SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

Design and optimization of Ge profiles for improved thermal stability of SiGe HBTs

Qiang Fu1, 2, , Wanrong Zhang1, Dongyue Jin1, Chunbao Ding1, Yanxiao Zhao1 and Yujie Zhang1

+ Author Affiliations

 Corresponding author: Fu Qiang, Email:duduffqq@sohu.com

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Abstract: The impact of the three state-of-the-art germanium (Ge) profiles (box, trapezoid and triangular) across the base of SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) under the condition of the same total amount of Ge on the temperature dependence of current gain β and cut-off frequency fT, as well as the temperature profile, are investigated. It can be found that although the β of HBT with a box Ge profile is larger than that of the others, it decreases the fastest as the temperature increases, while the β of HBT with a triangular Ge profile is smaller than that of the others, but decreases the slowest as the temperature increases. On the other hand, the fT of HBT with a trapezoid Ge profile is larger than that of the others, but decreases the fastest as the temperature increases, and the fT of HBT with a box Ge profile is smaller than that of the others, but decreases the slowest as temperature increases. Furthermore, the peak and surface temperature difference between the emitter fingers of the HBT with a triangular Ge profile is higher than that of the others. Based on these results, a novel segmented step box Ge profile is proposed, which has modest β and fT, and trades off the temperature sensitivity of current gain and cut-off frequency, and the temperature profile of the device.

Key words: SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistorGe profilethermal stabilitythermal characteristics



[1]
Fu J, Bach K. A simple electrical approach to extracting the difference in bandgap across neutral base for SiGe HBT's. Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing, 2005, 8:301 doi: 10.1016/j.mssp.2004.09.069
[2]
Cressler J D. SiGe HBT technology:a new contender for Si based RF and microwave circuit applications. IEEE Trans Microw Theory Tech, 1998, 46(5):572 doi: 10.1109/22.668665
[3]
Miura M, Shimamoto H, Oda K, et al. Ultra-low-power SiGe HBT technology for wide-range microwave applications. IEEE Bipolar/BiCMOS Circuits and Technology Meeting (BCTM), Monterey, USA, 2008:129 https://www.infona.pl/resource/bwmeta1.element.ieee-art-000004662729
[4]
Zhang W, Yang J, Liu H, et al. The temperature dependence of DC characteristics and its implication in microwave power Si/SiGe/Si HBT's. International Conference on Microwave and Milliwave Technology (ICMMR/T), Beijing, China, 2004:594
[5]
Rinaldi N. Small-signal operation of semiconductor devices including self-heating with application to thermal characterization and instability analysis. IEEE Trans Electron Devices, 2001, 48(2):323 doi: 10.1109/16.902734
[6]
Jin Dongyue, Zhang Wanrong, Shen Pei, et al. Multi-finger power SiGe HBT with non-uniform finger spacing. Chinese Journal of Semiconductors, 2007, 28(10):1527 https://www.infona.pl/resource/bwmeta1.element.ieee-art-000004266205
[7]
Lee J G, Oh T K, Kim B, et al. Emitter structure of power heterojunction bipolar transistor for enhancement of thermal stability. Solid State Electron, 2001, 45(1):27 doi: 10.1016/S0038-1101(00)00189-1
[8]
Huang S C, Chang C T, Pan C T, et al. Improved SiGe power HBT characteristics by emitter layout. Solid State Electron, 2008, 52(6):946 doi: 10.1016/j.sse.2007.12.009
[9]
Jankovic N D, Neill A O. 2D device-level simulation study of strained-Si pnp heterojunction bipolar transistor on virtual substrates. Solid State Electron, 2004, 45(1):225
[10]
Liu Liang, Wang Yuqi, Xiao Bo, et al. Numerical analysis of a novel microwave power SiGe HBT. Chinese Journal of Semiconductors, 2005, 26(1):96 http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-BDTX200501019.htm
[11]
Kashyap A, Chauhan R K. Effect of Ge profile design on the performance o an n-p-n SiGe HBT-based analog circuit. Microelectron J, 2008, 39:1770 doi: 10.1016/j.mejo.2008.04.018
[12]
Raymond J E H, Slotboom J W, Pruijmboom A, et al. On the optimization of SiGe-base bipolar transistors. IEEE Trans Electron Devices, 1996, 43(9):1518 doi: 10.1109/16.535344
[13]
William E A, Cressler J D, Richey D M. Base-profile optimization for minimum noise figure in advanced UHV/CVD SiGe HBT's. IEEE Trans Electron Devices, 1998, 46(5):653 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/668678/?reload=true&arnumber=668678&contentType=Journals%20%26%20Magazines
[14]
Hu Huiyong, Zhang Heming, Dai Xianying, et al. An emitter delay time of an SiGe HBT. Chinese Journal of Semiconductors, 2005, 26(7):1384
Fig. 1.  Cross-section of the SiGe HBT used in SILVACO/ATHENA.

Fig. 2.  Schematic diagram of the SiGe HBT cell.

Fig. 3.  The three actual state-of-the-art Ge profiles of a SiGe HBT.

Fig. 4.  Comparison of $\beta$ versus $J_{\rm C}$ for the three Ge profiles under the same total Ge amount at $V_{\rm CE}$ $=$ 3 V and $T$ $=$ 300 K.

Fig. 5.  Comparison of $\beta $ versus temperature for the three Ge profiles.

Fig. 6.  Comparison of $f_{\rm T}$ versus $J_{\rm C}$ for HBTs with three Ge profiles at $V_{\rm CE}$ $=$ 3 V and $T=$ 300 K.

Fig. 7.  Comparison of $f_{\rm T}$ versus temperature for HBTs with three Ge profiles.

Fig. 8.  Device lattice temperature distribution for the three Ge profiles at $I_{\rm C}$ $=$ 2.5 mA and $V_{\rm CE}$ $=$ 3 V. (a) Box. (b) Trapezoid. (c) Triangular.

Fig. 9.  Comparison of the device surface lattice temperature distribution for the three Ge profiles.

Fig. 10.  Box, SSB and triangular Ge profiles across the base of SiGe HBTs.

Fig. 11.  Comparison of $\beta$ versus temperature for the box, SSB and triangular profiles.

Fig. 12.  Comparison of $f_{\rm T}$ versus temperature for the box, SSB and triangular profiles.

Fig. 13.  Comparison of the device surface lattice temperature distribution for the box, SSB and triangular profiles.

[1]
Fu J, Bach K. A simple electrical approach to extracting the difference in bandgap across neutral base for SiGe HBT's. Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing, 2005, 8:301 doi: 10.1016/j.mssp.2004.09.069
[2]
Cressler J D. SiGe HBT technology:a new contender for Si based RF and microwave circuit applications. IEEE Trans Microw Theory Tech, 1998, 46(5):572 doi: 10.1109/22.668665
[3]
Miura M, Shimamoto H, Oda K, et al. Ultra-low-power SiGe HBT technology for wide-range microwave applications. IEEE Bipolar/BiCMOS Circuits and Technology Meeting (BCTM), Monterey, USA, 2008:129 https://www.infona.pl/resource/bwmeta1.element.ieee-art-000004662729
[4]
Zhang W, Yang J, Liu H, et al. The temperature dependence of DC characteristics and its implication in microwave power Si/SiGe/Si HBT's. International Conference on Microwave and Milliwave Technology (ICMMR/T), Beijing, China, 2004:594
[5]
Rinaldi N. Small-signal operation of semiconductor devices including self-heating with application to thermal characterization and instability analysis. IEEE Trans Electron Devices, 2001, 48(2):323 doi: 10.1109/16.902734
[6]
Jin Dongyue, Zhang Wanrong, Shen Pei, et al. Multi-finger power SiGe HBT with non-uniform finger spacing. Chinese Journal of Semiconductors, 2007, 28(10):1527 https://www.infona.pl/resource/bwmeta1.element.ieee-art-000004266205
[7]
Lee J G, Oh T K, Kim B, et al. Emitter structure of power heterojunction bipolar transistor for enhancement of thermal stability. Solid State Electron, 2001, 45(1):27 doi: 10.1016/S0038-1101(00)00189-1
[8]
Huang S C, Chang C T, Pan C T, et al. Improved SiGe power HBT characteristics by emitter layout. Solid State Electron, 2008, 52(6):946 doi: 10.1016/j.sse.2007.12.009
[9]
Jankovic N D, Neill A O. 2D device-level simulation study of strained-Si pnp heterojunction bipolar transistor on virtual substrates. Solid State Electron, 2004, 45(1):225
[10]
Liu Liang, Wang Yuqi, Xiao Bo, et al. Numerical analysis of a novel microwave power SiGe HBT. Chinese Journal of Semiconductors, 2005, 26(1):96 http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-BDTX200501019.htm
[11]
Kashyap A, Chauhan R K. Effect of Ge profile design on the performance o an n-p-n SiGe HBT-based analog circuit. Microelectron J, 2008, 39:1770 doi: 10.1016/j.mejo.2008.04.018
[12]
Raymond J E H, Slotboom J W, Pruijmboom A, et al. On the optimization of SiGe-base bipolar transistors. IEEE Trans Electron Devices, 1996, 43(9):1518 doi: 10.1109/16.535344
[13]
William E A, Cressler J D, Richey D M. Base-profile optimization for minimum noise figure in advanced UHV/CVD SiGe HBT's. IEEE Trans Electron Devices, 1998, 46(5):653 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/668678/?reload=true&arnumber=668678&contentType=Journals%20%26%20Magazines
[14]
Hu Huiyong, Zhang Heming, Dai Xianying, et al. An emitter delay time of an SiGe HBT. Chinese Journal of Semiconductors, 2005, 26(7):1384
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    Received: 15 October 2012 Revised: 28 November 2012 Online: Published: 01 June 2013

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      Qiang Fu, Wanrong Zhang, Dongyue Jin, Chunbao Ding, Yanxiao Zhao, Yujie Zhang. Design and optimization of Ge profiles for improved thermal stability of SiGe HBTs[J]. Journal of Semiconductors, 2013, 34(6): 064001. doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/34/6/064001 Q Fu, W R Zhang, D Y Jin, C B Ding, Y X Zhao, Y J Zhang. Design and optimization of Ge profiles for improved thermal stability of SiGe HBTs[J]. J. Semicond., 2013, 34(6): 064001. doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/34/6/064001.Export: BibTex EndNote
      Citation:
      Qiang Fu, Wanrong Zhang, Dongyue Jin, Chunbao Ding, Yanxiao Zhao, Yujie Zhang. Design and optimization of Ge profiles for improved thermal stability of SiGe HBTs[J]. Journal of Semiconductors, 2013, 34(6): 064001. doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/34/6/064001

      Q Fu, W R Zhang, D Y Jin, C B Ding, Y X Zhao, Y J Zhang. Design and optimization of Ge profiles for improved thermal stability of SiGe HBTs[J]. J. Semicond., 2013, 34(6): 064001. doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/34/6/064001.
      Export: BibTex EndNote

      Design and optimization of Ge profiles for improved thermal stability of SiGe HBTs

      doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/34/6/064001
      Funds:

      the Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation 4122014

      the Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation 4082007

      the Beijing Municipal Education Committee KM200710005015

      the Beijing Municipal Education Committee KM200910005001

      the National Natural Science Foundation of China 61006059

      the National Natural Science Foundation of China 60776051

      the National Natural Science Foundation of China 61006044

      Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 60776051, 61006059, 61006044), the Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation (Nos. 4082007, 4122014), and the Beijing Municipal Education Committee (Nos. KM200710005015, KM200910005001)

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      • Corresponding author: Fu Qiang, Email:duduffqq@sohu.com
      • Received Date: 2012-10-15
      • Revised Date: 2012-11-28
      • Published Date: 2013-06-01

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