The new TDSW050A2T is a single-pole, double-throw (SPDT) RF switch that works from true DC all the way up to 50 gigahertz—covering K-band, Ka-band, and beyond. That’s not just a spec sheet flex; it means this tiny chip can handle everything from baseband signals to millimeter-wave frequencies without breaking a sweat.
The secret sauce is a 150nm indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) pHEMT process—a mouthful that basically means it uses exotic semiconductor materials to keep noise low and speed high. The switch delivers 23dB of isolation at 50GHz, hits a 1dB compression point of 23dBm, and switches fast enough for demanding radar and comms systems. It runs on ±5V with minimal power draw and uses TTL control logic, so it plays nice with existing digital systems.
Built for the Harsh Stuff
This isn’t a consumer part. Teledyne HiRel is targeting space, military, and defense applications where radiation and extreme temperatures are the norm. The switch is TID tolerant to 100krad (silicon) and qualified to MIL-PRF-38534 Class K equivalency, meaning it can survive the vacuum of orbit or the inside of a fighter jet’s avionics bay. It operates from –40°C to 85°C and comes as a tiny 1.15mm x 1.47mm die for hybrid assembly.
Why DC Matters
Most RF switches struggle at low frequencies—they’re optimized for a narrow band and fall apart near DC. The TDSW050A2T works down to zero Hertz, which is rare for a 50GHz part. That makes it a one-chip solution for systems that need to route everything from control signals to high-frequency data streams. Think satellite payloads, phased-array antennas, or electronic warfare gear that can’t afford multiple switches.
The bottom line: as military and space systems push into millimeter-wave territory, components like this become the quiet backbone of the whole operation. Teledyne HiRel isn’t just keeping up—it’s giving engineers a single switch that spans the entire RF spectrum they care about. And that’s a big deal for the next generation of high-reliability hardware.
