Patent ID: 7639100

Claim:
A PIN diode switch having a switch input port and a switch output port, the switch configured to switch between a pass-through state connecting the switch input port to the switch output port and a high impedance state isolating the switch input port from the switch output port, the switch comprising: at least two series-connected PIN diodes each characterized by a long carrier-recombination lifetime and having an anode and a cathode, the respective anodes of the series-connected PIN diodes each connected to the switch input port and the respective cathodes of the series-connected PIN diodes each connected to the switch output port; at least two shunt-connected PIN diodes each characterized by a long carrier-recombination lifetime and having an anode and a cathode, the respective anodes of the shunt-connected PIN diodes connected to the respective cathodes of the series-connected PIN diodes and the respective cathodes of the shunt-connected PIN diodes connected to a circuit ground; and a control port configured to receive a control signal, the control port connected to the respective cathodes of the series-connected PIN diodes and to the respective anodes of the shunt-connected PIN diodes, the control signal operating in either a first control signal state which places the at least two series-connected PIN diodes in a highly conductive state and the at least two shunt-connected PIN diodes in a non-conducting state to thereby conductively couple the switch input port to the switch output port, or a second control signal state which places the at least two series-connected PIN diodes in a non-conducting state and the at least two shunt-connected PIN diodes in a highly conductive state to thereby isolate the switch input port from the switch output port.