MMIC Design and Technology

Active Devices
Instructor: Dr. Ali Medi

Lecture 5 Active Devices

MESFET Operation
I ds = qN d (h a )wv
v = E
Vds
E=
s
2 0 r (Vbi Vgs )

a =
qN d

I ds
gm =
Vgs

1
2

Vds =Const
Lecture 5 Active Devices

MESFET Equivalent Circuit

I ds
gm =
Vgs
Lecture 5 Active Devices

Vds =Const

Frequency
gm
fT =
2 (C gs + C gd )
fT =
fT =

veff
2Lg

Cut off Frequency where Ids=Igs

For High frequency

Increase effective velocity
and reduce gate lengths

gm

Rs + Rd
2 (C gs + C gd )1 +
Rds

+ g mC gd (Rs + Rd )

And minimize resistance

Lecture 5 Active Devices

HEMT and pHEMT

Lecture 5 Active Devices

Data file for actual device

Lecture 5 Active Devices

S11 on Smith Chart

14GHz
6GHz

Lecture 5 Active Devices

S21 and S12

Im
4
3

S21

18GHz
1

2GHz

S12 / .06
0

-4

-3

-2

-1

Re
0

-1
-2
-3
-4

Lecture 5 Active Devices

FET Example

Lecture 5 Active Devices

Input Reflection Coefficient

S11 is reflection coefficient only when port
2 is terminated in a matched load

b1 S11
b = S
2 21

S12 a1
S 22 a2

in

b1
S 21S12 L
in = = S11 +
a1
1 S 22 L
Lecture 5 Active Devices

a1
b1

=S11 when S12 = 0

a2
b2

Output Reflection Coefficient

S22 is reflection coefficient only when port
1 is terminated in a matched load

b1 S11
b = S
2 21
out

S12 a1
S 22 a2

S 21S12 s
b2
=
= S 22 +
a2
1 S11s
Lecture 5 Active Devices

a1
b1

a2
b2

out

=S22 when S12 = 0

Stability
Transistor is unstable when |in
i | >1

b1
S 21S12 L
in = = S11 +
a1
1 S 22 L
Boundary Condition for Stability

S 21S12 L
S11 +
=1
1 S 22 L
Lecture 5 Active Devices

Stability
Transistor is unstable when |outt| >1
out

S 21S12 s
b2
=
= S 22 +
a2
1 S11s

Boundary Condition for Stability

S 21S12 s
S 22 +
=1
1 S 22 s
Lecture 5 Active Devices

Stability Circles on Smith Chart

Load or Source stability
circle is the locus of points
in the L or s plane, for
which in or out = 1
1. If the
center of the smith chart is
enclosed by the stability
circle then all points inside
the circle are stable. If the
center is not enclosed
then all points inside the
circle are unstable.
Lecture 5 Active Devices

Unconditional Stability
If all of the smith chart is in a stable region
then the transistor is said to be
unconditionally stable
stable.
in or out <1 for all values of L or S

1 S11 S 22 +
2

K=

2 S12 S 21

Unconditionally Stable for K>1

= S11S 22 S12 S 21
Lecture 5 Active Devices