Thin film magnetic materials for RFIC passives

Recent developments of magnetic thin films for monolithic integrated radio frequency (RF) passive components are reviewed. Challenges of applying magnetic films for RF devices, i.e. ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) and eddy current effects are discussed. Nano-granular magnetic materials are foreseen to be one of the most suitable candidate materials for RFIC for the low eddy current losses and the high FMR. Magnetic RF components, such as current controlled tunable inductors, shortened /spl lambda//4 transmission line, band-stop and band-pass filters, harmonic noise suppressors are discussed. A novel metal/ferromagnetic (FM) multi-layer structure is proposed to reduce eddy current loss. Prospects of integration of magnetostatic wave based components are discussed.