MACOM's MA4AGSW5 is an Aluminum-Gallium-Arsenide anode enhanced, SP5T PIN diode switch. AlGaAs anodes, which utilize MACOM's patent pending hetero-junction technology, produce less loss than conventional GaAs processes, by as much as 0.3 dB reduction in insertion loss at 50 GHz. These devices are fabricated on a OMCVD epitaxial wafer using a process designed for high device uniformity and extremely low parasitics. The diodes themselves exhibit low series resistance, low capacitance, and fast switching speed. They are fully passivated with silicon nitride and have an additional layer of a polymer for scratch protection. The protective coating prevents damage to the junction and the anode air bridges during handling. Off-chip bias circuitry is required and allows maximum design flexibility. Applications The low capacitance of the PIN diodes makes this device ideal for use in microwave multi-throw switch designs. The low series resistance of the diodes reduces the insertion loss of the devices at microwave/millimeter-wave frequencies. These AlGaAs PIN switches are used as switching arrays on radar systems, optical switching networks, instrumentation, and other wideband multi-throw switch assemblies.
