Rao Tummala

Bio: Rao Tummala is an academic researcher from Georgia Institute of Technology. The author has contributed to research in topics: Interposer & Capacitor. The author has an hindex of 43, co-authored 623 publications receiving 11663 citations. Previous affiliations of Rao Tummala include Qualcomm & IBM.

Chip-last embedded actives and passives in thin organic package for 1–110 GHz multi-band applications

Abstract: This paper presents for the first time a novel manufacturing-compatible organic substrate and interconnect technology using ultra-thin chip-last embedded active and passive components for digital, analog, MEMS, RF, microwave and millimeter wave applications. The architecture of the platform consists of a low-CTE thin core and minimum number of thin build up organic dielectric and conductive layers. This organic substrate is based on a new generation of low-loss and thermally-stable thermosetting polymers (RXP-1 and RXP-4). Unlike LCP- and Teflon-based materials, the RXP material system is fully compatible with conventional FR-4 manufacturing processes. Ultra-thin silicon test die (55µm thick) has been embedded in a 60µm deep cavity with a 6-metal layer RXP substrate and a total thickness of 0.22mm. The embedded IC is interconnected to the substrate by ultra-fine pitch Cu-to-Cu bonding with polymer adhesives. This novel interconnection process performed at 180°C, has passed 1,000 thermal shock cycles in reliability testing. Because of manufacturing process simplicity and unparalleled set of benefits, the chip-last technology described in this paper provides the benefits of chip-first without its disadvantages and thus enables highly miniaturized, multi-band, high performance 3D modules by stacking embedded 3D ICs or packages with embedded actives, passives and MEMS devices.

Impact of Copper Through-Package Vias on Thermal Performance of Glass Interposers

Abstract: In this paper, the thermal performance of glass interposer substrate with copper through-package vias (TPVs) is investigated both experimentally and numerically. Copper via arrays with different via pitches and diameters were fabricated in 114.3 mm $\times \,\, 114.3$ mm $\times \,\, 100\mu \text{m}$ glass panels using low-cost laser drilling, electroless plating, and electroplating for copper deposition. The thermal performance of such a structure was quantified by measuring an effective thermal conductivity which combines the effect of copper and glass. The effective thermal conductivity of fabricated samples was determined with infrared microscopy and compared with finite-element analysis on unit TPV cell. Using the effective thermal conductivity, further numerical analyses were performed on a 2.5-D interposer, which has two chips mounted side by side with a total heat generation of 3 W. Interconnects and TPV layers in the interposer were modeled as homogeneous layers with an effective thermal conductivity. Using the developed model, the effect of copper TPVs on the thermal performance of silicon and glass interposers was compared. To further characterize the thermal performance of the 2.5-D glass interposer structure, the effects of pitch of interconnects and TPVs and the TPV diameter are presented.

Mid frequency decoupling using embedded decoupling capacitors

Abstract: Surface mount technology (SMT) decoupling capacitors fail to provide decoupling above 100MHz. This paper presents the use of embedded thin film capacitors to provide decoupling in the mid frequency range from 100MHz to 2GHz. On-chip capacitance provides decoupling above 2GHz. The effect of chip, package and board capacitors on the performance of digital systems is analyzed taking into account the parasitic effects of power/ground planes, vias and solder balls. A synthesis and selection methodology for embedded package capacitors is also presented.

Ultra-miniaturized and surface-mountable glass-based 3D IPAC packages for RF modules

Abstract: This paper demonstrates ultra-miniaturized RF passive components integrated on thin glass substrate with small Through Package Vias (TPVs) to realize 3D Integrated Passive and Actives Component (IPAC) concept. Miniaturization is achieved through; a) ultra-thin glass, b) low-loss thin dielectrics and c) small TPVs. Inductors, capacitors and low pass filters functioning in the frequency range of 0.8 GHz to 5.4 GHz were modeled and fabricated between thin dielectric layers on 100 μm thin glass, and then assembled on PCB through BGA interconnections. The simulated results corroborated well with measured results, providing guidelines for RF module fabrication.

Single sensor that outputs narrowband multispectral images

Abstract: We report the work of developing a hand-held (or miniaturized), low-cost, stand-alone, real-time-operation, narrow bandwidth multispectral imaging device for the detection of early stage pressure ulcers.

I and i

Abstract: There is, I think, something ethereal about i —the square root of minus one. I remember first hearing about it at school. It seemed an odd beast at that time—an intruder hovering on the edge of reality. Usually familiarity dulls this sense of the bizarre, but in the case of i it was the reverse: over the years the sense of its surreal nature intensified. It seemed that it was impossible to write mathematics that described the real world in …

Microfibre–nanowire hybrid structure for energy scavenging

Abstract: Nanodevices don't use much energy, and if the little they do need can be scavenged from vibrations associated with foot steps, heart beats, noises and air flow, a whole range of applications in personal electronics, sensing and defence technologies opens up. Energy gathering of that type requires a technology that works at low frequency range (below 10 Hz), ideally based on soft, flexible materials. A group working at Georgia Institute of Technology has now come up with a system that converts low-frequency vibration/friction energy into electricity using piezoelectric zinc oxide nanowires grown radially around textile fibres. By entangling two fibres and brushing their associated nanowires together, mechanical energy is converted into electricity via a coupled piezoelectric-semiconductor process. This work shows a potential method for creating fabrics which scavenge energy from light winds and body movement. A self-powering nanosystem that harvests its operating energy from the environment is an attractive proposition for sensing, personal electronics and defence technologies1. This is in principle feasible for nanodevices owing to their extremely low power consumption2,3,4,5. Solar, thermal and mechanical (wind, friction, body movement) energies are common and may be scavenged from the environment, but the type of energy source to be chosen has to be decided on the basis of specific applications. Military sensing/surveillance node placement, for example, may involve difficult-to-reach locations, may need to be hidden, and may be in environments that are dusty, rainy, dark and/or in deep forest. In a moving vehicle or aeroplane, harvesting energy from a rotating tyre or wind blowing on the body is a possible choice to power wireless devices implanted in the surface of the vehicle. Nanowire nanogenerators built on hard substrates were demonstrated for harvesting local mechanical energy produced by high-frequency ultrasonic waves6,7. To harvest the energy from vibration or disturbance originating from footsteps, heartbeats, ambient noise and air flow, it is important to explore innovative technologies that work at low frequencies (such as <10 Hz) and that are based on flexible soft materials. Here we present a simple, low-cost approach that converts low-frequency vibration/friction energy into electricity using piezoelectric zinc oxide nanowires grown radially around textile fibres. By entangling two fibres and brushing the nanowires rooted on them with respect to each other, mechanical energy is converted into electricity owing to a coupled piezoelectric–semiconductor process8,9. This work establishes a methodology for scavenging light-wind energy and body-movement energy using fabrics.

Self-powered nanowire devices.

Abstract: The lateral and vertical integration of ZnO piezoelectric nanowires allows for voltage and power outputs sufficient to power nanowire-based sensors.