Flip-Chip-Based Multichip Module for Low Phase-Noise V -Band Frequency Generation
Magazine article, 2010
This paper reports on a flip-chip (FC)-based multichip module (MCM) for low phase-noise (PN) V -band frequency generation. A high-performance x8 GaAs metamorphic high-electron mobility transistor monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) multiplier and a low PN 7-GHz GaAs InGaP heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) MMIC oscillator were used in the module. The microstrip MMICs were FC bonded to an Al2O3 carrier with patterns optimized for low-loss transitions. The FC-based module was experimentally characterized to have a PN of -88 dBe/Hz @ 100-kHz offset and -112 dBc/Hz @ 1-MHz offset with an output power of 11 dBm. For comparison, the MMICs were also FC bonded as individual chips and the performance was compared with the bare dies without FC bonding. It was verified that the FC bonding has no detrimental effect on the MMIC performance. The tests revealed that the FC module provided improved performance. To our best knowledge, this is the first FC-based module for millimeter-wave frequency generation. The module also presents one of the best PN reported for millimeter-wave frequency sources.
interconnection
ghz
oscillator
V -band
monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC)
oscillator
multiplier
Flip-chip (FC)
receiver
technology
frequency generation
vco
millimeter wave
phemt
phase noise (PN)
performance
multichip module (MCM)
design
Author
Li-Han Hsu
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Microwave Electronics
National Chiao Tung University
Dan Kuylenstierna
GigaHertz Centre
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Microwave Electronics
Rumen Kozhuharov
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Microwave Electronics
GigaHertz Centre
Marcus Gavell
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Microwave Electronics
Camilla Kärnfelt
GigaHertz Centre
Telecom Bretagne
W. C. Lim
National Chiao Tung University
Herbert Zirath
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Microwave Electronics
GigaHertz Centre
E. Y. Chang
National Chiao Tung University
IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques
0018-9480 (ISSN) 15579670 (eISSN)
Vol. 58 9 2408-2419 5535224Subject Categories
Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering
DOI
10.1109/TMTT.2010.2057135