February 22, 2001–San Diego, California–Peregrine Semiconductor, an innovative developer and supplier of high-performance communications-based ICs to the optical networking and wireless markets, today introduced PE9701 and PE9702, the world’s first space-qualified 3GHz phase locked loop (PLL) ICs. These products are targeted for space and defense customers, with sampling to begin mid-March.

Both the 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,” says Chuck Tabbert, director of Space and Defense Products for Peregrine Semiconductor. “This is commercial-off-the-shelf at its best.”

Built using Peregrine’s 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 show impressive single event upset tolerances.

“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,” says 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.”