Package-Scale Galvanic Isolators Based on Radio Frequency Coupling: Micro-Antenna Design

This paper presents the design of on-chip micro-antennas for package-scale galvanic isolators based on RF planar coupling. A step-by-step design procedure is proposed, which aims at the maximization of the weak electromagnetic coupling between the RX and TX antennas integrated on side-by-side co-packaged chips to enable both high isolation rating and common-mode transient immunity thanks to the high dielectric strength and low capacitive parasitics of a molding compound-based galvanic barrier, respectively. Micro-antenna design guidelines are drawn, highlighting the main relationship between coil coupling performance and their layout parameters, which are often in contrast with respect to traditional integrated inductor ones.