Peregrine Launches Ultra-linear Digital Step Attenuator.

PE4309 UltraCMOS[TM] DSA maintains performance at both 5V and 3V

SAN DIEGO -- Peregrine Semiconductor, a supplier of the industry's most advanced RF CMOS integrated circuits, today announced the availability of the PE4309 6-bit Digital Step Attenuator (DSA), designed for applications requiring extremely high linearity such as cellular base stations and repeaters; fixed wireless and WiMax and WiBro. The new PE4309 is the latest in a series of industry-leading DSAs developed on the Company's proprietary UltraCMOS[TM] process technology. With unprecedented linearity (52 dBm) across the device's entire broadband range; precise attenuation accuracy (31.5 range, 0.5 steps); high ESD tolerance (2KV HBM); and a flexible parallel programming mode, the device provides customers with a higher performance, footprint-compatible solution to competitive devices on the market today.

"The design flexibility provided by UltraCMOS allowed us to engineer a device with Vdd operation from 3V to 5V while maintaining identical RF performance," said Rodd Novak, vice-president of marketing for Peregrine Semiconductor. "This allows the use of a single device in both RF and IF radio sections where available voltages typically vary. Competing products cannot offer this versatility without the use of an external voltage conversion device, which translates into higher cost and larger footprint," he added. "The Peregrine solution saves space and money."

The 50-Ohm PE4309 DSA operates DC-4 GHz, raising the performance benchmark previously set by UltraCMOS DSAs. By providing an extremely high level of attenuation accuracy for both the differential and absolute specifications, design engineers are better able to develop precision down and up conversion circuits.

The PE4309 is packaged in the space-saving 24-lead 4x4 QFN package, and is sampling now. The device is priced at $2.50 ea. (10K units).

About UltraCMOS[TM] Technology

UltraCMOS[TM] mixed-signal process technology is a patented variation of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology on a sapphire substrate providing with high yields and competitive costs. This technology delivers significant performance advantages over competing processes such as GaAs, SiGe BiCMOS and bulk silicon CMOS in applications where RF performance, low power and integration are paramount.

About Peregrine Semiconductor

Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets high-performance communications ICs for the wireless infrastructure and mobile wireless; broadband communications; space, defense and avionics markets. Manufactured on the Company's proprietary UltraCMOS[TM] mixed-signal process technology, Peregrine products are uniquely poised to meet the needs of a global RF design community in high-growth applications such as WCDMA and GSM digital cellular, broadband, DTV, DVR and rad-hard space and defense programs. Peregrine 0.25[eth]-m and 0.5[eth]-m UltraCMOS devices are manufactured in its 6" CMOS facility located in Sydney, Australia and in Tokyo, Japan through an alliance with OKI Electric Industry Co., Ltd. The Company, headquartered in San Diego, Calif., maintains global sales support operations and a worldwide technical distribution network. Additional information is available on the web at psemi.com. Contact Peregrine's worldwide distribution partner, Richardson Electronics (Nasdaq:RELL), for sales information at 1-800-737-6937.

The Peregrine Semiconductor name, logo and UTSi are registered trademarks and Ultra CMOS is a trademark of Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.