A 243-GHz F_t and 208-GHz F_max, 90-nm SOI CMOS SoC technology with low-power mmWave digital and RF circuit capability

Abstract

A 90-nm silicon-on-insulator (SOI) CMOS system on-chip integrates high-performance FETs with 243-GHz Ft, 208-GHz Fmax, 1.45-mS/μm gm, and sub 1.1-dB NFmin up to 26 GHz. Inductor Q of 20, VNCAP of 1.8-fF/μm2, varactor with a tuning range as high as 25:1, and a low-loss microstrip. Transmission lines were successfully integrated without extra masks and processing steps. SOI and its low parasitic junction capacitance enables this high level of performance and will expand the use of CMOS for millimeter-wave applications. © 2005 IEEE.