H03K2217/0018

RF SWITCH STACK WITH CHARGE CONTROL ELEMENTS
20210391858 · 2021-12-16 ·

Methods and devices to address the undesired DC voltage distribution across switch stacks in OFF state are disclosed. The disclosed devices include charge control elements that sample the RF signal to generate superimposed voltages at specific points of the switch stack biasing circuit. The provided voltages help reducing the drooping voltages on drain/source/body terminals of the transistors within the stack by supplying the current drawn by drain/source terminals of the stacked transistors and/or by sinking the body leakage current exiting the body terminals of such transistors. Methods and techniques teaching how to provide proper tapping points in the biasing circuit to sample the RF signal are also disclosed.

Method and apparatus improving gate oxide reliability by controlling accumulated charge

A method and apparatus are disclosed for use in improving the gate oxide reliability of semiconductor-on-insulator (SOD metal-oxide-silicon field effect transistor (MOSFET) devices using accumulated charge control (ACC) techniques. The method and apparatus are adapted to remove, reduce, or otherwise control accumulated charge in SOI MOSFETs, thereby yielding improvements in FET performance characteristics. In one embodiment, a circuit comprises a MOSFET, operating in an accumulated charge regime, and means for controlling the accumulated charge, operatively coupled to the SOI MOSFET. A first determination is made of the effects of an uncontrolled accumulated charge on time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) of the gate oxide of the SOI MOSFET. A second determination is made of the effects of a controlled accumulated charge on TDDB of the gate oxide of the SOI MOSFET. The SOI MOSFET is adapted to have a selected average time-to-breakdown, responsive to the first and second determinations, and the circuit is operated using techniques for accumulated charge control operatively coupled to the SOI MOSFET. In one embodiment, the accumulated charge control techniques include using an accumulated charge sink operatively coupled to the SOI MOSFET body.

Distributed FET back-bias network
11374022 · 2022-06-28 · ·

Electronic circuits and methods encompassing an RF switch comprising a plurality of series-coupled (stacked) integrated circuit (IC) SOI MOSFETs having a distributed back-bias network structure comprising groups of substrate contacts coupled to a bias voltage source through a resistive ladder. The distributed back-bias network structure sets the common IC substrate voltage at a fixed DC bias but resistively decouples groups of MOSFETs with respect to RF voltages so that the voltage division characteristics of the MOSFET stack are maintained. The distributed back-bias network structure increases the voltage handling capability of each MOSFET and improves the maximum RF voltage at which a particular MOSFET is effective as a switch device, while mitigating loss, leakage, crosstalk, and distortion. RF switches in accordance with the present invention are particularly useful as antenna switches.

Method and apparatus for use in improving linearity of MOSFETs using an accumulated charge sink

A method and apparatus for use in improving the linearity characteristics of MOSFET devices using an accumulated charge sink (ACS) are disclosed. The method and apparatus are adapted to remove, reduce, or otherwise control accumulated charge in SOI MOSFETs, thereby yielding improvements in FET performance characteristics. In one exemplary embodiment, a circuit having at least one SOI MOSFET is configured to operate in an accumulated charge regime. An accumulated charge sink, operatively coupled to the body of the SOI MOSFET, eliminates, removes or otherwise controls accumulated charge when the FET is operated in the accumulated charge regime, thereby reducing the nonlinearity of the parasitic off-state source-to-drain capacitance of the SOI MOSFET. In RF switch circuits implemented with the improved SOI MOSFET devices, harmonic and intermodulation distortion is reduced by removing or otherwise controlling the accumulated charge when the SOI MOSFET operates in an accumulated charge regime.

SINGLE-POLE DOUBLE-THROW SWITCH CIRCUIT WITH TYPE-C INTERFACE, ANALOG SWITCH CHIP, AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE
20220182053 · 2022-06-09 ·

The present invention provides a single-pole double-throw switch circuit with a Type-C interface, an analog switch chip and an electronic device, which can generate a reverse bias voltage across a first diode, so that a capacitance value of a PN junction can be significantly reduced after the reverse bias voltage is applied to the PN junction. Further, a ground capacitance corresponding to a COM point when the first diode is turned off can be effectively reduced, avoiding the reduction of a bandwidth of a digital path due to excessive capacitance. It can be seen that the present invention can realize a large size of a first field effect transistor and a high bandwidth of the digital path simultaneously, thereby facilitating the simultaneous improvement of the THD performance of an analog audio path and the bandwidth of the digital path, and avoiding conflicts between the two.

METHOD AND APPARATUS IMPROVING GATE OXIDE RELIABILITY BY CONTROLLING ACCUMULATED CHARGE

A method and apparatus are disclosed for use in improving gate oxide reliability of semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) metal-oxide-silicon field effect transistor (MOSFET) devices using accumulated charge control (ACC) techniques. The method and apparatus are adapted to remove, reduce, or otherwise control accumulated charge in SOI MOSFETs, thereby yielding improvements in FET performance characteristics. In one embodiment, a circuit includes a MOSFET, operating in an accumulated charge regime, and means for controlling the accumulated charge, operatively coupled to the SOI MOSFET. A first determination is made of the effects of an uncontrolled accumulated charge on time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) of the gate oxide of the SOI MOSFET. A second determination is made of the effects of a controlled accumulated charge on TDDB of the gate oxide of the SOI MOSFET. The SOI MOSFET is adapted to have a selected average time-to-breakdown, responsive to the first and second determinations, and the circuit is operated using techniques for accumulated charge control operatively coupled to the SOI MOSFET. In one embodiment, the accumulated charge control techniques include using an accumulated charge sink operatively coupled to the SOI MOSFET body.

MODELING CIRCUIT OF FIELD EFFECT TRANSISTOR FOR SYMMETRIC MODELING OF ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE CHARACTERISTIC, METHOD OF DESIGNING INTEGRATED CIRCUIT USING THE SAME AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING INTEGRATED CIRCUIT USING THE SAME

A modeling circuit of a field effect transistor includes a first field effect transistor, a first bipolar transistor, a second bipolar transistor and a substrate resistor. The first bipolar transistor has a collector electrode connected to a first node corresponding to a first electrode of the first field effect transistor, an emitter electrode connected to a second node corresponding to a second electrode of the first field effect transistor, and a base electrode. The second bipolar transistor has a collector electrode connected to the second node, an emitter electrode connected to the first node, and a base electrode connected to the base electrode of the first bipolar transistor. The substrate resistor is connected between the base electrodes of the first and second bipolar transistors and a first surface of a semiconductor substrate on which the first field effect transistor is formed.

Switching device and leakage current control method

A switching device includes a first switch and a threshold voltage adjustment circuitry. The first switch is configured to be selectively turned on according to an enable signal, in order to connect a first pin to a second pin. The threshold voltage adjustment circuitry is configured to adjust a voltage level of a bulk terminal of the first switch according to the enable signal and a voltage provided from a power source. In response to the voltage being de-asserted, the threshold voltage adjustment circuitry is further configured to cut off a signal path between the bulk terminal and the power source.

VOLTAGE TRACKING CIRCUIT AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME
20230266384 · 2023-08-24 ·

A voltage tracking circuit includes first, second, third and fourth transistors. The first transistor is in a first well, and includes a first gate, a first drain and a first source coupled to a first voltage supply. The second transistor includes a second gate, a second drain and a second source. The second source is coupled to the first drain. The second gate is coupled to the first gate and a pad voltage terminal. The second body terminal is coupled to a first node. The third transistor includes a third gate, a third drain and a third source. The fourth transistor includes a fourth gate, a fourth drain and a fourth source. The fourth drain is coupled to the third source. The fourth source is coupled to the pad voltage terminal. The second transistor is in a second well different from the first well, and is separated from the first well in a first direction.

Radio frequency switch circuit

In a communication system, a communication terminal device transmits and receives RF signals frequently. Subsequent to an antenna of the communication terminal device, the communication terminal device includes a radio frequency switch (also referred to as transmit/receive (T/R) switch) that switches between two states at a high frequency, where one state is for receiving RF signal and other state for transmitting RF signal. In the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) switch is provided, where the CMOS switch is deigned to have a high reliability by coupling a body of a transistor of the CMOS switch to a bias voltage through a switch, where the insertion loss and isolation are improved for the operation of the CMOS switch.