Peregrine Semiconductor Corp. chose IMS 2015 to announce the availability of the first product from the MPAC product family, the UltraCMOS PE46120. Covering a frequency range of 1.8 to 2.2 GHz, the PE46120 integrates a 90° hybrid splitter, phase shifters, digital step attenuator, and a digital serial interface on a single die. Suitable for optimizing dual-path dynamically load-modulated amplifier architectures such as Doherty power amplifiers, the monolithic RF controller offers high linearity, high isolation, high power handling, and maximum phase-tuning flexibility compared to multichip gallium arsenide-based solutions.
“Doherty amplifiers remain strong as the power amplifier architecture of choice for today’s macrocell transceivers,” said Herman Hugo, global head of marketing and application engineering for RF power at Infineon Technologies. “As Infineon continues to develop leading- edge products that are customized for optimal performance in the overall system, the Peregrine Semiconductor MPAC product family offers RF performance and phase-tuning flexibility that will play a key role in Doherty amplifier optimization, yield and uniformity.”
The UltraCMOS PE46120 is designed for the LTE and LTE-A wireless-infrastructure transceiver market. This product’s 1.8- to 2.2-GHz range is suitable to enhance system performance, lower bill of material (BOM) costs, increase reliability and provide maximum tuning flexibility for Doherty amplifier architectures found in wireless infrastructure applications—such as macrocells, microcells and picocells.
When used for Doherty amplifier optimization, the PE46120 offers performance advantages in power-added efficiency, linearity across the frequency range, Doherty bandwidth through better matching, and increased effectiveness of the digital pre-distortion (DPD) loop. This MPAC product reduces BOM costs by improving the overall yield of expensive symmetric or asymmetric Doherty power amplifier assemblies. With uniformity and repeatability between transceiver paths, the PE46120 increases system reliability and increases transceiver yield. The monolithic controller can be used in either laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) or gallium nitride (GaN) Doherty amplifiers and can be programmed remotely through the digital interface to accommodate varying field requirements. This gives engineers the flexibility to adjust the phase and amplitude in real-time for operational and environmental factors.
“Macrocell transceiver shipments have experienced tremendous growth in the last two years,” said Joe Madden, founder and principal analyst at Mobile Experts. “As Doherty solutions move into more broadband applications, improved uniformity and repeatability in phase and amplitude adjustment will be critical.”
“Peregrine’s MPAC product family was introduced to provide RF system designers with the flexibility and required performance to precisely control phase and amplitude in dual-path dynamically load-modulated amplifier architectures,” said Kinana Hussain, Peregrine’s director of marketing. “Unlike competing solutions, the PE46120 integrates multiple components onto a single die—something GaAs technologies could never achieve. This monolithic solution equates to a more reliable, repeatable and easier-to-use solution for our customers.”
Executive appointments
Peregrine also announced that Duncan Pilgrim has been promoted to vice president and general manager of the newly formed high-performance analog (HPA) business unit. “Peregrine Semiconductor was acquired by Murata last December, and they have given us the charter to continue to grow our product offerings,” said Jim Cable, CEO of Peregrine Semiconductor. “To improve alignment with Murata and better serve our customers, we have formed two separate product divisions. Duncan’s strong marketing and engineering background makes him ideally suited to lead the new HPA division.”
Prior to this promotion, Pilgrim served as Peregrine’s vice president of marketing. Pilgrim, a 17-year semiconductor industry veteran, joined Peregrine in 2010. He previously served as vice president of marketing for Sequoia Communications and held product, strategic and technical marketing roles at RFMD. His strong technical background comes from engineering positions at RFMD, GEC Plessey Semiconductor, and Marconi. Pilgrim earned a master’s degree in business administration from Wake Forest University and a bachelor’s degree in electronic engineering from University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom.
In addition, Takaki Murata has been appointed vice president of business development for the high performance analog (HPA) business unit. Murata will be based in Peregrine’s San Diego headquarters.
“On the heels of the Murata acquisition, I am excited to announce that Takaki Murata will be joining the Peregrine team as vice president of business development for HPA,” said Pilgrim. “Takaki’s strong technical understanding of RF technologies, coupled with his 10 years of experience at Murata, makes him the perfect support as we begin to leverage and blend our leadership position in RF with the packaging and filter dominance of Murata.”
Murata was previously in charge of strategic sales planning and marketing as senior manager in the EMI filter product division of Murata Manufacturing. As part of a rotational leadership program, he worked several functions within Murata Manufacturing including cooperate accounting, product engineering of RF front-end modules and antennas and research and development of surface acoustic filters and ceramic materials. Murata earned a Ph.D. in electrical and electronic engineering from Chiba University, a master’s degree in material science and engineering from Pennsylvania State University, and a bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronic engineering from Kyoto University.
The company also announced that Colin Hunt has been promoted to vice president of worldwide sales. Hunt will be based in the company’s San Diego headquarters and will oversee Peregrine’s entire sales channel, which includes sales offices in the United States, Europe and Asia.
“Colin is the ideal person to fill this role,” said Cable. “Not only does Colin bring over 20 years of sales experience, but he brings an understanding of the Murata sales organization. A former employee of Murata, Colin is widely respected by their team and has been a very active participant in Peregrine’s integration activities with Murata, both prior to and after the actual deal close.”
Hunt has experience at companies including RFMD, NDK and Murata. Hunt joined Peregrine in February 2013 as European sales director. His strong technical background began early with an apprenticeship with the Royal Air Force. He has a proven track record of growing sales and developing successful business opportunities in both new and emerging markets.
