Introduction to
CMOS VLSI
Design
Chapter 2:
CMOS Transistor Theory
Part II
copyright@David Harris, 2004
Updated by Li Chen, 2010
Slide 1
Threshold voltage
Body Effects
Vt decreases with
negative substrate
voltage
CMOS VLSI Design Slide 2
Example
CMOS VLSI Design Slide 3
Example
CMOS VLSI Design Slide 4
Subthreshold Votlage
CMOS VLSI Design Slide 5
CMOS Latchup
Latchup occurs due parasitic bipolar transistors that
exist in the basic inverter as shown below
CMOS VLSI Design
CMOS Latchup
Once the parasitic thyristor latching circuit has triggered
(Vt= trigger voltage) snapback occurs and the integrated
circuit is latched.
CMOS VLSI Design
CMOS Latchup
The configuration of
these bipolar
transistors create a
positive feedback
loop, and will cause
the logic gate to
latchup as shown to
the left
By using heavily
doped material
where Rn and Rp
exist, there
resistance will be
lowered thereby
reducing the
chance of latchup
occurring
CMOS VLSI Design
CMOS Latchup
Suppose a base current iBN begins to flow in the
base of the npn transistor. This base current is
amplified by the npn current gain N an must be
supplied from the base of the pnp transistor. The
pnp base current is then amplified further by the
current gain P of the pnp transistor, yielding a
collector current equal to
iCP = PiBP = P(NiBN)
CMOS VLSI Design
CMOS Latchup
Once the circuit has entered the latchup state, both
transistors saturate, and the voltage across the
structure collapses to one diode drop plus one
saturation voltage.
V = VEB+VCESAT = VBE + VECSAT
Large currents and power dissipation can rapidly
destroy most CMOS structures. e.g. electro-
migration will damage the metal lines.
CMOS VLSI Design
Chap 7 - 11
CMOS Latchup
Latchup would not occur in an ideal structure for
which Rn = 0 = Rp – modern CMOS technology
uses special substrates and processing to
minimize the values of these two resistors.
A fault or transient occurs that causes one of the
source or drain diffusions to momentarily exceed
the power supply voltage levels, the latchup can
be triggered.
Ionizing radiation or intense optical illumination
are two other possible sources of latchup
initiation.
CMOS VLSI Design
Latch-up Prevention
Latchup resistant CMOS processes – reduce the
gain the the parasitic transistors.
Layout techniques - Use substrate contact to reduce
Rn & Rp.
CMOS VLSI Design