Learning Outcomes
UltraCMOS® RF switches and DSAs offer simplified design and high performance, often eliminating the need for blocking capacitors. However, in applications where non-zero DC voltages are present on RF ports, blocking capacitors become necessary—and if not properly managed, they can degrade performance or damage the device.
Whether you’re designing for broadband, cellular, or communications systems, this guide helps ensure optimal performance when blocking capacitors are required.
What you’ll learn inside:
✔️ When blocking capacitors are required for UltraCMOS® switches and DSAs
✔️ How non-zero DC voltages on RF ports can lead to gate-oxide stress and performance degradation
✔️ Why certain UltraCMOS® parts lack internal discharge paths and are more vulnerable
✔️ How to use external discharge resistors to protect devices and maintain RF performance
✔️ Recommended resistor values and trade-offs between insertion loss and discharge time
✔️ Real-world measurements showing the impact of resistor values on insertion loss and voltage decay
✔️ A complete list of affected part numbers that require external discharge paths
✔️ Best practices for integrating blocking capacitors in RF designs using UltraCMOS® technology