Abstract
The main reasons for the development of thin film technology are miniaturisation, reliability and high frequency applications. A comparison with conventional components, and with the demands of system engineers shows that the thin film resistor problem is solved and that there are thin film capacitors for many applications, whereas coils of only small values and low Q can be made. As the distances between thin film circuit elements can be extremely small, low conductor resistance between components is possible. The inherent advantages of thin film technology are good reliability because of fewer connections, the possibility of functional trimming, small TCR and TCC variation in a circuit, and TCR-TCC balancing. Furthermore parasitic effects can be well controlled, distributed elements realized and large scale integration carried out.
Highlights
In modern electronics the use of thin film circuits is increasing
A comparison with conventional components, and with the demands of system engineers shows that the thin film resistor problem is solved and that there are thin film capacitors for many applications, whereas coils of only small values and low Q can be made
We will try to answer these questions: Has the research and development of thin film technology been successful? Are we able to fulfill the wishes of system engineers? Let us begin by noting the reasons which led to the development of thin film circuits
Summary
In modern electronics the use of thin film circuits is increasing. Let us begin by noting the reasons which led to the development of thin film circuits. 1) After the war we were successful for some twenty years in the miniaturisation of discrete components. 2) The reliability of discrete components was originally adequate, but the requirements of our custorners ecame more stringent, and the increasing number of components per device demanded a corresponding improvement in their reliability. The number of connections rose with the number of components per device, and reliability decreased correspondingly. 4) Discrete components change their function with increasing frequencies: capacitors act as coils, coils as capacitors and resistors as coils or capacitors. The troublesome task of reducing such effects by the bending and shaping of lead wires is well-known to system engineers
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