One aspect of this disclosure is a power amplifier system that includes a control interface, a power amplifier, a passive component, and a bias circuit. The power amplifier and the passive component can be on a first die. The bias circuit can be on a second die. The control interface can operate as a serial interface or as a general purpose input/output interface. The power amplifier can be controllable based at least partly on an output signal from the control interface. The bias circuit can generate a bias signal based at least partly on an indication of the electrical property of the passive component. Other embodiments of the system are provided along with related methods and components thereof.

One aspect of this disclosure is a power amplifier system that includes a control interface, a power amplifier, a passive component, and a bias circuit. The power amplifier and the passive component can be on a first die. The bias circuit can be on a second die. The control interface can operate as a serial interface or as a general purpose input/output interface. The power amplifier can be controllable based at least partly on an output signal from the control interface. The bias circuit can generate a bias signal based at least partly on an indication of the electrical property of the passive component. Other embodiments of the system are provided along with related methods and components thereof.

A method of forming an aluminum oxide layer is provided. The method includes providing a metal surface including at least one metal of a group of metals, the group of metals consisting of copper, aluminum, palladium, nickel, silver, and alloys thereof. The method further includes depositing an aluminum oxide layer on the metal surface by atomic layer deposition, wherein a maximum processing temperature during the depositing is 280° C., such that the aluminum oxide layer is formed with a surface having a liquid solder contact angle of less than 40°.

A bonding tool includes a wedge tool that presses a bonding wire against a principal plane of a structure such as an electrode to which the bonding wire is to be bonded. A groove formed in an end portion of a wedge tool body of the wedge tool is inclined along a longitudinal direction of the bonding wire so that a heel side of the groove is closer to the principal plane of the structure than a toe side of the groove. As a result, the wedge tool is inclined at a tilt angle and the bonding wire fits the groove in the end portion of the wedge tool body along the longitudinal direction of the bonding wire. Thus, a corner portion of the wedge tool does not contact the electrode.

An IC includes a bare die and a multiplexed pin. The multiplexed pin is electrically connected to first and second switch circuits, the first and second switch circuits are respectively connected to first and second circuit modules disposed on the bare die and control a connection between the first and second circuit modules and the multiplexed pin, the first switch circuit is connected to a first die pad by a metal layer trace within the bare die, the second switch circuit is connected to a second die pad by a metal layer trace within the bare die, and the first and second die pads are connected to the multiplexed pin through a bond wire respectively. The bare die with a larger number of die pads can be packaged into an IC package with a smaller number of chip pins.

One aspect of this disclosure is a power amplifier system that includes a control interface, a power amplifier, a passive component on a same die as the power amplifier, and a bias circuit on a different die than the power amplifier. The control interface can operate as a serial interface or as a general purpose input/output interface. The power amplifier can be controllable based at least partly on an output signal from the control interface. The bias circuit can generate a bias signal based at least partly on an indication of the electrical property of the passive component. Other embodiments of the system are provided along with related methods and components thereof.

One aspect of this disclosure is a power amplifier system that includes a control interface, a power amplifier, a passive component on a same die as the power amplifier, and a bias circuit on a different die than the power amplifier. The control interface can operate as a serial interface or as a general purpose input/output interface. The power amplifier can be controllable based at least partly on an output signal from the control interface. The bias circuit can generate a bias signal based at least partly on an indication of the electrical property of the passive component. Other embodiments of the system are provided along with related methods and components thereof.

A semiconductor module includes a substrate, a semiconductor element, and a wire. The semiconductor element is joined onto the substrate and has a surface electrode. Both ends of the wire are bonded to the substrate such that the wire passes over the surface electrode of the semiconductor element. The wire is electrically connected to the surface electrode.

A semiconductor module includes a substrate, a semiconductor element, and a wire. The semiconductor element is joined onto the substrate and has a surface electrode. Both ends of the wire are bonded to the substrate such that the wire passes over the surface electrode of the semiconductor element. The wire is electrically connected to the surface electrode.

An IC includes a bare die and a multiplexed pin. The multiplexed pin is electrically connected to first and second switch circuits, the first and second switch circuits are respectively connected to first and second circuit modules disposed on the bare die and control a connection between the first and second circuit modules and the multiplexed pin, the first switch circuit is connected to a first die pad by a metal layer trace within the bare die, the second switch circuit is connected to a second die pad by a metal layer trace within the bare die, and the first and second die pads are connected to the multiplexed pin through a bond wire respectively. The bare die with a larger number of die pads can be packaged into an IC package with a smaller number of chip pins.