Multi-throw plastic MMIC switches up to 6 GHz with integrated positive control logic

SP3T, SP4T, SPGT and SP8T GaAs MMIC switches with integrated positive control low-power decoder/driver logic are described for the first time. By integrating single-pole multi-throw microwave switches with positive voltage, low power decoder/drivers, the number of I/O control lines is significantly reduced, die area/cost is reduced and RF performance is improved. Positive control allows direct interfacing to standard CMOS/TTL drivers, simplifying PCB integration. These plastic packaged terminated multi-throw switches operate in the 2.4 GHz and 5.2/5.8 GHz ISM bands. Insertion losses are under 2 dB, return losses exceed 10 dB, isolations are more than 24 dB, one dB input power compressions range from 21-26 dBm and single tone third order intercepts exceed 35 dBm at 2 GHz. The logic operates from -40/spl deg/C to +85/spl deg/C with a 5 V supply voltage while consuming less than 30 mW of DC power. Control current requirements are under 100 uA per control line. Switching times are under 250 ns.