On-chip crosstalk suppression schemes using magnetic films for RF/microwave applications

Graduation date: 2007The primary objective of the thesis research is to study novel schemes of on-chip crosstalk suppression employing magnetic films at microwave frequencies. Since extraction of various material properties of the magnetic films is essential for successful application of the proposed method, the research also involves development of a new material characterization technique using a grounded coplanar waveguide configuration.\ud The novel material characterization method allows simultaneous extraction of complex permeability, permittivity, saturation magnetization and resonance line-width of magnetic films for microwave applications. Material characteristics have been extracted from the full-wave EM simulations using only S-parameters for three different ferrite samples over the frequency range of 1 to 10 GHz for different applied external DC magnetic fields. The extracted parameters have been compared with the input parameters as well as with the theoretical calculations based on previously reported research and were found to be in excellent agreement.\ud Crosstalk suppression is achieved by placing a magnetic film between circuit elements. A systematic study is carried out to determine the extent of crosstalk suppression for a variation in the material and physical characteristics of magnetic films using a pair of coupled microstrips. The results are validated by full-wave EM simulations as well as with measurement. Effectiveness of crosstalk suppression is presented in terms of S-parameters and fractional power coupled between the microstrips. The results indicate that an improvement of over 90% crosstalk reduction can be achieved with optimum material and physical properties