EMBEDDED TRANSMISSION-LINE (ETL) MMIC FOR LOW-COST HIGH-DENSITY WIRELESS COMMUNICATION APPLICATIONS

A new embedded transmission-line (ETL) monolithic-microwave integrated -circuit (MMIC) approach which allows flexibility in mixing different transmission-line types (i.e., coplanar and striplines) for maximum MM IC design flexibility and permits the feasibility of eliminating backs ide processing for low production cost is described, This ETL MMIC app roach is an enabling technology allowing for low-cost batch fabricatio n, and high-density integration of microwave and RF components (includ ing silicon mixed-signal products) for emerging wireless communication applications, Designs and performance results of a number of ETL MMIC 's are described in this paper.