Surface-Mount Zero-Ohm Jumper Resistor Characterization in High-Speed Controlled Impedance Transmission Lines

Zero-ohm resistors, also known as jumpers, are commonly used in early radio frequency (RF) prototypes as they can help engineers identify the most optimal engineering solution for their system or create application-specific hardware configurations in products. One of the key considerations when using zero-ohm jumpers in RF circuits is the potential for signal loss and interference. Every circuit connection creates a small amount of resistance and impedance, eventually adding up over long distances or in complex circuits. This paper proposes a quantitative characterization summary of standard 0201-, 0402-, 0603-, and 0805-size surface-mount package jumpers, as well as lead-free and lead solder wires, in high-frequency applications by means of time domain reflectometry (TDR) and S-parameter measurements. The typical offset from the target 50 Omega impedance was measured to be around 3 Omega, or 5.8% relative to the measured reference value. According to S-parameter measurement results, no visible impact on attenuation was spotted up to 5 GHz compared to the reference S-21 curve.

Automated summary

Zero-ohm resistors, or jumpers, are commonly used in early RF prototypes to find optimal engineering solutions or create application-specific hardware configurations. However, the potential for signal loss and interference in RF circuits needs to be considered. This paper proposes a quantitative characterization of standard surface-mount package jumpers and solder wires in high-frequency applications using TDR and S-parameter measurements. Results show minimal impact on attenuation up to 5 GHz.