Abstract: Low Q associated with passive components of monolithic integrated circuits (ICs) when operated at microwave frequencies can be avoided or mitigated using high resistivity (e.g., ?100 Ohm-cm) semiconductor substrates and lower resistance inductors for the IC. This eliminates significant in-substrate electromagnetic coupling losses from planar inductors and interconnections overlying the substrate. The active transistor(s) are formed in the substrate proximate the front face. Planar capacitors are also formed over the front face of the substrate. Various terminals of the transistor(s), capacitor(s) and inductor(s) are coupled to a ground plane on the rear face of the substrate using through-substrate-vias to minimize parasitic resistance. Parasitic resistance associated with the planar inductors and heavy current carrying conductors is minimized by placing them on the outer surface of the IC where they can be made substantially thicker and of lower resistance.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide a die crack detector and method that use a conductive trace arranged to at least substantially extend around a perimeter of an integrated circuit die. A one-time programmable element, such as a fuse, is coupled in series with the conductive trace, and a package lead is electrically coupled to both the fuse and another operational element on the integrated circuit die. With the fuse intact the package lead can thus be used to determine a measurement of the conductivity of the conductive trace, with the measurement of conductivity indicative of the presence of a crack on the die. After such testing the fuse can be electrically opened, and the package lead used for normal operation of the device on the packaged die without the conductive trace interfering with this operation.

Abstract: Low Q associated with passive components of monolithic integrated circuits (ICs) when operated at microwave frequencies can be avoided or mitigated using high resistivity (e.g., ?100 Ohm-cm) semiconductor substrates and lower resistance inductors for the IC. This eliminates significant in-substrate electromagnetic coupling losses from planar inductors and interconnections overlying the substrate. The active transistor(s) are formed in the substrate proximate the front face. Planar capacitors are also formed over the front face of the substrate. Various terminals of the transistor(s), capacitor(s) and inductor(s) are coupled to a ground plane on the rear face of the substrate using through-substrate-vias to minimize parasitic resistance. Parasitic resistance associated with the planar inductors and heavy current carrying conductors is minimized by placing them on the outer surface of the IC where they can be made substantially thicker and of lower resistance.

Abstract: An embodiment of a packaged RF amplifier device includes a device substrate, a transistor die coupled to the device substrate, and an isolation structure coupled to the transistor die. The transistor die has a top die surface, a bottom die surface, a semiconductor substrate, first and second transistors formed in the semiconductor substrate, a conductive structure at the top die surface and positioned between the first and second transistors, and a low resistance path that extends vertically through the semiconductor substrate between the conductive structure and the bottom die surface. The isolation structure is coupled to the conductive structure and extends into an area above the top die surface between the first and second transistors. The isolation structure may be a wirebond fence, a conductive wall, conductive pillars or vias, or a plated trench that extends vertically upward from the conductive structure. The device may be encapsulated with molding compound.

Abstract: A device includes a semiconductor substrate having a surface with a trench, first and second conduction terminals supported by the semiconductor substrate, a control electrode supported by the semiconductor substrate between the first and second conduction terminals and configured to control flow of charge carriers during operation between the first and second conduction terminals, and a Faraday shield supported by the semiconductor substrate and disposed between the control electrode and the second conduction terminal. At least a portion of the Faraday shield is disposed in the trench.

Abstract: Low Q associated with passive components of monolithic integrated circuits (ICs) when operated at microwave frequencies can be avoided or mitigated using high resistivity (e.g., ?100 Ohm-cm) semiconductor substrates and lower resistance inductors for the IC. This eliminates significant in-substrate electromagnetic coupling losses from planar inductors and interconnections overlying the substrate. The active transistor(s) are formed in the substrate proximate the front face. Planar capacitors are also formed over the front face (63) of the substrate. Various terminals of the transistor(s), capacitor(s) and inductor(s) are coupled to a ground plane on the rear face of the substrate using through-substrate-vias to minimize parasitic resistance. Parasitic resistance associated with the planar inductors and heavy current carrying conductors is minimized by placing them on the outer surface of the IC where they can be made substantially thicker and of lower resistance.

Abstract: An embodiment of a packaged RF amplifier device includes a device substrate, a transistor die coupled to the device substrate, and an isolation structure coupled to the transistor die. The transistor die has a top die surface, a bottom die surface, a semiconductor substrate, first and second transistors formed in the semiconductor substrate, a conductive structure at the top die surface and positioned between the first and second transistors, and a low resistance path that extends vertically through the semiconductor substrate between the conductive structure and the bottom die surface. The isolation structure is coupled to the conductive structure and extends into an area above the top die surface between the first and second transistors. The isolation structure may be a wirebond fence, a conductive wall, conductive pillars or vias, or a plated trench that extends vertically upward from the conductive structure. The device may be encapsulated with molding compound.

Abstract: A device includes a semiconductor substrate having a surface with a trench, first and second conduction terminals supported by the semiconductor substrate, a control electrode supported by the semiconductor substrate between the first and second conduction terminals and configured to control flow of charge carriers during operation between the first and second conduction terminals, and a Faraday shield supported by the semiconductor substrate and disposed between the control electrode and the second conduction terminal. At least a portion of the Faraday shield is disposed in the trench.

Abstract: A multiple-path, configurable, radio-frequency (RF) circuit is provided, including: a first amplifier path amplify a first RF signal to generate a first amplified signal; a second amplifier path configured to amplify a second RF signal to generate a second amplified signal; a corrective input matching circuit, configured to change first input-impedance-matching properties of the first amplifier path, and to change second input-impedance-matching properties of the second amplifier path; a first isolation element configured to selectively ground an input node of the second amplifier path; a second isolation element configured to selectively ground an output node of the second amplifier path; and a third isolation element connected between the first and second amplifier paths, configured to selectively isolate the corrective input matching circuit from first and second input nodes of the first and second amplifier paths, respectively, or connect the corrective input matching circuit to the first and second input

Abstract: A multiple-path, configurable, radio-frequency (RF) circuit is provided, including: a first amplifier path amplify a first RF signal to generate a first amplified signal; a second amplifier path configured to amplify a second RF signal to generate a second amplified signal; a corrective input matching circuit, configured to change first input-impedance-matching properties of the first amplifier path, and to change second input-impedance-matching properties of the second amplifier path; a first isolation element configured to selectively ground an input node of the second amplifier path; a second isolation element configured to selectively ground an output node of the second amplifier path; and a third isolation element connected between the first and second amplifier paths, configured to selectively isolate the corrective input matching circuit from first and second input nodes of the first and second amplifier paths, respectively, or connect the corrective input matching circuit to the first and second input

Abstract: Low Q associated with passive components of monolithic integrated circuits (ICs) when operated at microwave frequencies can be avoided or mitigated using high resistivity (e.g., ?100 Ohm-cm) semiconductor substrates and lower resistance inductors for the IC. This eliminates significant in-substrate electromagnetic coupling losses from planar inductors and interconnections overlying the substrate. The active transistor(s) are formed in the substrate proximate the front face. Planar capacitors are also formed over the front face (63) of the substrate. Various terminals of the transistor(s), capacitor(s) and inductor(s) are coupled to a ground plane on the rear face of the substrate using through-substrate-vias to minimize parasitic resistance. Parasitic resistance associated with the planar inductors and heavy current carrying conductors is minimized by placing them on the outer surface of the IC where they can be made substantially thicker and of lower resistance.

Abstract: Low Q associated with passive components of monolithic integrated circuits (ICs) when operated at microwave frequencies can be avoided or mitigated using high resistivity (e.g., ?100 Ohm-cm) semiconductor substrates (60) and lower resistance inductors (44?, 45?) for the IC (46). This eliminates significant in-substrate electromagnetic coupling losses from planar inductors (44, 45) and interconnections (50-1?, 52-1?, 94, 94?, 94?) overlying the substrate (60). The active transistor(s) (41?) are formed in the substrate (60) proximate the front face (63). Planar capacitors (42?, 43?) are also formed over the front face (63) of the substrate (60). Various terminals (42-1?, 42-2?, 43-1, 43-2?,50?, 51?, 52?, 42-1?, 42-2?, etc.) of the transistor(s) (41?), capacitor(s) (42?, 43?) and inductor(s) (44?, 45?) are coupled to a ground plane (69) on the rear face (62) of the substrate (60) using through-substrate-vias (98, 98?) to minimize parasitic resistance.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide a die crack detector and method that use a conductive trace arranged to at least substantially extend around a perimeter of an integrated circuit die. A one-time programmable element, such as a fuse, is coupled in series with the conductive trace, and a package lead is electrically coupled to both the fuse and another operational element on the integrated circuit die. With the fuse intact the package lead can thus be used to determine a measurement of the conductivity of the conductive trace, with the measurement of conductivity indicative of the presence of a crack on the die. After such testing the fuse can be electrically opened, and the package lead used for normal operation of the device on the packaged die without the conductive trace interfering with this operation.

Abstract: Low Q associated with passive components of monolithic integrated circuits (ICs) when operated at microwave frequencies can be avoided or mitigated using high resistivity (e.g., ?100 Ohm-cm) semiconductor substrates (60) and lower resistance inductors (44?, 45?) for the IC (46). This eliminates significant in-substrate electromagnetic coupling losses from planar inductors (44, 45) and interconnections (50-1?, 52-1?, 94, 94?, 94?) overlying the substrate (60). The active transistor(s) (41?) are formed in the substrate (60) proximate the front face (63). Planar capacitors (42?, 43?) are also formed over the front face (63) of the substrate (60). Various terminals (42-1?, 42-2?, 43-1, 43-2?,50?, 51?, 52?, 42-1?, 42-2?, etc.) of the transistor(s) (41?), capacitor(s) (42?, 43?) and inductor(s) (44?, 45?) are coupled to a ground plane (69) on the rear face (62) of the substrate (60) using through-substrate-vias (98, 98?) to minimize parasitic resistance.

Abstract: An RF power transistor with a metal design (70) comprises a drain pad (72) and a plurality of metal drain fingers (74) extending from the drain pad, wherein at least one metal drain finger comprises one or more sections of metal (74-1, 74-2, 100-1, 100-2, 100-3), each section of metal including of one or more branch (54-1, 54-2, 116-1, 116-2, 116-11, 116-21, 116-41) of metal having a metal width maintained within a bamboo regime.

Abstract: A power transistor comprises a number of groups of gate fingers of various widths and can include uniform or non-uniform pitch. The widths may include any number of different widths. In one embodiment, there are included three widths W1, W2, and W3, in which W3>W2>W1. The groups of gate fingers are arranged from greater width to lesser width disposed from a periphery to a center of the device. In addition, the gate fingers are configured to have one of a centered justification, a gate pad side justification, and a drain pad side justification, along a dimension of the power transistor layout. In another embodiment, the groups of gate fingers having widths W1, W2, and W3 are configured symmetrically about a center line of the device. The variable gate finger widths provide a level of greater power density at the outside of the die in relation to a power density at the center of the die. Asymmetrical arrangements of gate finger widths are also contemplated.

Abstract: A semiconductor device, such as a RF LDMOS, having a ground shield that has a pair of stacked metal layers. The first metal layer extends along the length of the semiconductor device and is formed on the upper surface of the semiconductor device body. The first layer has a series of regularly spaced apart lateral first slots. The second metal layer, coextensive with and located above the first metal layer, has a series of regularly spaced apart lateral second slots. The second slots overlie the spaces between the first slots, and the continuous portions of the second metal layer overlie the first slots. The slots are substantially parallel to wires extending over the ground shield. The ground shield is not limited to only two metal layers. The ground shield has a repeating unit design that facilitates automated design.

Abstract: An RF power transistor with a metal design (70) comprises a drain pad (72) and a plurality of metal drain fingers (74) extending from the drain pad, wherein at least one metal drain finger comprises one or more sections of metal (74-1, 74-2, 100-1, 100-2, 100-3), each section of metal including of one or more branch (54-1, 54-2, 116-1, 116-2, 116-11, 116-21, 116-41) of metal having a metal width maintained within a bamboo regime.

Abstract: In a semiconductor manufacturing method, an emitter region (211) and a base enhancement region (207) are formed to provide linear voltage, capacitance and low resistance characteristics. In the manufacturing method, a semiconductor device (200) is formed on a silicon substrate layer (101) with an epitaxial layer (203). Trenches (233) are cut into the epitaxial layer (203) and filled with oxide (601) to provide reduced junction capacitance and reduced base resistance. The emitter region (211) and the base enhancement region (207) are simultaneously formed through an anneal process.

Abstract: In a semiconductor manufacturing method, an emitter region (211) and a base enhancement region (207) are formed to provide linear voltage, capacitance and low resistance characteristics. In the manufacturing method, a semiconductor device (200) is formed on a silicon substrate layer (101) with an epitaxial layer (203). Trenches (233) are cut into the epitaxial layer (203) and filled with oxide (601) to provide reduced junction capacitance and reduced base resistance. The emitter region (211) and the base enhancement region (207) are simultaneously formed through an anneal process.