Determining BJT SPICE Parameters

Background
Assume one wants to use SPICE to determine the frequency response for and for the amplifier below.

Figure 1. Common-collector amplifier. After creating a schematic, the next step is to provide the proper SPICE parameters for the BJT. Appendix A documents SPICEsparameters. The hybrid- model that we use to analyze circuits are different from the models SPICE uses. The and hybrid- parameters, important for frequency analysis, do not have corresponding SPICE parameters. However, SPICE computes and at the Q-point from its parameters. Thus, we need determine SPICE parameters so that when it simulates, the simulation values match the values in the problem statement.

How SPICE Simulates BJTs

SPICE first does a dc or Q-point ( ) analysis. SPICE then determines the junction collector-base junction capacitance ( ) and then the junction capacitance ( ) and the diffusion capacitance for the base-emitter junction. Then SPICE computes and :

SPICE does the Q-point analysis first, because all the capacitances depend on the Q-point. Micro-Cap SPICE saves the values in the *.TNO file, where * represents the base name of the simulation file. It is instructive to examine this file.

SPICE DC Analysis Parameters

For the dc analysis, BF (= is obviously the most important. Other significant parameters are the Early voltage VAF , the built-in junction potential of the base-emitter junction , and saturation current IS ( . Since the transistor part number is not specified, one can pick a generic or common part such as the 2N2222 npn BJT and modify the BF and VAF SPICE

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parameters. Unless additional information on SPICE default values or typical values.

or junction voltages are available, use the

Data sheets usually list the built-in junction potential of the base-emitter junction . Regardless, for a Si transistor, is a reasonable choice. Data sheets list BF (= explicitly, or as . Data sheets normally do not specify the Early voltage explicitly, but one can deduce it from the output family of curves. Many transistor data sheets contain the output resistance measured at some collector current, and from this one can compute , since

Alternatively, VAF =100 V is a reasonable default for most transistors. Regarding the saturation current, most transistor data sheets contain the information needed to find IS. For example, below is a plot of vs. for a transistor.

Figure 2. Sample From the plot, at and

for a small BJT. . Thus

However, in most cases IS is not critical, and for many transistors, IS = 10 fA ( good value to use.

) is a

SPICE AC Analysis Parameters:

Known

For an ac analysis, we need to provide SPICE with enough information so that it can compute and at the operating point. SPICE Parameters for BJTs 2 Version 2.0

Incorporating For SPICE determines collector-base capacitance from

is the Q-point collector-base voltage that SPICE will determine during the dc analysis. We need to specify MJC, VJC, and CJC so that when SPICE runs a simulation, the resulting will match the desired value. Reasonable values for MJC and VJC are MJC = 0.5, VJC =0.7 V. Example 1 Specify MJC, VJC, and CJC for the circuit in Figure 1 so that the resulting Solution Use VJC = 0.7 V, and MJC = 0.5. A dc analysis reveals that for the circuit is 11 V. is 4 pF.

Incorporating For , SPICE determines the base-emitter junction capacitance capacitance and add these: , start with1 and the diffusion

To incorporate

Here is the forward transit time. We need to specify MJE, VJE, CJE, and , so that when SPICE runs a simulation, the resulting will match the desired value. As before, unless additional information is available, assume MJE = 0.5 and VJE = 0.7 V. This still leaves us with CJE and and many combinations of these will result in the desired . Unless additional information is available, there are three strategies:

Even though SPICE uses

, this equation gives poor results when we estimate

from

, and

generally works better for most discrete circuits that are biased at relatively large collector currents.

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1. Pick a reasonable value for and the determine CJE. For example, purpose npn BJTs lie in the range 150400 ps. 2. Set and model by the junction capacitance alone. 3. Set CJE = 0 and model with the diffusion capacitance alone. Example 2

for general-

For the circuit in Figure 1, use the three different strategies and determine the SPICE parameters so that resulting is 35 pF. Solution Strategy 1: pick the operating point. Then , then from it follows that at

Thus, one would provide SPICE with TF = 200 ps, CJE = 14 pF, MJE = 0.5, and VJE = 0.7 V. As a check, using these values, SPICE computed Strategy 2: set . Then

Thus, one would provide SPICE with TF = 0 ps, CJE = 17 pF, MJE = 0.5, and VJE = 0.7 V. As a check, using these values, SPICE computed Strategy 3: set Thus

Thus, one would provide SPICE with TF = 1.12 ns, CJE = 0 pF, and MJE, VJE does not matter with respect to . As a check, using these values, SPICE computed

Simulating Small-Signal Model in SPICE

One can simulate the small-signal model of the amplifier in Figure directly in SPICE. Since the small-signal parameters depend on the Q-point, the first step is to do a dc analysis. Micro-Cap SPICEs Dynamic DC Analysis reveals , and . Next determine

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Then construct a small-signal model, using SPICEs IofV dependent source (see Figure below).

Figure 3. Left: SPICEs IofV dependent source. Right: small-signal model of the amplifier in Figure 1. One would set the value for the IofV dependent source to the transconductance . Further, . Next, one can run the ac analysis and determine the frequency response. However, imagine one want to explore how the amplifier behaves for different values of . Every value of will give a different and thus new values for and , so that one has to recalculate the smallsignal values, update the SPICE file, and rerun the analysis. This quickly becomes impractical with circuits that contain more than one BJT.

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Appendix A
Junction and Diffusion Capacitances SPICE BJTs model are complex (EbersMoll and Gummel-Poon) and capture behavior at both small- and large signals. Broadly speaking, SPICE uses-physically based BJT parameters. For example, the large-signal BJT model below shows , and that are resistances associated with the contact (and other) resistances at the base, collector, and emitter. The capacitance refers to the collector-base junction capacitance, and refers to the base-emitter junction capacitance.

Figure A1. Left: BJT large signal model with junction capacitances. Right: SPICE symbols. is computed from . In SPICE, is TF. Junction capacitances depend on the (reverse) voltage across the pn junction and CJC, CJE in SPICE) are the zero-bias junction capacitances. The following describes the dependence: Reverse bias voltage Built-in junction voltage Zero-bias junction capacitance Junction grading coefficient (or

(1)

The parameters depend on how the BJT was manufactured. Typical values for and range between 0.330.5 and 0.550.7 V respectively. is the junction capacitance at zero bias. Using the SPICE notation:

Collector-base junction capacitance

(2)

Base-emitter junction capacitance

(3)

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Here CJC is the zero-bias junction capacitance, VJC is the built-in junction voltage (~0.65 V), and MJC (~0.5) is the junction grading coefficient for the collector-base junction. CJE, VJE (~0.7 V), and MJE (~0.33) are the corresponding SPICE parameters for the base-emitter junction. For BJTs on a substrate (ICs) there is another set and equations for the collector-substrate junction. Assuming the BJT operates in the forward-active mode, then the base-emitter junction is forward biased and there is a diffusion capacitance associated with the base-emitter junction. In the context of BJTs, this capacitance is designated with (see Figure A.1) and depends on the current and the transit time (see equation (4)).

Thermal voltage Transit time of charge carriers

(4)

The base-emitter diffusion- and junction capacitances are parallel and lumped together and is called the capacitance in the hybrid model.

AC Parameters CJC, CJE, MJC, MJC and TF BJT data sheets normally do not list CJC, CJE, MJC, MJC, explicitly. Rather, they contain capacitances measured at some or plots of capacitances at different Q-points. Further, data sheets seldom list the forward transit time TF, but list the transition frequency instead. The collector-base junction capacitance at the Q-point in SPICE is same as the capacitance in the hybrid- model. The total capacitance of the forward-biased base-emitter junction is the sum of the junction- and diffusion capacitances. This is also the capacitance in the hybridmodel: (5a) For moderate, large where is the base-emitter junction capacitance given by equation (3), and emitter diffusion capacitance given by equation (4). The relationship between the transition frequency and , and is: (5b) is the base-

Data sheets normally list , and follows from determine TF, which is what SPICE requires.

. Using this and equation (5) one can

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BJT data sheets often contain plots of the capacitances as a function of reverse voltage, and one can use this to determine and MJC. An example of such plots is shown below. When plots are not available, one has to make educated guesses. The junction grading coefficient MJE is 0.33, and for MJC a reasonable value is 0.5.

Figure A2. Junction Capacitances for a small BJT.

Some Examples
Example A.1 From the plot in Figure A.2, the collector-base junction capacitance is about 10 pF at 0.1 V reverse bias, so it is reasonable to take this values as the zero-bias junction capacitance . The general relationship between the junction capacitance and reverse voltage is

From the plot the collector-base voltage is 3 pF at

. Thus

Solving yields

. Thus, one would enter

and

in SPICE.

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Example A.2 For the same BJT as in Example 1, was measured as . To determine the forward transit time TF, use , measured at and

is identical to the collector-base junction capacitance at so that

which the plot shows is about 3 pF

Further, ignoring the base-emitter junction capacitance

Thus

Thus, one would enter

in SPICE.

To get a better estimate, do not ignore the base-emitter junction capacitance. Rather, one would compute it from

However, values computed using this is not reliable. One problem is that for forward bias, the sign of is negative and the magnitude slightly less than 1. Thus, the numerator is smallwhich amplifies small uncertainties in calculations. A good approximation is to take . Figure A.2 shows that at zero reverse voltage is about 24 pF. Thus, we take = 24 pF, and . Now

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Now one can determine the transition time

Example A.3 Below are the measured parameters for a BJT. Determine the main SPICE parameters. Parameter Value Measurement Conditions

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For the capacitances available, estimate

we need

and . Further, assume

. Since no other information is

For the transit time

, use

Strictly speaking, one should recompute at was measured. However, given that we estimated use . Now, at ,

, the bias voltage when , this does not make much sense, and we

Estimate

at forward bias:

and

Finally,

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Appendix B
Static Parameters
Parameter BF VAF IS RB Forward or Forward Early voltage Saturation current in Zero-bias base resistance 2N2222 36.6 pF 42.4 pF 0 0

Zero-Bias Junction Capacitances

Parameter CJC CJE CJS Collector-base Emitter-base Collector-substrate 2N2222 36.6 pF 42.4 pF 0 pF

Grading Coefficients
MJC MJE MJS Parameter Collector-base Emitter-base Collector-substrate 2N2222 0.56 0.64 0

Built-In Potentials
Parameter VJE VJC VJS Base-emitter Collector-base Collector substrate 2N2222 0.7 V 0.7 V 0.75

Relating Junction Capacitances and Hybrid- Parameters

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Forward Transit Time TF

When determining

at a given

, one would use the following.

However, this does not give good results for (strongly) forward-biased junctions and a better estimate when determining transit time is to use .

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