insulator process and incorporates its HaRP switching technology. It is intended for applications including wireless access equipment, security systems, asset tracking, wearables, industrial IoT devices, and other products requiring RF signal routing across multiple frequency bands.
A single-pole double-throw switch connects one common radio-frequency port to either of two selectable paths. Within a wireless product, this function can be used to select between antennas, filters, or different parts of a transceiver’s signal chain without requiring a separate switch for each frequency band.
Broadband operation can reduce the number of switching components in equipment supporting several radio technologies, although the surrounding RF circuit must still provide the appropriate filtering, impedance matching, and signal processing. The PE423213 supplies the switching function rather than implementing the wireless protocols themselves.
The device supports frequencies used by industrial, scientific, and medical radio equipment, wireless local area networks, Bluetooth-related applications, and ultra-wideband systems. Its 10.6GHz upper limit extends coverage beyond conventional 2.4GHz wireless designs, allowing it to operate across a wider range of RF front-end configurations.
Electrical loss through the selected path is a central consideration when selecting an RF switch. Insertion loss reduces the signal power delivered to the following stage, which can affect receiver sensitivity or the amount of transmitted power reaching an antenna.
pSemi specifies typical insertion loss of 0.4dB at 6GHz, increasing to 0.5dB at 8.5GHz and 0.7dB at 10.6GHz. The increase at higher frequencies means that the effect of the switch must be evaluated against the operating bands and signal budget of the completed design.
Where a switch is positioned before a receiver’s low-noise amplifier, its insertion loss contributes to the receiver’s overall noise performance. In a transmitting circuit, the same loss reduces the useful RF power delivered towards the output, with the effect depending on the location of the switch in the signal chain.
Isolation describes the extent to which the unselected port is electrically separated from the active path. The PE423213 provides typical isolation of 28dB at 6GHz, 25dB at 8.5GHz, and 18dB at 10.6GHz, showing a reduction in isolation towards the upper end of its frequency range.
That behaviour can affect the suitability of the device for circuits where unwanted coupling between connected RF components must be restricted. Filtering, amplification stages, and the physical layout of the PCB remain relevant to the isolation achieved by the complete assembly.
As a reflective switch, the PE423213 does not terminate its disconnected RF path in the same way as an absorptive switching device. The resulting impedance behaviour must be considered when designing the circuits attached to its ports, particularly where signals may be present on an unselected connection.
pSemi’s UltraCMOS+ process uses silicon-on-insulator technology, in which insulating material separates active semiconductor structures from the underlying substrate. This construction is used in RF switching to manage unwanted electrical coupling and support the required high-frequency characteristics.
The PE423213 also incorporates the company’s HaRP technology enhancements, intended to improve switching behaviour and control signal settling characteristics. These capabilities form part of the device’s semiconductor design, while realised circuit performance remains dependent on the connected components and PCB implementation.
The manufacturer’s specified switching time is 100ns, allowing the selected signal path to change rapidly under the stated operating conditions. The complete radio’s transition time will also depend on the timing of associated circuitry, including amplifiers, oscillators, and any protocol-related control operations.
Low supply current is another defining characteristic. At a typical 95nA, the switch requires comparatively little current for its own operation, supporting its use in devices where the power budget is tightly controlled.
That figure must be distinguished from the electrical consumption of the complete radio. A transceiver also requires power for processing, frequency generation, amplification, and other operations, which can dominate the total energy used during transmission or reception.
The PE423213 operates from a supply between 2.7V and 3.6V and uses a single-bit control arrangement for selecting its RF path. Its operating temperature range extends from -40°C to +105°C, accommodating a range of equipment environments subject to the surrounding system’s own limits.
Component protection specifications include 2,000V under the human body model and 500V under the charged device model for electrostatic discharge. These are semiconductor handling and qualification measurements rather than guarantees of protection against all electrical transients encountered by installed equipment.
The manufacturer also specifies an input 1dB compression point of +24dBm at 8GHz, alongside a separate maximum power rating of 21dBm. The two figures describe different operating characteristics and cannot be substituted for one another when defining a circuit’s permissible RF power.
The PE423213 is supplied in a six-lead DFN package measuring 1.6 × 1.6mm, providing a compact footprint for RF boards with limited component space. Its small package also places importance on appropriate RF trace routing, grounding, and controlled-impedance connections.
pSemi lists the device as being in production under ordering code PE423213A-Z, with the EK423213-01 evaluation kit available for design assessment. The company will demonstrate the switch at electronica 2026 in Munich from 10 to 13 November, within Murata’s stand in Hall C4.
