EECS 40 Spring 2003 Lecture 20

S. Ross

Today we will
Review NMOS and PMOS I-V characteristic Practice useful method for solving transistor circuits

Build a familiar circuit element using a transistor

Good luck to Marquette in the NCAA Final Four!

EECS 40 Spring 2003 Lecture 20

S. Ross

NMOS I-V CHARACTERISTIC

G

IG ID
S

VDS +

Since the transistor is a 3-terminal device, there is no single I-V characteristic. Note that because of the gate insulator, IG = 0 A. We typically define the MOS I-V characteristic as ID vs. VDS for a fixed VGS. 3 modes of operation

EECS 40 Spring 2003 Lecture 20

S. Ross

NMOS I-V CHARACTERISTIC

ID triode mode

saturation mode VGS = 3 V VDS = VGS - VTH(N) VGS = 2 V

VGS = 1 V VDS cutoff mode (VGS VTH(N))

EECS 40 Spring 2003 Lecture 20

S. Ross

NMOS I-V CHARACTERISTIC Cutoff Mode Occurs when VGS VTH(N) ID = 0

Triode Mode Occurs when VGS > VTH(N) and VDS < VGS - VTH(N)

W ID nCOX VGS VTH(N) VDS /2VDS L

Saturation Mode Occurs when VGS > VTH(N) and VDS VGS - VTH(N)

W 1 2 ID nCOX VGS VTH(N) 1 n VDS L 2

EECS 40 Spring 2003 Lecture 20

S. Ross

PMOS I-V CHARACTERISTIC

G

IG

ID
S

VDS +

Symbol has dot at gate. NMOS does not. ID, VGS, VDS, and VTH(P) are all negative for PMOS. These values are positive for NMOS. Channel formed when VGS < VTH(P). Opposite for NMOS.

Saturation occurs when VDS VGS VTH(P). Opposite for NMOS.

EECS 40 Spring 2003 Lecture 20

S. Ross

PMOS I-V CHARACTERISTIC VDS cutoff mode

(VGS VTH(P))

VGS = -1 V

VGS = -2 V VDS = VGS - VTH(P) VGS = -3 V saturation mode triode mode

ID

EECS 40 Spring 2003 Lecture 20

S. Ross

Cutoff Mode Occurs when VGS VTH(P)

PMOS I-V CHARACTERISTIC

ID = 0

Triode Mode Occurs when VGS < VTH(P) and VDS > VGS - VTH(P)

W ID pCOX VGS VTH(P) VDS /2VDS L

Saturation Mode Occurs when VGS < VTH(P) and VDS VGS - VTH(P)

W 1 2 ID pCOX VGS VTH(P) 1 p VDS L 2

EECS 40 Spring 2003 Lecture 20

S. Ross

SATURATION CURRENT Since l is small or zero, current ID is almost constant in saturation mode. We can call this current IDSAT:

W 1 IDSAT nCOX VGS VTH(N) 2 L 2 IDSAT W 1 pCOX VGS VTH(P) 2 L 2

for NMOS

for PMOS

EECS 40 Spring 2003 Lecture 20

S. Ross

LINEAR AND NONLINEAR ELEMENTS

We need to find out how transistors behave as part of a circuit. To solve a transistor circuit, obtain: Linear circuit 1) the nonlinear ID vs. VDS characteristic equation for the transistor 2) The linear relationship between ID vs. VDS as determined by the surrounding linear circuit
D

IG ID
S

VDS +

Then simultaneously solve these two equations for ID and VDS.

EECS 40 Spring 2003 Lecture 20

S. Ross

SOLVING TRANSISTOR CIRCUITS: STEPS 1) Guess the mode of operation for the transistor. (We will learn how to make educated guesses). 2) Write the ID vs. VDS equation for this mode of operation. 3) Use KVL, KCL, etc. to come up with an equation relating ID and VDS based on the surrounding linear circuit. 4) Solve these equations for ID and VDS. 5) Check to see if the values for ID and VDS are possible for the mode you guessed for the transistor. If the values are possible for the mode guessed, stop, problem solved. If the values are impossible, go back to Step 1.

EECS 40 Spring 2003 Lecture 20

S. Ross

CHECKING THE ANSWERS NMOS VDS must be positive ID must be positive

VDS < VGS VT(N) in triode VDS VGS VT(N) in saturation

VGS > VT(N) in triode or saturation VGS VT(N) in cutoff

PMOS VDS must be negative ID must be negative VDS > VGS VT(P) in triode VDS VGS VT(P) in saturation VGS < VT(P) in triode or saturation VGS VT(P) in cutoff

EECS 40 Spring 2003 Lecture 20

S. Ross

EXAMPLE 1) Guess the mode: 1.5 kW

D

Since VGS > VTH(N), not in cutoff mode. Guess saturation mode.

4V

+ _ + _

ID
G

+ VDS _
S

2) Write transistor ID vs. VDS:

3V

ID IDSAT ID 250 10 6 A / V 2 3 V 1 V 2

ID 1 mA
3) Write ID vs. VDS equation using KVL:

VTH(N) = 1 V, W/L mnCOX = 250 m A/V2, l = 0 V-1.

- VDS - 1.5 kW ID 4 V 0

EECS 40 Spring 2003 Lecture 20

S. Ross

EXAMPLE 4) Solve: 1.5 kW

D

ID = 1mA
5) Check:

VDS = 2.5 V

4V

+ _ + _

ID
G

+ VDS _
S

3V

ID and VDS are correct sign, and VDS VGS-VT(N) as required in saturation mode.

VTH(N) = 1 V, W/L mnCOX = 250 m A/V2, l = 0 V-1.

EECS 40 Spring 2003 Lecture 20

S. Ross

WHAT IF WE GUESSED THE MODE WRONG?

1) Guess the mode: 1.5 kW
D

Since VGS > VTH(N), not in cutoff mode. Guess triode mode.

4V

+ _

ID
G

2) Write transistor ID vs. VDS:

+
VDS _
S

ID = 225010-6(3 1 VDS/2)VDS 3) Write ID vs. VDS equation using KVL:

3V

+ _

- VDS - 1.5 kW ID 4 V 0

VTH(N) = 1 V, W/L mnCOX = 250 m A/V2, l = 0 V-1.

EECS 40 Spring 2003 Lecture 20

S. Ross

WHAT IF WE GUESSED THE MODE WRONG?

4) Solve for VDS with quadratic equation:
D

1.5 kW

4V

+ _ + _

ID
G

VDS = {4 V, 2.67 V} 5) Check: Neither value valid in triode mode! VDS > VGS VT(N) not allowed in triode mode.

+ VDS _
S

3V

VTH(N) = 1 V, W/L mnCOX = 250 m A/V2, l = 0 V-1.

EECS 40 Spring 2003 Lecture 20

S. Ross

GUESSING RIGHT How do you guess the right mode?

Often, the key is the value of VGS.

(We can often find VGS directly without solving the whole circuit.) ID VGS VT(N) definitely cutoff VDS VGS - VT(N) = e VDS ID

VGS = VT(N) + e probably saturation

EECS 40 Spring 2003 Lecture 20

S. Ross

GUESSING RIGHT
When VGS >> VTH(N), its harder to guess the mode. ID

triode mode

saturation mode

VGS - VTH(N)

If ID is small, probably triode mode

VDS

EECS 40 Spring 2003 Lecture 20

S. Ross

A CLOSER LOOK
In this circuit, the transistor delivered a constant current IDSAT to the 1.5 kW resistor. This circuit acts like a constant current source, as long as the transistor remains in saturation mode. IDSAT does not depend on the attached resistance if saturation is maintained.

1.5 kW
D

4V

+ _ + _

ID
G

+ VDS _
S

IDSAT

1.5 kW

3V

EECS 40 Spring 2003 Lecture 20

S. Ross

A CLOSER LOOK
IDSAT does depend on VGS; one can adjust the current supplied by adjusting VGS. The circuit will go out of saturation mode if VGS < VT(N) or VDS < VGS VT(N) RL
D

This can happen if VGS is too large or too small, or if the load resistance is too large.

VDD

+ _ + _

ID
G

+ VDS _
S

IDSAT

RL

VGS

EECS 40 Spring 2003 Lecture 20

S. Ross

ANOTHER EXAMPLE 1) Guess the mode:

1.5 kW
2 kW 4V + _ 6 kW
ID
G D

What is VGS? No current goes into/out gate. VGS = 3 V by voltage division. Guess saturation (randomly).
2) Write transistor ID vs. VDS: ID IDSAT ID 250 10 6 A / V 2 3 V 1 V 2

+ VDS _
S

ID 1 mA
VTH(N) = 1 V, W/L mnCOX = 250 m A/V2, l = 0 V-1. 3) Write ID vs. VDS equation using KVL:

- VDS - 1.5 kW ID 4 V 0

Effectively the same circuit as previous example: only 1 source.