"Design Guide for CMOS Process On-Chip 3D Inductor using Thru-Wafer Via" by Gary VanAckern

Publication Date

5-2011

Type of Culminating Activity

Thesis

Degree Title

Master of Science in Electrical Engineering

Department Filter

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Department

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Supervisory Committee Chair

R. Jacob Baker, Ph.D.

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) inductors using high aspect ratio (10:1) thru-wafer via (TWV) technology in a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process have been designed, fabricated, and measured. The inductors were designed using 500 μm tall vias with the number of turns ranging from 1 to 20 in both a wide and narrow trace width to space ratios. Radio frequency characterization was studied with emphasis upon de-embedding techniques and resulting effects. The open, short, thru de-embedding (OSTD) technique was used to measure all devices. The highest quality factor (Q) measured was 11.25 at 798MHz for a 1-turn device with a self-resonant frequency (fsr) of 4.4GHz. The largest inductance (L) measured was 45nH on a 20-turn wide trace device with a maximum Q of 4.25 at 732MHz. A 40% reduction in area is achieved by exploiting the TWV technology when compared to planar devices. This technology shows promising results with further development and optimization.

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