On the Trade-Off Between Quality Factor and Tuning Ratio in Tunable High-Frequency Capacitors

A benchmark of tunable and switchable devices at microwave frequencies is presented on the basis of physical limitations to show their potential for reconfigurable cellular applications. Performance limitations are outlined for each given technology focusing on the quality factor ( Q ) and tuning ra...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE transactions on electron devices 2009-09, Vol.56 (9), p.2128-2136
Main Authors: Tiggelman, M.P.J., Reimann, K., Van Rijs, F., Schmitz, J., Hueting, R.J.E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Benchmarking
Capacitance
Capacitors
Devices
Dielectric, amorphous and glass solid devices
Diodes
Doping
Electronics
Exact sciences and technology
Ferroelectric capacitors
field-effect transistor
Figure of merit
Gallium arsenide
losses
MEMS
Micro- and nanoelectromechanical devices (mems/nems)
microswitches
microwave technology
Q factor
Quality factor
semiconductor devices
Semiconductor electronics. Microelectronics. Optoelectronics. Solid state devices
Semiconductors
Transistors
Tuning
Varactor diodes
Varactors
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Summary:A benchmark of tunable and switchable devices at microwave frequencies is presented on the basis of physical limitations to show their potential for reconfigurable cellular applications. Performance limitations are outlined for each given technology focusing on the quality factor ( Q ) and tuning ratio (eta) as figures of merit. The state of the art in terms of these figures of merit of several tunable and switchable technologies is visualized and discussed. If the performance of these criteria is not met, the application will not be feasible. The quality factor can typically be traded off for tuning ratio. The benchmark of tunable capacitor technologies shows that transistor-switched capacitors, varactor diodes, and ferroelectric varactors perform well at 2 GHz for tuning ratios below 3, with an advantage for GaAs varactor diodes. Planar microelectromechanical capacitive switches have the potential to outperform all other technologies at tuning ratios higher than 8. Capacitors based on tunable dielectrics have the highest miniaturization potential, whereas semiconductor devices benefit from the existing manufacturing infrastructure.
ISSN:0018-9383
1557-9646
DOI:10.1109/TED.2009.2026391