Title :
Novel thyristor-based microwave cross-point switch MMIC
Author :
La Rue, Ross A. ; Ngo, Thien Phuoc ; Chan, Elim ; Levine, Jules D. ; Kinayman, Noyan ; Hoag, David ; Goodrich, Joel ; Anderson, Richard ; Büber, Tekamül ; Khalil, Adil ; Boles, Tim ; Lanteri, Jean-Pierre
Author_Institution :
TeraBurst Networks, Sunnyvale, CA, USA
Abstract :
A novel GaAs 16 × 16 cross-point switch monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) is presented. The switch MMIC incorporates 256 GaAs microwave thyristor devices as switching elements. The thyristors are two-terminal devices with anodes connected to a common horizontal electrode and cathodes connected to a common vertical electrode. Bistable operation of the thyristors permits x-y addressing at the edge of the chip to turn on and off each thyristor. Applications include low-cost low-power high-bandwidth switching of signals for broad-band services. A detailed description of the thyristor device, MMIC structure and design, and simulation and experimental results are presented. Multilayer laminate ball-grid-array package design for the switch matrix will also be explained in detail.
Keywords :
III-V semiconductors; MMIC; ball grid arrays; chip scale packaging; gallium arsenide; integrated circuit design; laminates; microwave switches; multilayers; thyristors; GaAs; GaAs microwave thyristor device; MMIC structure; broad band service; cathode; electrode; microwave switch MMIC; microwave switch monolithic microwave integrated circuit; multilayer laminate ball grid array package; Anodes; Electrodes; Gallium arsenide; MMICs; Microwave devices; Microwave integrated circuits; Monolithic integrated circuits; Switches; Switching circuits; Thyristors;
Journal_Title :
Microwave Theory and Techniques, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TMTT.2003.819220
