This disclosure relates to a transmission line for high performance radio frequency (RF) applications. One such transmission line can include a bonding layer configured to receive an RF signal, a barrier layer, a diffusion barrier layer, and a conductive layer proximate to the diffusion barrier layer. The diffusion barrier layer can have a thickness that allows a received RF signal to penetrate the diffusion barrier layer to the conductive layer. In certain implementations, the diffusion barrier layer can be nickel. In some of these implementations, the transmission line can include a gold bonding layer, a palladium barrier layer, and a nickel diffusion barrier layer.

This disclosure relates to a transmission line for high performance radio frequency (RF) applications. One such transmission line can include a bonding layer configured to receive an RF signal, a barrier layer, a diffusion barrier layer, and a conductive layer proximate to the diffusion barrier layer. The diffusion barrier layer can have a thickness that allows a received RF signal to penetrate the diffusion barrier layer to the conductive layer. In certain implementations, the diffusion barrier layer can be nickel. In some of these implementations, the transmission line can include a gold bonding layer, a palladium barrier layer, and a nickel diffusion barrier layer.

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.

This disclosure relates to a radio frequency (RF) transmission line for high performance RF applications. The RF transmission line includes a bonding layer having a bonding surface and configured to receive an RF signal, a barrier layer proximate the bonding layer, a diffusion barrier layer proximate the bonding layer and configured to prevent contaminant from entering the bonding layer, and a conductive layer proximate the diffusion barrier layer. The diffusion barrier layer has a thickness that allows the received RF signal to penetrate the diffusion barrier layer to the conductive layer. The diffusion barrier layer can be a nickel layer.

This disclosure relates to a radio frequency (RF) transmission line for high performance RF applications. The RF transmission line includes a bonding layer having a bonding surface and configured to receive an RF signal, a barrier layer proximate the bonding layer, a diffusion barrier layer proximate the bonding layer and configured to prevent contaminant from entering the bonding layer, and a conductive layer proximate the diffusion barrier layer. The diffusion barrier layer has a thickness that allows the received RF signal to penetrate the diffusion barrier layer to the conductive layer. The diffusion barrier layer can be a nickel layer.

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 device includes a semiconductor element, a conductive layer, terminals, and a sealing resin. The conductive layer, containing metal particles, is in contact with the reverse surface and the side surface of the semiconductor element. The terminals are spaced apart from and electrically connected to the semiconductor element. The sealing resin covers the semiconductor element. The conductive layer has an edge located outside of the semiconductor element as viewed in plan. Each terminal includes a top surface, a bottom surface, an inner side surface held in contact with the sealing resin, and the terminal is formed with a dent portion recessed from the bottom surface and the inner side surface. The conductive layer and the bottom surface of each terminal are exposed from a bottom surface of the sealing resin.

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.

A semiconductor device includes a first metal film forming an uppermost layer wiring that has a bonding pad. A concentration of impurities at a crystal grain boundary of the first metal film is higher than a concentration of impurities in crystal grains in the first metal film. The maximum grain size of crystal grains included in the first metal film is less than 5 m.