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Inductors and transformers constitute two important magnetic components In RF and power hybrids electronic circuitry. Thick film inductors have been subject of extensive research in recent years because they significantly reduce the weight and size, and increase the frequency of operation of electronic circuits. The research work in this dissertation is aimed at the formulation of thick film ferrite pastes and ferrite epoxies and the design, construction, and evaluation of thick film spiral inductors. Wideband characterization (DC - 2GHz) of ferrite pastes, ferrite epoxies, and ferrite substrates is performed using two techniques. These techniques are based on current image and transmission line (coaxial cavity) concepts for low (DC-IOOMHz) and high (50MHz-2GHz) frequency regions, respectively. They are used to evaluate the permeability spectra of formulated and commercially available thick film magnetic materials in respective frequency ranges. A method to numerically calculate the inductance of thick film circular spiral inductors based on modeling the spiral as concentric circles is presented. A novel method for fine as well as coarse tuning of thick film inductors is also introduced. The tunable inductors are constructed using formulated ferrite epoxies and magnetic cores. The method of analysis of variance is used to investigate the variation significance of tunable inductors. Finally, chemical and mechanical properties of developed magnetic materials are discussed. The studied properties include, glass transition temperature, degradation temperature, thermal coefficient of expansion, adhesion, particle-size distribution and particle densification , grain size, and compositional constituents of the magnetic materials. / Ph. D.

The aim of this master’s thesis is to investigate the electrical properties of various thick-film resistor pastes in a wider temperature range. The thesis mainly focuses on a change in electrical resistance depending on temperatures, which extend to the cryogenic region. To achieve this, there is an overview of the thick-film technology properties, major technological procedures, principles of resistive pastes conductivity, methods of electrical resistance measuring, possible errors in measurement and methods of their minimization. The content of this work is also familiar with the characteristics of a cryogenic station, on this foundation was proposed the measurement procedure and created thick-film circuits for this station. After measurement in the interval 10 K to 350 K, there are subsequently evaluated the data and explains the principles of the conductivity of used pastes.

The master thesis deals with multilayer structures and thick film technology. The main goal of this work is measure basic electric features of structures realized with thick film technology. The results will make possible more accurate design of these structures.

Master of Science / Department of Electrical Engineering / William B. Kuhn / Designers of mixed-signal systems must understand coupling mechanisms at the system, PC board, package and integrated circuit levels to control crosstalk, and thereby minimize degradation of system performance. This research examines coupling mechanisms in a RF-targeted high-resistivity partially-depleted Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) IC process and applying similar coupling mitigation strategies from higher levels of design, proposes techniques to reduce coupling between sub-circuits on-chip. A series of test structures was fabricated with the goal of understanding and reducing the electric and magnetic field coupling at frequencies up to C-Band. Electric field coupling through the active-layer and substrate of the SOI wafer is compared for a variety of isolation methods including use of deep-trench surrounds, blocking channel-stopper implant, blocking metal-fill layers and using substrate contact guard-rings. Magnetic coupling is examined for on-chip inductors utilizing counter-winding techniques, using metal shields above noisy circuits, and through the relationship between separation and the coupling coefficient. Finally, coupling between bond pads employing the most effective electric field isolation strategies is examined. Lumped element circuit models are developed to show how different coupling mitigation strategies perform. Major conclusions relative to substrate coupling are 1) substrates with resistivity 1 kΩ·cm or greater act largely as a high-K insulators at sufficiently high frequency, 2) compared to capacitive coupling paths through the substrate, coupling through metal-fill has little effect and 3) the use of substrate contact guard-rings in multi-ground domain designs can result in significant coupling between domains if proper isolation strategies such as the use of deep-trench surrounds are not employed. The electric field coupling, in general, is strongly dependent on the impedance of the active-layer and frequency, with isolation exceeding 80 dB below 100 MHz and relatively high coupling values of 40 dB or more at upper S-band frequencies, depending on the geometries and mitigation strategy used. Magnetic coupling was found to be a strong function of circuit separation and the height of metal shields above the circuits. Finally, bond pads utilizing substrate contact guard-rings resulted in the highest degree of isolation and the lowest pad load capacitance of the methods tested.

This objective of this project is to develop an understanding of the ink and its interaction with substrate of Penny & Giles controls Ltd's conductive plastic potentiometers, so as to develop alternate ink, substrate and processing methods. Conductive plastic potentiometers comprises, a track containing polymer binder and carbon black, printed on a base plastic substrate. The objectives have to take into account the performance ofthe potentiometers, which are to be improved or maintained. The first stage of the project was concerned with investigating the properties of the carbon black used in the inks, which have a major effect on the performance of the potentiometers. Ten different carbon blacks with different properties were selected. The carbon blacks properties for most of these were characterised by techniques that included transmission electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, laser induced mass spectrometry and the scanning electron microscope. Inks were made with most of individual carbon blacks, and then tracks were produced on the diallyl phthalate plastic substrate. The electric resistance of these tracks was measured allowing the effect of carbon black properties on performance of the track to be studied. Various carbon black were found to provide similar performance to the Vegetabke MR842N, carbon black used currently. The next stage was the investigation of effect of binder on the performance of resistor using the same techniques as used in the first stage so that comparison could be made with the current binder. A phenolic binder was used and again showed similar properties to the DAIP binder used currently

Abstract The main objective of this thesis was to research the integration of novel materials and fabrication processes into Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC) technology; enabling fabrication of Radio Frequency (RF) and microwave components with advanced performance. The research focuses on two specific integration cases, which divide the thesis into two sections: the integration of tunable dielectric structures and the integration of air filled waveguides. The first section of the thesis describes the development and characterization of low sintering temperature Barium Strontium Titanate (BST) thick film paste. Sintering temperature of BST is decreased from approximately 1350 °C down to 900 °C by lithium doping and pre-reaction of the doped composition. This allows the co-sintering of the developed BST paste with commercial LTCC materials. Additionally two integration techniques to embed tunable components in an LTCC substrate using the developed BST paste are also presented and the electrical performance of the components is evaluated. The highest measured tunability value was 44% with a bias field of 5.7 V/µm. The permittivity of the films varied between 790 and 190, and the loss tangent varied between 0.004 and 0.005, all measured unbiased at 10 kHz. The developed LTCC compatible BST paste and the presented integration techniques for tunable components have not been previously published. In the second section of the thesis, a fabrication method for the LTCC integrated air-filled rectangular waveguides with solid metallic walls is presented. The fabrication method is described in detail and implemented in a set of waveguides used for characterization. A total loss of 0.1–0.2 dB/mm was measured over a frequency band of 140–200 GHz. The electrical performance of the waveguides is evaluated and their use demonstrated in an integrated LTCC antenna operating at 160 GHz.

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Agradecemos a compreensão. on 2016-11-10T12:39:58Z (GMT) / Submitted by CAMILA PAIXÃO SANTOS (camila.paixao@yahoo.com.br) on 2016-11-11T18:37:20Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DEFESA_FINAL.pdf: 2077990 bytes, checksum: 7c050271b8596995c2ed6deeef0aca4e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by LUIZA DE MENEZES ROMANETTO null (luizaromanetto@hotmail.com) on 2016-11-16T19:53:18Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 santos_cp_me_guara.pdf: 2077990 bytes, checksum: 7c050271b8596995c2ed6deeef0aca4e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-11-16T19:53:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 santos_cp_me_guara.pdf: 2077990 bytes, checksum: 7c050271b8596995c2ed6deeef0aca4e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-09-03 / Não recebi financiamento / Este trabalho apresenta e discute o uso do óxido de cério na fabricação de filmes espessos por “screen printing” para aplicações em sensores de gás. Nesse estudo o CeO2 puro foi obtido pelo método dos precursores poliméricos utilizando como resina precursora o citrato de céria. O “puff” – espuma resultante da primeira fase do tratamento térmico da resina- foi calcinado a 550, 600, 700 e 750°C. O pó foi caracterizado por termogravimetria (TG) e as propriedades estruturais, morfológicas foram avaliadas por difratometria de raios X (DRX), espectroscopia Raman, área de superfície por isotermas Brunauer, Emmett e Taller (BET) e microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). A resposta sensora foi estudada em uma câmara de teste construída no Laboratório de Catálise e Superfícies do Instituto de Ciência de Tecnologia de Materiais (INTEMA) da Universidade de Mar del Plata. A TG mostrou a formação de óxido de cério a 550°C, temperatura relativamente baixa quando comparada com outros métodos. Mediante DRX todas as amostras mostraram picos correspondentes à fase pura de CeO2 o qual cristaliza em uma estrutura cúbica do tipo fluorita, entretanto, maiores temperaturas de calcinação mostraram aumento da cristalinidade e tamanho do cristalito. No espectro Raman, um forte pico em torno do 461 cm-1 foi detectado, atribuído às vibrações simétricas do Ce-O. A área de superfície BET dos pós foi de 301, 77 m2/g o que evidencia a formação de partículas muito pequenas e altamente reativas. As micrografias obtidas por MEV mostram a presença de diferentes tamanhos na forma de aglomerados. A caracterização da resposta sensora mostrou que o sensor fabricado a partir de pós de CeO2 puro apresenta um bom tempo de resposta, alcançando a melhor performance com temperatura de trabalho de 400 °C, tanto em atmosferas redutoras e oxidantes. A característica principal observada foi que os resultados são dependentes dos ciclos anteriores, a reprodutibilidade do sistema é garantida quando se apaga a “memória” do sistema, expondo-o ao vácuo. / This paper presents and discusses the use of cerium oxide in the production of thick films for "screen printing" for applications in gas sensors. In this study the pure CeO2 was obtained by the polymeric precursor method using as a precursor resin citrate ceria. The "puff" - resulting foam from the first stage of thermal treatment of the resin-calcined at 550, 600, 700 and 750 °C. The powder was characterized by thermogravimetry (TG) and structural, morphological were evaluated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, isothermal Brunauer surface area, Emmett and Taller (BET) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) . The sensor response was studied in a test chamber built in the Laboratory of Catalysis and Surface Materials Technology Institute of Science (INTEMA), University of Mar del Plata. The thermogravimetry showed the formation of cerium oxide at 550° C, relatively low temperature compared with other methods. Upon XRD all samples showed peaks corresponding to pure CeO2 phase which crystallizes in a cubic fluorite type structure, however, higher calcination temperatures showed increased crystallinity and crystallite size. In the Raman spectrum, a strong peak around 461 cm-1 was detected, assigned to symmetric vibrations of the Ce-O. The BET surface area of the powders was 301, 77 m2 /g which shows the formation of very small and highly reactive particles. The SEM micrographs show the presence of different sizes in the form of agglomerates. The characterization of the sensor response showed that the sensors manufactured from pure CeO2 powder has a good response time, achieving better performance at 400 °C working temperature in both reducing and oxidizing atmospheres. The main feature observed was that the results are dependent on previous cycles, the system reproducibility is guaranteed when it deletes the "memory" of the system, exposing it to vacuum.

This thesis deals with issues of used hot plates and thick-film technology. The theoretical part of diploma thesis contains a theoretical analysis and description of corresponding technology and usage of materials. The practical part of the thesis focuses on the design of the resulting device, which forms design of the test and optimized hot element, the initial design of the device and the design of models for temperature simulations. Then follows description of the practical realization of the motifs and testing of the created thick-film structure on a ceramic substrate. In the last part are shown simulations of heat transfer in the proposed model of the device.

This work deals with thick-film sensor’s electrodes optimization. The main goal of this work is to find suitable design of the electrodes for the best and reproducible current response of thick-film sensors.