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Skyworks Solutions has unveiled a ceramic packaging process that allows many of the company's existing linear products to operate at higher frequencies and with a smaller footprint when compared to other standard packages. This ceramic solution is ideal for high-volume, hermetically sealed devices such as diodes that are used in WiMAX, military, space and a variety of other applications that require higher-frequency operation.

The innovative hermetic technology uses low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) packaging, in conjunction with Skyworks' proven silicon diode processes--including PIN switch and attenuator diodes, abrupt and hyperabrupt tuning varactors, and Schottky diodes in a two-terminal, single diode configuration. This package has low-thermal impedance and meets fine and gross leak requirements for excellent reliability. The SMP family--designed for switch and attenuator applications, the CLA series--designed for limiter applications, the SMS unit--designed for mixer and detector applications, and the SMV grouping--designed for VCO applications, offer very low-parasitic inductance and capacitance for wide bandwidth, high-frequency operation.

This package also complies with Skyworks' green initiative--it is lead (Pb)-free, fully complies with current RoHS requirements, and contains no halogens or antimony (Sb). The diodes available in this package can operate over the low-junction temperature range of –40 degrees C to 150 degrees C.

Available products
The ceramic packaging solution is currently being used in the following:
* switch and attenuator applications--the SMP1340-107, SMP1345-107, SMP1352-107, SMP1302-107 and SMP1304-107;
* limiter applications--the CLA4607-107;
* mixer and detector applications--the SMS3922-107, SMS3923-107, SMS7621-107 and SMS7630-107; and
* VCO applications--the SMV1405-107, SMV1206-107 and SMV2019-107.
Silicon PIN, Schottky and tuning varactor diodes have a small footprint of 1.83 mm x 1.43 mm x .08 mm, are available for sampling, and are priced at $2.90 each in quantities of 10,000.