metal layer forms the microstrip line in MMIC

[shanmei]

The paper 'A 60-GHz CMOS Receiver Front-End' from Behzad Razavi, it said that he uses the metal to form the microstrip line.

As in the bellowing figure, I am confused that in the chip layout, the metal 8 and metal 1 are far away, while in his figure, the metal 1 and metal 8 are touched together like a microstrip line.

How does the layout in the chip can achieve this by making metal 1 and metal 8 are connected together? Anyone has ideas?

Thanks.

 

[D.A.(Tony)Stewart]

A paper on stripline without discussing or showing the dielectric would seem to be a major oversight.

 

[shanmei]

Yes, but it is a ISSCC paper.

You can find it here: https://www.seas.ucla.edu/brweb/papers/Journals/RJan06.pdf

 

[D.A.(Tony)Stewart]

I assume they are using a typical layer of silicon used in CMOS processes for dielectric, but I have no idea what properties those have as it was omitted from the paper. A critical part.

 

[shanmei]

Yes, they hide this part. Thanks.