Oki Electric Provides Samples of UltraCMOS™ Technology-based High-isolation CMOS Switches
Achieves 100 times higher isolation compared to conventional products
ML81221GD
Tokyo, Japan, May 18, 2006 -- Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (TSE: 6703) today announced the launch of its ML81221GD, a CMOS switch with high-isolation that is developed on SOS (silicon-on-sapphire) technology based on Peregrine Semiconductor Corp's UltraCMOS™ process technology. The ML81221GD is compatible with digital terrestrial TVs including those of one-segment digital TV type for mobile phones and achieves a high level of isolation, 40dB at 900MHz (signal leakage 0.01%), in addition to low power consumption.
"Our ML81221GD is a CMOS Double Pole Double Throw (DPDT) switch(*1) best used to switch high frequency signals in receivers including those for FM radio, TV, and GPS (global positioning system)," said Masahiko Morioka, President of Silicon Solutions Company at Oki Electric. "We believe with the start of digital terrestrial broadcasting for mobile terminals that began in Japan in April this year, this chip responds to the increasing demand for a high-isolation RF switch for antennas and various receivers mounted on mobile terminals, since mobile terminals are now equipped with such switches."
SOS is a type of SOI(*2) technology that forms an IC by growing single crystal silicon on a sapphire substrate. Sapphire substrates are known for their high-level of electric isolation with little parasitic capacity on the various elements that are formed, thus achieving high-isolation and low power consumption. Oki has formed a comprehensive alliance with Peregrine Semiconductor Corp. since January 2003 that includes semiconductor design, production and sales to incorporate UltraCMOS technology and to deploy wireless products in the personal and mobile markets. Since the team-up, Oki has been jointly designing CMOS RF switches, manufacturing wafers at Oki's sites, and selling products from Peregrine. Following the ML8122MD that was launched in October 2005, Oki has now added ML81221GD CMOS RF switch, which is now being provided to the worldwide market.
Using the UltraCMOS technology and a newly adopted Oki original switcher, the ML81221GD achieves 100 times higher isolation compared to conventional Oki products with 40dB at 900 MHz (signal leakage 0.01%), when the switch is off. The chip also operates with one-fifth lower power consumption than RF switches with GaAS compound semiconductors and withstands over 2,000V of ESD pressure(*3) in HBM. Customers can handle the chip the same way as a CMOS LSI in their manufacturing line. In addition, because the sapphire board does not include arsenic (As), which is a substance that causes environmental burden, it is considered an environmental-friendly RF switch.
By miniaturizing the SOS process, Oki will continue to work on developing high-function, high frequency RF switches and RF front-end LSIs to enable multi-mode and multi-band, as mobile wireless terminals achieve higher speed. Oki will provide and develop products to contribute to smaller, higher function, lower power consumption mobile terminals.
Glossary
- *1 :DPDT (double pole double throw) switch
A switch with double input and output for switching between two antennas, depending on the reception, to ensure high quality communication.
- *2 :SOI (silicon on insulator)
A device or a semiconductor substrate with a thin single crystal silicon layer formed on an insulating film. By forming SOI on a MOS transistor, the characteristics are improved by reducing parasitic capacity and enabling low voltage operation, to achieve low power consumption devices.
- *3 :ESD (electrostatic discharge) withstand voltage
This is a measure of the resistance of an element being destroyed by electrostatic discharge. Generally, high frequency components have low ESD withstand voltage, as they cannot be equipped with enough electrostatic protection circuit to ensure their high frequency characteristics. Thus, caution is required in handling high frequency components in the manufacturing process.
About Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
Founded in 1881, Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. is Japan's first telecommunications manufacturer, with its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. With the corporate vision, "Oki, Network Solutions for a Global Society," Oki provides top-quality products, technologies and solutions to its customers through its info-telecom system business, semiconductor business and printer business. All three businesses function as a collective force to create exciting new products and technologies that satisfy a spectrum of customer needs in various markets. Visit Oki's global web site at http://www.oki.com/.
- UltraCMOS is a trademark of Peregrine Semiconductor Corp
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