This paper provides an investigation of power distribution network (PDN) performance by a full-wave prediction tool and by experimental measurements. A set of six real boards characterized by increasing complexity is considered in order to establish a solid base for behaviour understanding of printed circuit boards. How the growing complexity impacts on the board performance is investigated by measurements and by simulations. Strengths and weakness of PDN modeling by the full-wave software tool Microwave Studio are highlighted and discussed.

In this paper, we report a manufacturable InP DHBT technology, suitable for medium scale mixed-signal and monolithic microwave integrated circuits. The InGaAs/InP DHBTs were grown by MBE and fabricated using conventional process techniques. Devices with an emitter junction area of 4.8 µm2 exhibited peak cutoff frequency (fT) and maximum oscillation frequency (fMAX) values of 265 and 305 GHz, respectively, and a breakdown voltage (BVCEo) of over 5 V. Using this technology, a set of mixed-signal IC building blocks for ≥ 80 Gbit/s fibre optical links, including distributed amplifiers (DA), voltage controlled oscillators (VCO), and multiplexers (MUX), have been successfully fabricated and operated at 80 Gbit/s and beyond.