Abstract
We present the Mextram model, an industrial world standard compact model for bipolar transistors, showing the identity, philosophy and capabilities of the model. Mextram has been developed to capture all terminal characteristics of bipolar transistors that are relevant to industrial electronic circuit design of any Si or SiGe bipolar transistor, under all relevant practical circumstances. History, basic structure and features of the model are discussed, including simulation of heating effects, noise, geometrical scaling and statistical analysis. The relevance of the refined topology of its equivalent circuit, to simulation of advanced ac-characteristics of modern high-speed Si and SiGe transistors is extensively demonstrated.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
TechAmerica, formed by the merger of AeA (formerly the American Electronics Association), the Cyber Security Industry Alliance (CSIA), the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) and the Government Electronics & Information Technology Association (GEIA), offers leading federal market research and standards development programs to the high-tech industry at large: www.geia.org/index.asp?bid=597.
- 2.
For the most recent model descriptions, source code, and documentation, see the web-site http://mextram.ewi.tudelft.nl.
- 3.
- 4.
Again we focus on npn transistors; for pnp transistors the Gummel number would be formulated in terms of electron concentrations.
- 5.
In the notation used here, the functions K j are associated with nodes: K 1 is associated with node C 1 of the equivalent circuit, Fig. 7.1. In much of the Mextram literature and documentation, the value of the function K 1 is notated as K W (and K 2 is denoted as K 0).
- 6.
In the notation of expression (7.21), the voltage \(V_{B_{2}C_{2^{*}}}\) appears in the expression for \(K_{2^{*}}\). In much of the Mextram literature and documentation, this voltage \(V_{B_{2}C_{2^{*}}}\) is notated as \(V^{*}_{B_{2}C_{2}}\).
References
Beale, J.R.A., Slatter, J.A.G.: Equivalent circuit of a transistor with a lightly doped collector operating in saturation. Solid-State Electron. 11, 241–252 (1968)
Berkner, J.: Kompaktmodelle für Bipolartransistoren. Praxis der Modellierung, Messung und Parameterbestimmung—SGP, VBIC, HICUM und MEXTRAM (Compact Models for Bipolar Transistors. Practice of Modelling, Measurement and Parameter Extraction—SGP, VBIC, HICUM und MEXTRAM). Expert, Renningen (2002) (In German)
Bonani, F., Ghione, G.: Noise in Semiconductor Devices. Springer, Berlin (2001)
Bowler, D.L., Lindholm, F.A.: High current regimes in transistor collector regions. IEEE Trans. Electron. Devices ED-20, 257–263 (1973)
Buckingham, M.J.: Noise in Electronic Devices and Systems. Ellis Horwood, Chichester (1983)
Chu, G.Y.: Unilateralization of junction transistor amplifiers at high frequencies. Proc. IRE 43(8), 1001–1006 (1955)
de Graaff, H.C.: Collector models for bipolar transistors. Solid-State Electron. 16, 587–600 (1973)
de Graaff, H.C.: Electrical behaviour of lightly doped collectors in bipolar transistors. PhD thesis, Eindhoven University of Technology (1975)
de Graaff, H.C., Klaassen, F.M.: Compact Transistor Modelling for Circuit Design. Springer, Wien (1990)
de Graaff, H.C., Klaassen, F.M.: Compact Transistor Modelling for Circuit Design. Springer, Berlin (1990)
de Graaff, H.C., Kloosterman, W.J.: Mextram a new bipolar transistor model. Report 6038, Philips Natl. Lab. (1985)
de Graaff, H.C., Kloosterman, W.J.: New formulation of the current and charge relations in bipolar transistor modeling for CACD purposes. IEEE Trans. Electron. Devices ED-32, 2415 (1985)
de Graaff, H.C., Kloosterman, W.J.: Modeling of the collector epilayer of a bipolar transistor in the Mextram model. IEEE Trans. Electron. Devices ED-42, 274–282 (1995)
de Graaff, H.C., van der Wal, R.J.: Measurement of the onset of quasi-saturation in bipolar transistors. Solid-State Electron. 17, 1187–1192 (1974)
de Graaff, H.C., Kloosterman, W.J., Geelen, J.A.M., Koolen, M.C.A.M.: Experience with the new compact Mextram model for bipolar transistors. In: Proc. of the Bipolar Circuits and Technology Meeting, pp. 246–249 (1989)
de Vreede, L.C.N., de Graaff, H.C., Mouthaan, K., de Kok, M., Tauritz, J.L., Baets, R.G.F.: Advanced modeling of distortion effects in bipolar transistors using the Mextram model. In: Proc. of the Bipolar Circuits and Technology Meeting, pp. 48–51 (1994)
de Vreede, L.C.N., de Graaff, H.C., Mouthaan, K., de Kok, M., Tauritz, J.L., Baets, R.G.F.: Advanced modeling of distortion effects in bipolar transistors using the Mextram model. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 31, 114–121 (1996)
de Vreede, L.C.N., de Graaff, H.C., Tauritz, J.L., Baets, R.G.F.: Extension of the collector charge description for compact bipolar epilayer models. IEEE Trans. Electron. Devices ED-42, 277–285 (1998)
Deixler, P., Rodriguez, A., De Boer, W., Sun, H., Colclaser, R., Bower, D., Bell, N., Yao, A., Brock, R., Bouttement, Y., Hurkx, G., Tiemeijer, L., Paasschens, J., Huizing, H., Hartskeerl, D., Agrarwal, P., Magnee, P., Aksen, E., Slotboom, J.: QUBiC4X: An f t /f max =130/140 GHz SiGe:C-BiCMOS manufacturing technology with elite passives for emerging microwave applications. In: Proc. BCTM, pp. 233–236. IEEE, New York (2004)
Getreu, I.E.: Modeling the Bipolar Transistor. Elsevier, Amsterdam (1978)
Gummel, H.K.: A charge control relation for bipolar transistors. Bell Sys. Tech. J. 115–120 (1970)
Gupta, M.: Power gain in feedback amplifiers, a classic revisited. IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech. 40(5), 864–879 (1992)
Hassan, M.M.S.: Modelling of lightly doped collector of a bipolar transistor operating in quasi-saturation region. Int. J. Electron. 86, 1–14 (1999)
Hong, G.B., Fossum, J.G., Ugajin, M.: A physical SiGe-base HBT model for circuit simulation and design. In: IEDM Tech. Digest, pp. 557–560 (1992)
Hurkx, G.A.M.: Bipolar and Bipolar-MOS Integration. Elsevier, Amsterdam (1994). Chap. 3
Hurkx, G.A.M.: The relevance of f T and f max for the speed of a bipolar CE amplifier stage. IEEE Trans. Electron. Devices 44, 775–781 (1997)
Hurkx, G.A.M., Agarwal, P., Dekker, R., van der Heijden, E., Veenstra, H.: RF figures-of-merit for process optimization. IEEE Trans. Electron. Devices 51(12), 2121–2128 (2004)
Jeong, H., Fossum, J.G.: A charge-based large-signal bipolar transistor model for device and circuit simulation. IEEE Trans. Electron. Devices ED-36, 124–131 (1989)
Joseph, A.J., Cressler, J.D., Richey, D.M., Jaeger, R.C., Harame, D.L.: Neutral base recombination and its influence on the temperature dependence of early voltage and current gain-early voltage product in UHV/CVD SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistors. IEEE Trans. Electron. Devices 44, 404–413 (1997)
Kloosterman, W.J., de Graaff, H.C.: Avalanche multiplication in a compact bipolar transistor model for circuit simulation. IEEE Trans. Electron. Devices ED-36, 1376–1380 (1989)
Kloosterman, W.J., Geelen, J.A.M., Klaassen, D.B.M.: Efficient parameter extraction for the Mextram model. In: Proc. of the Bipolar Circuits and Technology Meeting, pp. 70–73 (1995)
Kloosterman, W.J., Paasschens, J.C.J., Havens, R.J.: A comprehensive bipolar avalanche multiplication compact model for circuit simulation. In: Proc. of the Bipolar Circuits and Technology Meeting, pp. 172–175 (2000)
Koolen, M.C.A.M., Aerts, J.C.J.: The influence of non-ideal base current on 1/f noise behaviour of bipolar transistors. In: Proc. of the Bipolar Circuits and Technology Meeting, pp. 232–235 (1990)
Kull, G.M., Nagel, L.W., Lee, S., Lloyd, P., Prendergast, E.J., Dirks, H.: A unified circuit model for bipolar transistors including quasi-saturation effects. IEEE Trans. Electron. Devices ED-32(6), 1103–1113 (1985)
Mason, S.J.: Power gain in feedback amplifier. Trans. IRE 1(2), 20–25 (1954)
Milovanović, V., Van der Toorn, R.: Rf small signal avalanche characterization and repercussions on bipolar transistor circuit design. In: The IEEE Region 8 EUROCON. The International Conference on Computer as a Tool, IEEE, Saint Petersburg, Russia (2009)
Milovanović, V., van der Toorn, R., Humphries, P., Vidal, D., Vafanejad, A.: Compact model of Zener tunneling current in bipolar transistors featuring a smooth transition to zero forward bias current. In: Proc. of the Bipolar Circuits and Technology Meeting (2009)
Paasschens, J.C.J.: Compact modeling of the noise of a bipolar transistor under DC and AC current crowding conditions. IEEE Trans. Electron. Devices 51, 1483–1495 (2004)
Paasschens, J.C.J., de Kort, R.: Modelling the excess noise due to avalanche multiplication in (heterojunction) bipolar transistors. In: Proc. of the Bipolar Circuits and Technology Meeting, pp. 108–111 (2004)
Paasschens, J.C.J., Kloosterman, W.J.: The Mextram bipolar transistor model, level 504. Unclassified Report NL-UR 2000/811, Philips Natl. Lab. (2000). See footnote 2
Paasschens, J.C.J., Kloosterman, W.J., Havens, R.J., de Graaff, H.C.: Improved modeling of output conductance and cut-off frequency of bipolar transistors. In: Proc. of the Bipolar Circuits and Technology Meeting, pp. 62–65 (2000)
Paasschens, J.C.J., Kloosterman, W.J., Havens, R.J.: Modelling two SiGe HBT specific features for circuit simulation. In: Proc. of the Bipolar Circuits and Technology Meeting, pp. 38–41 (2001)
Paasschens, J.C.J., Kloosterman, W.J., Havens, R.J.: Parameter extraction for the bipolar transistor model Mextram, level 504. Unclassified Report NL-UR 2001/801, Philips Natl. Lab. (2001). See footnote 2
Paasschens, J.C.J., Kloosterman, W.J., Havens, R.J., de Graaff, H.C.: Improved compact modeling of output conductance and cutoff frequency of bipolar transistors. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 36, 1390–1398 (2001)
Paasschens, J.C.J., Havens, R.J., Tiemeijer, L.F.: Modelling the correlation in the high-frequency noise of (heterojunction) bipolar transistors using charge-partitioning. In: Proc. of the Bipolar Circuits and Technology Meeting, pp. 221–224 (2003)
Paasschens, J.C.J., Harmsma, S., van der Toorn, R.: Dependence of thermal resistance on ambient and actual temperature. In: Proc. of the Bipolar Circuits and Technology Meeting, pp. 96–99 (2004)
Pals, J.A., de Graaff, H.C.: On the behaviour of the base-collector junction of a transistor at high collector current densities. Philips Res. Rep. 24, 53–69 (1969)
Reisch, M.: High-Frequency Bipolar Transistors. Advanced Microelectronics, vol. 11. Springer, Berlin (2003). Chap. B.2
Rey, G., Dupuy, F., Bailbe, J.P.: A unified approach to the base widening mechanism in bipolar transistors. Solid-State Electron. 18, 863–866 (1975)
Rollett, J.: Stability and power-gain invariants of linear twoports. In: IRE Trans. on Circuit Theory, pp. 29–32 (1962)
Schröter, M., Lee, T.Y.: Physics-based minority charge and transit time modeling for bipolar transistors. IEEE Trans. Electron. Devices ED-46, 288–300 (1999)
Van der Heijden, M.P., De Vreede, L.C., Burghartz, J.N.: On the design of unilateral dual-loop feedback low-noise amplifiers with simultaneous noise, impedance, and iip3 match. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 39(10), 1727–1736 (2004)
van der Toorn, R., Dohmen, J.J., Hubert, O.: Distribution of the collector resistance of planar bipolar transistors: Impact on small signal characteristics and compact modeling. In: Proc. of the Bipolar Circuits and Technology Meeting, pp. 184–187 (2007)
van der Ziel, A.: Noise. Sources, Characterization, Measurement. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs (1970)
van der Ziel, A.: Noise in Solid-State Devices and Circuits. Wiley-Interscience, New York (1986)
Versleijen, M.P.J.G.: Distributed high frequency effects in bipolar transistors. In: Proc. of the Bipolar Circuits and Technology Meeting, pp. 85–88 (1991)
Wu, H.: A scalable mextram model for advanced bipolar circuit design. Ph.D. thesis, Delft University of Technology (2007)
Wu, H., Mijalkovic, S., Burghartz, J.: Parameters extraction of a scalable Mextram model for high-speed SiGe HBTs. In: Proc. BCTM, pp. 140–143. IEEE, New York (2004)
Wu, H., Mijalkovic, S., Burghartz, J.: A referenced geometry based configuration scalable mextram model for bipolar transistors. In: Proc. IEEE Int. Behavioral Modeling and Simulation Workshop, pp. 50–55. IEEE, New York (2006)
Acknowledgments
The authors are indebted to the IEEE Intellectual Property Rights Office for granted permission to re-use figures of IEEE copyrighted publications and to Daniel P. Vidal (Delft University) for reading the penultimate version of this manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
van der Toorn, R., Paasschens, J.C.J., Kloosterman, W.J., de Graaff, H.C. (2010). Mextram. In: Gildenblat, G. (eds) Compact Modeling. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-8614-3_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-8614-3_7
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-8613-6
Online ISBN: 978-90-481-8614-3
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)