A comparison of Bulk and Epitaxial PIN diodes in low cost wideband RF switching

Both bulk and Epi PIN diodes offer different properties, suiting them for different niches in RF switching. RF switches used in CATV systems are fine examples of stringent requirements for wide bandwidth and low cost. Compared to FET- or CMOS-based switches, PIN diode switches have two important advantages: a) higher linearity—especially critical in a multi-carrier environment and b) ease of cascading additional switches in series without the need to duplicate control lines. Being two terminal devices, PIN diodes are also less complicated to model in simulators.