Simple, solenoid-type surface-mounted device (SMD) chip inductors utilizing low-loss Al(2)O(3) core materials for a radio-frequency (RF) drive microwave circuit application were developed. The SMD chip inductors were fabricated with five different specifications, namely, 0.86 x 0.46 x 0.45, 1.0 x 0.5 x 0.5, 1.5 x 1.0 x 0.7, 2.1 x 1.5 x 1.0, and 2.4 x 2.0 x 1.4 mm(3). Copper coils with diameters in the range of 27-40 mu m were used. The frequency characteristics of the inductance (L), quality factor (Q), and impedance of the developed inductors were measured using a RF impedance/material analyzer (HP4291B with HP16193A test fixture). It was observed that the developed inductors with the number of turns of 12 have L of 34-270 nH, exhibit a self-resonant frequency (SRF) of 3.7-0.75 GHz, and have Q of 40-70 over the frequency ranges of 200 MHz-1.2 GHz. The L of inductors increases and the SRF decreases with increasing the size of inductors. From the experimental results, it was concluded that the high-frequency data calculated from the equivalent circuit and the derived equation of Q described quite well the experimental data of the developed inductors. (C) 2009 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.