Systematic Lumped-Element Modeling of Differential IC Transmission Lines

• Published in: IEEE transactions on microwave theory and techniques Vol. 57; no. 6; pp. 1572 - 1580
• Main Authors: Tiemeijer, L.F., Pijper, R.M.T., van Steenwijk, J.A., van Noort, W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01-06-2009; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Circuit properties; Coplanar transmission lines; Covering; Delay; Design. Technologies. Operation analysis. Testing; Distributed parameter circuits; Electric, optical and optoelectronic circuits; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Grounds; Inductance; Integrated circuit interconnections; Integrated circuit modeling; Integrated circuits; Integrated circuits (ICs); lumped-element modeling; Mathematical models; Microwave circuits, microwave integrated circuits, microwave transmission lines, submillimeter wave circuits; Microwaves; on-chip interconnect transmission lines; on-wafer microwave measurements; Power transmission lines; Preserves; Propagation losses; Semiconductor electronics. Microelectronics. Optoelectronics. Solid state devices; Signal delay; Transmission lines; Very large scale integration; Frequency dependence; lumped-element modeling; Lumped parameter circuit; Differential circuit; Low frequency; Modeling; Contact line; Microwave measurement; Inductance; on-chip interconnect transmission lines; Transmission line; Signal delay; Integrated circuit; Integrated circuits (ICs); Causality; High frequency; on-wafer microwave measurements; Wafer; High rate transmission
• ISSN: 0018-9480; 1557-9670
• DOI: 10.1109/TMTT.2009.2020780

In this paper, we report a systematic and efficient approach to obtain lumped-element models for differential integrated-circuit interconnect transmission lines covering both the low-frequency R/C as well as the high-frequency quasi-TEM behavior. To accurately model signal delay and loss, and to preserve causality, the frequency dependence of both line resistance as well as the line inductance is included in our model. The impact of ground inductance is also properly covered by the model. The validity of our approach is verified against experimental data collected up to 120 GHz for the even and odd modes on these differential transmission lines. We predict that these lines can transport data over 1-cm distance with rates up to 40 Gb/s, even with some imbalance in differential drive.