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At least 361 records · Page 20

Nondestructive characterization of RBSOA of high-power bipolar transistors

Reverse-bias safe operating area (RBSOA) of high-power Darlington transistors is characterized using a 120 A/1000 V nondestructive reverse-bias second breakdown tester designed and fabricated at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Elaborate RBSOA characteristics are generated with different forward/reverse base drives and collector current levels. The effects of elevated case temperature and second-base drive on RBSOA of four-terminal Darlington devices are also discussed.

Jovanovic, M. M.↗

Dc and microwave characteristics of a high current double interface GaAs/InGaAs/AlGaAs pseudomorphic modulation-doped field-effect transistor

Extremely large current double interface GaAs/In(0.15)Ga(0.85)As/Al(0.15)Ga(0.85)As pseudomorphic modulation-doped field-effect transistors (MODFET's) grown by molecular beam epitaxy were achieved. The 1-micron gate devices studied have peak current levels (430 mA/mm at 300 K and 483mA/mm at 77 K) roughly one and a half to two times that found in single interface pseudomorphic MODFET's. These devices also retain high transconductances over a broad range of gate voltage, peaking at 312 mS/mm at 300 K and 362 mS/mm at 77 K. Excellent microwave performance is also obtained with a maximum frequency of oscillation (f-max) of 37 GHz and a current gain cut-off frequency of as high as 23 GHz at 300 K. An output power level of 14 dBm (1 dB gain compression) was obtained at 6 GHz for a 290-micron gate width. This double interface single quantum well MODFET may be of great importance in millimeter wave power amplifiers.

Henderson, T.↗

InGaAs/InAlAs hot-electron transistor

Using InGaAs for the base and InAlAs for the emitter and collector barriers, the first hot-electron transistor in this material system is fabricated. It is shown that 1.6 percent of the injected hot electrons can be transported ballistically through a 0.3 micron thick In(0.53)Ga(0.47)As plus 800-A-thick InAlAs barrier layer at 77 K giving rise to an average mean free path of 920 A. An energy spread of 130 MeV was observed for the ballistic electrons injected at about 700 MeV above the thermal equilibrium conditions. The value of collector barrier heights measured are in reasonable agreement with those deduced independently from thermionic emission studies in InGaAs gate, InAlAs/InGaAs capacitor structures.

Reddy, U. K.↗

Optically controlled GaAs dual-gate MESFET and permeable base transistors

Optically induced voltage and dc characteristics of the GaAs Dual-gate MESFET and the Permeable Base Transistor (PBT) with optical illumination at wavelength below 0.87 microns were obtained and compared with GaAs MESFET. It was observed that PBT can handle higher current density when illuminated.

Simons, R. N.↗

Microwave characterization and modeling of GaAs/AlGaAs heterojunction bipolar transistors

The characterization and modeling of a microwave GaAs/AlGaAs heterojunction Bipolar Transistor (HBT) are discussed. The de-embedded scattering parameters are used to derive a small signal lumped element equivalent circuit model using EEsof's Touchstone software package. Each element in the equivalent circuit model is shown to have its origin within the device. The model shows good agreement between the measured and modeled scattering parameters over a wide range of bias currents. Further, the MAG (maximum available power gain) and the h sub 21 (current gain) calculated from the measured data and those predicted by the model are also in good agreement. Consequently, the model should also be capable of predicting the f sub max and the f sub T of other HBTs.

Simons, Rainee N.↗

Microwave performance of a quarter-micrometer gate low-noise pseudomorphic InGaAs/AlGaAs modulation-doped field effect transistor

Excellent dc and millimeter-wave performance is reported in In0.15Ga0.85As/Al0.15Ga0.85As pseudomorphic modulation-doped field effect transistors (MODFET's) with 0.25-micron-length gates. Extrinsic transconductances as high as 495 mS/mm at 300 K and unprecedented power performance in the 60-GHz range were observed. Although not yet optimized, excellent low noise characteristics, 0.9 dB, with an associated gain of 10.4 dB at 18 GHz, and a noise figure of 2.4 dB with an associated gain of 4.4 dB at 62 GHz were obtained. This is the best noise performance ever reported for a MODFET in this frequency range. These results clearly demonstrate the superiority of pseudomorphic MODFET structures in high-frequency applications.

Henderson, T.↗

Noise parameters and light sensitivity of low-noise high-electron-mobility transistors at 300 and 12.5 K

The four noise parameters of cryogenically cooled HEMTs have been investigated. Two different HEMT structures, with and without a spacer layer, were tested. The noise parameters of both structures were similar at room temperature, while they were dramatically different at cryogenic temperatures. The minimum noise temperatures measured at 8.4 GHz were 75 + or 5 K at room temperature and 8.5 + or - 1.5 K at the temperature of 12.5 K. The cryogenic performance is the best ever observed for field-effect transistors.

Pospieszalski, Marian W.↗

Response of a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor to a cosmic-ray ion track

A cosmic-ray ion track passing perpendicularly through the oxide layer of an enhancement-mode metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) forms a conducting path, the resistance of which is proportional to the stopping power of the cosmic ion and independent of the cross-sectional area of the ion track. The voltage across the oxide capacitance may drop below the threshold voltage if the gate bias is sufficiently low or if the external resistance in the gate-source circuit is sufficiently high. The first of a pair of MOSFETs forming a flip-flop circuit may thus be turned off, and the second transitor may turn on, providing it has a sufficiently short delay time, thereby completing a single-event upset.

Benumof, Reuben↗

Electron beam source molecular beam epitaxial growth of analog graded Al(x)Ga(1-x)As ballistic transistors

A new method has been developed for the growth of graded band-gap Al(x)Ga(1-x)As alloys by molecular beam epitaxy which is based upon electron beam evaporation of the group III elements. The metal fluxes are measured and feedback controlled using a modulated ion gauge sensor. The system is computer controlled which allows precise programming of the Ga and Al evaporation rates. The large dynamic response of the metal sources enables growth of variable band-gap III-V alloys with arbitrary composition profiles. This new technique is demonstrated by synthesis of analog graded Al(x)Ga(1-x)As unipolar ballistic electron transistors.

Malik, Roger J.↗

Models of second-order effects in metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors for computer applications

Second-order effects in metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) are important for devices with dimensions of 2 microns or less. The short and narrow channel effects and drain-induced barrier lowering primarily affect threshold voltage, but formulas for drain current must also take these effects into account. In addition, the drain current is sensitive to channel length modulation due to pinch-off or velocity saturation and is diminished by electron mobility degradation due to normal and lateral electric fields in the channel. A model of a MOSFET including these considerations and emphasizing charge conservation is discussed.

Benumof, Reuben↗

Relationship Between Latchup And Transistor Current Gain

Theoretical study takes new look at current-vs.-voltage behavior of silicon controlled rectifiers (SCR's), four-layer complementary metal oxide/semiconductor (CMOS) devices, and similar devices susceptible to latchup. For purposes of analysis, "latchup" denotes transition of such device from lower-current-conducting steady state to distinct higher-current-conducting steady state. Focuses upon conventional two-couple-transistor model of one-dimensional SCR. Although model gives oversimplified view of latchup in CMOS circuits, useful for qualitative predictions of electrical characteristics.

Edmonds, Larry D.↗

Radiation Damage In Advanced Bipolar Transistors

Report describes measurements of common-emitter current gains (hFE) of advanced bipolar silicon transistors before, during, and after irradiation with 275-MeV bromine ions, 2.5-MeV electrons, and conductivity rays from cobalt-60 atoms.

Zoutendyk, John A.↗

Pass-transistor asynchronous sequential circuits

Design methods for asynchronous sequential pass-transistor circuits, which result in circuits that are hazard- and critical-race-free and which have added degrees of freedom for the input signals, are discussed. The design procedures are straightforward and easy to implement. Two single-transition-time state assignment methods are presented, and hardware bounds for each are established. A surprising result is that the hardware realizations for each next state variable and output variable is identical for a given flow table. Thus, a state machine with N states and M outputs can be constructed using a single layout replicated N + M times.

Whitaker, Sterling R.↗

Characterization of multilayer GaAs/AlGaAs transistor structures by variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry

Variable angle of incidence spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE) has been implemented as a means of determining layer thickness, alloy composition, and growth quality of GaAs/AlGaAs samples composed of relatively thick layers as well as superlattices. The structures studied in this work contained GaAs/AlGaAs multilayers with a superlattice 'barrier' and were grown for later formation of modulation-doped field effect transistors (MODFETs). Sample modeling was performed by treating the superlattice as a bulk AlGaAs layer of unknown composition. Extremely good data fits were realized when five layer thicknesses and two alloy ratios were allowed to vary in a regression analysis. Room temperature excitonic effects associated with the e-hh(1), e-lh(1) and e-hh(2) transitions were observed in the VASE data.

Merkel, Kenneth G.↗

Doping To Reduce Base Resistances Of Bipolar Transistors

Modified doping profile proposed to reduce base resistance of bipolar transistors. A p/p+ base-doping profile reduces base resistance without reducing current gain. Proposed low/high base-doping profile realized by such low-temperature deposition techniques as molecular-beam epitaxy, ultra-high-vacuum chemical-vapor deposition, and limited-reaction epitaxy. Produces desired doping profiles without excessive diffusion of dopant.

Lin, True-Lon↗

Impact ionization in the base of a hot-electron AlSb/InAs bipolar transistor

The operation of a new AlSb/InAs heterojunction bipolar transistor is studied. The electrons are injected into a p-InAs base across the AlSb/InAs heterojunction. The conduction-band discontinuity at this heterojunction is sufficiently large so that energy of the electrons injected into InAs exceeds the threshold for generating electron-hole pairs by impact ionization. The observed incremental common base current at zero collector-base bias decreases and becomes negative as the emitter current is increased, thus providing direct evidence for impact ionization entirely by band-edge discontinuities.

Vengurlekar, Arvind S.↗

Self-consistent analysis of lattice-matched and pseudomorphic quantum-well emission transistors

A self-consistent analysis of the quantum-well emission transistor (QWET) is presented allowing an exact calculation of the device quantum properties. Poisson's and Schroedinger's equation are solved numerically using a finite-difference method on a self-consistent basis. Pseudomorphic AlGaAs/InGaAs designs with 15-20 percent excess In are suggested for improving the device performance. Design with doping in various parts of the QWET are also studied. This analysis reveals that the device performance is less optimistic than previously predicted by analytic approaches. By introducing the pseudomorphic channel principle, while maintaining a reasonably low Al content for the gate and collector layers, it is, however, possible to obtain satisfactory performance. Optimum pseudomorphic designs showed high current driving capability (200,000 A/sq cm), high transconductance (3S/mm), and small intrinsic delay time (2 ps).

Hong, Kyushik↗

Silicon dioxide with a silicon interfacial layer as an insulating gate for highly stable indium phosphide metal-insulator-semiconductor field effect transistors

A novel gate insulator consisting of silicon dioxide (SiO2) with a thin silicon (Si) interfacial layer has been investigated for high-power microwave indium phosphide (InP) metal-insulator-semiconductor field effect transistors (MISFETs). The role of the silicon interfacial layer on the chemical nature of the SiO2/Si/InP interface was studied by high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results indicated that the silicon interfacial layer reacted with the native oxide at the InP surface, thus producing silicon dioxide, while reducing the native oxide which has been shown to be responsible for the instabilities in InP MISFETs. While a 1.2-V hysteresis was present in the capacitance-voltage (C-V) curve of the MIS capacitors with silicon dioxide, less than 0.1 V hysteresis was observed in the C-V curve of the capacitors with the silicon interfacial layer incorporated in the insulator. InP MISFETs fabricated with the silicon dioxide in combination with the silicon interfacial layer exhibited excellent stability with drain current drift of less than 3 percent in 10,000 sec, as compared to 15-18 percent drift in 10,000 sec for devices without the silicon interfacial layer. High-power microwave InP MISFETs with Si/SiO2 gate insulators resulted in an output power density of 1.75 W/mm gate width at 9.7 GHz, with an associated power gain of 2.5 dB and 24 percent power added efficiency.

Kapoor, V. J.↗