Downhole tool and electronics packaging configuration therefor

An electronics assembly for a tool for use in a borehole in a geological formation, the tool comprising a chassis, a drill collar surrounding the chassis, a port plug coupled between the drill collar and the chassis, and a plurality of radio frequency (RF) antennas carried by the drill collar, the electronics assembly comprising:

• at least one multi-chip module (MCM) electronics package comprising
• a hermetically sealed electronics housing to be positioned between the chassis and the drill collar,
• a substrate within the hermetically sealed electronics housing,
• RF transmitter circuitry on the substrate to cooperate with at least one first RF antenna from among the plurality of RF antennas to transmit RF signals into the geological formation, and
• RF receiver circuitry on the substrate to cooperate with at least one second RF antenna from among the plurality of RF antennas to receive RF signals from the geological formation;
• and
• an electronics housing mount to couple the hermetically sealed electronics housing with the port plug, the electronics housing mount having a passageway extending therethrough to receive the port plug.

A method for making a tool for use in a borehole in a geological formation, the method comprising:

• positioning a drill collar surrounding a chassis and coupling the drill collar to the chassis using a port plug and with an electronics assembly positioned between the chassis and the drill collar;
• wherein a plurality of radio frequency (RF) antennas are carried by the drill collar;
• wherein the electronics assembly includes at least one multi-chip module (MCM) electronics package comprising a hermetically sealed electronics housing positioned between the chassis and the drill collar, a substrate within the hermetically sealed electronics housing, RF transmitter circuitry on the substrate to cooperate with at least one first RF antenna from among the plurality of RF antennas to transmit RF signals into the geological formation, and RF receiver circuitry on the substrate to cooperate with at least one second RF antenna from among the plurality of RF antennas to receive RF signals from the geological formation;
• and
• wherein an electronics housing mount couples the hermetically sealed electronics housing with the port plug, the electronics housing mount having a passageway extending therethrough receiving the port plug.