Microwave and Millimeter-Wave Electronic Packaging
Answers to RF Cafe Quiz #58

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Return to RF Cafe Quiz #58

Microwave and Millimeter-Wave Electronic Packaging  - RF Cafe

This quiz is based on the information presented in Microwave and Millimeter-Wave Electronic Packaging, by Rick Sturdivant.

Note: Some of these books are available as prizes in the monthly RF Cafe Giveaway.

 

 

 

1.  Match the following frequency band ranges with their proper letter designations.

Letter Frequency Range
VHF

UHF

L

S

C

X

Ku

K

Ka

V

W

30 kHz - 300 MHz

300 MHz - 1 GHz

1 GHz - 2 GHz

2 GHz - 4 GHz

4 GHz - 8 GHz

8 GHz - 12 GHz

12 GHz - 18 GHz

18 GHz - 27 GHz

27 GHz - 40 GHz

40 GHz - 75 GHz

75 GHz - 110 GHz

(see page 2)

 

 

 

2.  What is the main additional issue concerning high versus low frequency design?

d)  All the above

At higher frequencies a set of additional issues arise compared to lower frequencies. Among them are distributed effects, undesired resonances in packaging elements or modules, circuit traces that must be treated as transmission lines, dispersion effects, coupling and cross-talk between circuits, very high heat density in circuits, parasitic effects and proper RF grounding, and hermiticity or otherwise protection of circuits.

(see page 3)

 

 

 

3.  What is the difference between loss tangent and dissipation factor?

b)  Dissipation factor does not account for permittivity being complex at high frequencies

Dissipation factor ignores the fact that permittivity is complex at high frequencies due to atonic resonances within the dielectric material.

(see page 18)

 

 

 

4.  What is a first-level interconnect in reference to RFIC design?

a)  Electrical connection between the semiconductor device and the package

First-level interconnects (FLI) are the electrical connections between semiconductor devices such as integrated circuits or transistors and the first level of packaging.

(see page 31)

 

 

 

5.  Match the following terms with their proper definitions.

Term Definition
Atomic polarization Occurs when the center of an electron cloud of an atom is displaced relative to the center of the nucleus in the presence of an electric field.
Ionic polarization Occurs when molecules with ionic bonds have a displacement of the positive ions relative to negative ions in the presence of an electric field.
Orientation polarization Occurs when molecules that have a permanent dipole moment, but are naturally randomly oriented, orient themselves in the presence of an electric field.
(see page 42)

 

 

 

6.  What makes metals good electrical conductors?

b)  Free electrons

Metallic materials have free electrons, which giver rise to an electric current in the presence of an electric field.

(see page 56)

 

 

 

7.  What are properties of ceramics that make them good as microwave circuitry substrates?

g)  All the above

Ceramics are useful in RF products for several reasons: inherently stable due to high Young's modulus, easy to wire bond to, tight line resolution for impedance control, narrow line widths for high impedance, easy brazing facilitated hermiticity, high thermal conductivity, high circuit density with blind and buried vias, high reliability in extreme temperature environments.

(see page 67)

 

 

 

8.  What type of thick film pastes are available for use on ceramic substrates?

g)  All the above

The paste used to pattern thick-film ceramics can be metal, resistor material, or dielectrics

(see page 79)

 

 

 

Wire bond designations (answers) - RF Cafe9.  What are the names of the two ends of the depicted

      type of wire bond?

d)  Ball and stitch

(see page 109)

 

 

 

10.  What is one of the main advantages of flip chip mounting for high frequency ICs?

c)  Lower wire bond inductance

Flip chip interconnects are particularly useful at microwave an millimeterwave frequencies because of the lower inductance and tight manufacturing tolerances.

(see page 127)