A Q-Factor Enhancement Technique for MMIC Inductors

Abstract

An increase of 50% in the peak Q-factor and a wider operating bandwidth for monolithic inductors is achieved by exciting a microstrip structure differentially. Conventional excitation of a 8 nH spiral inductor fabricated in a production silicon IC technology resulted in a peak (measured) Q-factor of 6.6 at 1.6 GHz, while the differential connection showed a maximum Q-factor of 9.7 at 2.5 GHz. These experimental results compared favorably with the behaviour predicted from simulation.

Reference

M. Danesh, J.R. Long, R. Hadaway and D. Harame, "A Q-Factor Enhancement Technique for MMIC Inductors", 1998 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium, Baltimore (MD): USA, June 7-12 1998, pp. 183-186 or 1998 IEEE RFIC Symposium, Baltimore (MD): USA, June 7-10 1998, pp. 217-220.