A broadband low‐loss SPDT RF switch using a new off‐chip compensation technology

Abstract

SummaryAn off‐chip compensation technology for low‐loss and broadband characteristics of radio frequency (RF) switches is proposed based on mathematical analysis of series shunt single pole double throws switches in this letter. This compensation technology can absorb the parasitic parameters of the switch Field Effect Transistor, improving the insertion loss and return loss of the switch as well as supporting higher bandwidth. To verify the design principle, a RF switch, using the SANAN GaAs 0.15 um pseudomorphic High Electron Mobility Transistors (pHEMT) process, and an off‐chip compensation network were designed and implemented. Specifically, after using an off‐chip compensation network, the measured bandwidth of switch has been expanded from 1.1–8.8 to 0.8–11 GHz, while the input and output return loss have also improved significantly.