Improved circuit-device interface for microwave bipolar power transistors

Several improvements in the mounting and interconnection of bipolar microwave power transistors are described. A plated heat sink applied to thinned transistor pellets decreases the junction temperature for a given dissipation level by approximately a factor of 2. A new, low-parasitic-BeO carrier provides improved power sharing between cells and better high-frequency performance as illustrated by a CW power output of 4 W at 5 GHz with 6-dB gain. Finally, a new etched-line interconnection system is discussed that promises to become a highly reproducible, low-cost replacement for the widely used, but troublesome, multiple wire bonds.