A Scalable CPW Circuit Model in Advanced CMOS Technologies for mm-Wave frequencies

Abstract:
This paper presents a physical circuit model for coplanar waveguide (CPW) transmission lines, scalable with line width and signal to ground spacing and suitable for circuit simulators such as SPICE. The circuit model components are fitted using EM simulation data, without the need to know materials and other stack up information that may be encrypted or hidden for the user. This is also helpful for complex layer stacks composed of many dielectric and conductive materials that are used in the latest CMOS technologies. The deviations of the transmission line main parameters, propagation constant and characteristic impedance, remain low for the mm-wave frequency band, from 20 GHz and up to 100 GHz. The scalability enables a fast circuit optimization.