Transistor arrangement
View Patent ↗A transistor arrangement comprising an electrically conductive substrate; a semiconductor body including a transistor structure, the transistor structure including a source terminal connected to said substrate; a bond pad providing a connection to the transistor structure configured to receive a bond wire; wherein the semiconductor body includes an RF-return current path for carrying return current associated with said bond wire, said RF-return current path comprising a strip of metal arranged on said body, said strip configured such that it extends beneath said bond pad and is connected to said source terminal of the transistor structure.
1. A transistor arrangement comprising;
an electrically conductive substrate;
a semiconductor body including a transistor structure, the transistor structure including a source terminal connected to said electrically conductive substrate;
a bond pad providing a connection to the transistor structure configured to receive a bond wire, wherein the semiconductor body includes an RF-return current path configured to carry a return current associated with said bond wire, said RF-return current path comprising a strip of metal arranged on said semiconductor body, said RF-return current strip configured such that it extends beneath said bond pad and is connected to said source terminal of the transistor structure.
2. The transistor arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein said RF-return current strip extends to an edge of the semiconductor body.
3. The transistor arrangement according to claim 2 , wherein the RF-return current strip is connected to the source terminal at a first end and to the electrically conductive substrate at a second, opposite end by at least one via element.
4. The transistor arrangement according to claim 3 , wherein the RF-return current strip is only connected to the electrically conductive substrate at its first and second ends.
5. The transistor arrangement according to claim 3 , wherein the RF-return current path is, at the second end, connected to the electrically conductive substrate by a connection of a matching capacitor forming, with the bond wire, at least part of a matching network.
6. The transistor arrangement according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of discrete RF-return current strips, wherein each strip is configured to provide a discrete return current path.
7. The transistor arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the or each RF-return current strip comprises the uppermost layer of the transistor arrangement.
8. The transistor arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the RF-return current strip includes a plurality of slots formed in its surface, said slots forming package locking points.
9. The transistor arrangement according to claim 8 , wherein the transistor arrangement is formed within a package and said package physically engages with said slots.
10. The transistor arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein at least one bond wire extends from the bond pad, and said RF-return current strip and said bond wire are arranged such that the RF-return current strip follows a path that extends directly beneath said bond wire.
11. The transistor arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein said RF-return current strip is continuous and extends through different layers formed on the semiconductor body.
12. The transistor arrangement according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a passive component, wherein said RF-return current path is configured to provide a connection to the electrically conductive substrate for the passive component.
13. The transistor arrangement according to claim 1 in which the transistor structure comprises a LDMOS transistor.
14. A power amplifier comprising the transistor arrangement of claim 1 .
15. A cellular base station including the power amplifier of claim 14 .