One aspect of this disclosure is a power amplifier module that includes a power amplifier configured to amplify a radio frequency (RF) signal and an RF transmission line electrically coupled to an output of the power amplifier. The power amplifier includes a heterojunction bipolar transistor and a p-type field effect transistor, in which a semiconductor portion of the p-type field effect transistor corresponds to a channel includes the same type of semiconductor material as a collector layer of the heterojunction bipolar transistor. The RF transmission line includes a nickel layer with a thickness that is less than 0.5 um, a conductive layer under the nickel layer, a palladium layer over the nickel layer, and a gold layer over the palladium layer. Other embodiments of the module are provided along with related methods and components thereof.

A semiconductor device has an interposer and a surface mount technology (SMT) component disposed on the interposer. The interposer is disposed on an active surface of a semiconductor die. The semiconductor die is disposed on a substrate. A first wire bond connection is formed between the interposer and semiconductor die. A second wire bond connection is formed between the interposer and substrate. A third wire bond connection is formed between the substrate and semiconductor die. An encapsulant is deposited over the substrate, semiconductor die, interposer, and SMT component. In one embodiment, the substrate is a quad flat non-leaded substrate. In another embodiment, the substrate is a land-grid array substrate, ball-grid array substrate, or leadframe.

A power amplifier module includes a power amplifier including a GaAs bipolar transistor having a collector, a base abutting the collector, and an emitter, the collector having a doping concentration of at least about 310.sup.16 cm.sup.3 at a junction with the base, the collector also having at least a first grading in which doping concentration increases away from the base; and an RF transmission line driven by the power amplifier, the RF transmission line including a conductive layer and finish plating on the conductive layer, the finish plating including a gold layer, a palladium layer proximate the gold layer, and a diffusion barrier layer proximate the palladium layer, the diffusion barrier layer including nickel and having a thickness that is less than about the skin depth of nickel at 0.9 GHZ. Other embodiments of the module are provided along with related methods and components thereof.

One aspect of this disclosure is a power amplifier module that includes a power amplifier configured to provide a radio frequency signal at an output, an output matching network coupled to the output of the power amplifier and configured to provide impedance matching at a fundamental frequency of the radio frequency signal, and a harmonic termination circuit coupled to the output of the power amplifier. The power amplifier is included on a power amplifier die. The output matching network can include a first circuit element electrically connected to an output of the power amplifier by way of a pad on a top surface of a conductive trace, in which the top surface has an unplated portion between the pad the power amplifier die. The harmonic termination circuit can include a second circuit element. The first and second circuit elements can have separate electrical connections to the power amplifier die. Other embodiments of the module are provided along with related methods and components thereof.

One aspect of this disclosure is a power amplifier module that includes a power amplifier configured to provide a radio frequency signal at an output, an output matching network coupled to the output of the power amplifier and configured to provide impedance matching at a fundamental frequency of the radio frequency signal, and a harmonic termination circuit coupled to the output of the power amplifier. The power amplifier is included on a power amplifier die. The output matching network can include a first circuit element electrically connected to an output of the power amplifier by way of a pad on a top surface of a conductive trace, in which the top surface has an unplated portion between the pad the power amplifier die. The harmonic termination circuit can include a second circuit element. The first and second circuit elements can have separate electrical connections to the power amplifier die. Other embodiments of the module are provided along with related methods and components thereof.

Embodiments concern Package-On-Package (PoP) structures including stud bulbs and methods of forming PoP structures. According to an embodiment, a structure includes a first substrate, stud bulbs, a die, a second substrate, and electrical connectors. The stud bulbs are coupled to a first surface of the first substrate. The die is attached to the first surface of the first substrate. The electrical connectors are coupled to the second substrate, and respective ones of the electrical connectors are coupled to respective ones of the stud bulbs.

Embodiments concern Package-On-Package (PoP) structures including stud bulbs and methods of forming PoP structures. According to an embodiment, a structure includes a first substrate, stud bulbs, a die, a second substrate, and electrical connectors. The stud bulbs are coupled to a first surface of the first substrate. The die is attached to the first surface of the first substrate. The electrical connectors are coupled to the second substrate, and respective ones of the electrical connectors are coupled to respective ones of the stud bulbs.

This disclosure relates to a radio frequency (RF) transmission line for high performance RF applications. The RF transmission line includes a conductive layer and finish plating on the conductive layer. The finish plating includes a gold layer, a palladium layer proximate the gold layer, and a nickel layer proximate the palladium layer. The nickel layer has a thickness that allows a radio frequency signal received at the gold layer to penetrate the nickel layer and propagate in the conductive layer.

This disclosure relates to a radio frequency (RF) transmission line for high performance RF applications. The RF transmission line includes a conductive layer and finish plating on the conductive layer. The finish plating includes a gold layer, a palladium layer proximate the gold layer, and a nickel layer proximate the palladium layer. The nickel layer has a thickness that allows a radio frequency signal received at the gold layer to penetrate the nickel layer and propagate in the conductive layer.

A bonding wire for a semiconductor device including a coating layer having Pd as a main component on the surface of a Cu alloy core material and a skin alloy layer containing Au and Pd on the surface of the coating layer has a Cu concentration of 1 to 10 at % at an outermost surface thereof and has the core material containing a metallic element of Group 10 of the Periodic Table of Elements in a total amount of 0.1 to 3.0% by mass, thereby achieving improvement in 2nd bondability and excellent ball bondability in a high-humidity heating condition. Furthermore, a maximum concentration of Au in the skin alloy layer is preferably 15 at % to 75 at %.