MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

6.374: Analysis and Design of Digital Integrated Circuits

Problem Set # 1
Fall 2003 Issued: 9/9/03
Due: 9/18/03

Unless otherwise specified, use the 0.25 micron libraries for all HSPICE simulations.

Problem 1: Device Parameters

The data from five measurements made on a short channel NMOS device appears in Table 1. Given that
VDSAT = 0.6 V and k’ = 100 µ A/V2, calculate VT0, γ , λ , 2| φ F|, and W/L.

Table 1: Measured Data for Short Channel NMOS

Meas. Number VGS VDS VBS ID( µ A)

1 2.5 1.8 0 1812

2 2 1.8 0 1297

3 2 2.5 0 1361

4 2 1.8 -1 1146

5 2 1.8 -2 1039

Problem 2: Backgate Effect

The circuit in Fig. 1 is known as the source follower configuration. It achieves a DC level shift between the
input and the output. The value of this shift is determined by the current I0. Assume xd=0, γ=0.4, 2|φf|=0.6V,
VT0=0.43V, kn’=115µA/V2 and λ=0.

VDD = 2.5V VDD = 2.5V

Io

Vi Vi M1 1um/0.25um
M1 1um/0.25um
Vo Vo
Vbias= 0.55V
M2 LD=1um
Io

(a) (b)

Figure 1: NMOS source follower configuration

 a) Suppose we want the nominal level shift between Vi and Vo to be 0.6V in the circuit in Figure 1(a).
Neglecting the backgate effect, calculate the width of M2 to provide this level shift (Hint: first relate Vi
to Vo in terms of Io).

b) Now assume that an ideal current source replaces M2 (Figure 1(b)). The NMOS transistor M1 experi­
ences a shift in VT due to the backgate effect. Find VT as a function of Vo for Vo ranging from 0 to 2.5V
with 0.5V intervals. Plot VT vs. Vo

c) Plot Vo vs. Vi as Vo varies from 0 to 2.5V with 0.5 V intervals. Plot two curves: one neglecting the back-
gate effect and one accounting for it. How does the backgate effect influence the operation of the level
converter?

At Vo(with backgate effect) = 2.5V, find Vo(ideal) and thus determine the maximum error introduced by
the backgate effect.

Problem 3: Velocity Saturation

This problem explores the behavior of short-channel devices. For the HSPICE simulations of this problem
you will use the 0.18u model parameters. Use the HSPICE model parameters which can be found in “log018_1.l ”

a) Using HSPICE plot ID versus VDS, for the transistor of the following figure, with VGS (0.6V, 0.8V, 1V,
Vd

M1
Vg WD = 0.54um
LD = 0.18um

Vs

Figure 2: Short channel Transistor.

1.2V, 1.4V, 1.6V, 1.8V) as a parameter. Comment on the dependence of ID with respect to VGS.

b) Calculate the effective resistance for a high to low transition, using the method described in slide 44
(Handout 2).

c) Consider two CMOS inverters with (W1/L1)n=(2.88u/1.44u), (W1/L1)p=(5.76u/1.44u) and (W2/

L2)n=(0.36u/0.18u), (W2/L2)p=(0.72u/0.18u). Assume VDD = 1.8 V and the output of the inverter is
loaded by CL=100fF capacitance. Calculate the propagation delay tP and check the answers with
HSPICE.

d) Repeat part c) sweeping the supply voltage VDD from 0.4V to 1.8V (sweep step 0.2V). Plot the propa­
gation delay tPversus the supply voltage VDD in the same graph. Comment on the results.

Problem 4: Voltage transfer characteristics, Noise Margins

The next figure shows an all NMOS inverter.

 a) Calculate VOH, VOL, and VM for the new inverter.

VDD = 2.5V

M2 W/L=0.375/0.25

VOUT

VIN M1 W/L=0.75/0.25

Figure 3: An Alternate Inverter Implementation

b) Use HSPICE to obtain the VTC.

c) Calculate VIH, VIL, and the noise margins and comment on the results. How can you increase the noise
margins and reduce the undefined region?

d) Comment on the differences in the VTCs, robustness and regeneration between this inverter and a stan­
dard CMOS inverter.

Problem 5: Inverter Gain and Regions of Operation

The Figure 4 shows a piecewise linear approximation for the VTC. The transition region is approximated by a
straight line with a slope equal to the inverter gain at VM. The intersection of this line with the VOH and the VOL
lines defines VIH and VIL

Vout

VOH

VM

Vin
VOL

Figure 4: A Different Approach to Derive VIL and VIH

 a) The noise margins of a CMOS inverter are highly dependent on the sizing ratio, r = kp/kn, of the NMOS
and PMOS transistors. Use HSPICE with VTn = |VTp| to determine the value of r that results in equal
noise margins? Give a qualitative explanation.

b) Section 5.3.2 of the text uses this piecewise linear approximation to derive simplified expressions for
NMH and NML in terms of the inverter gain. The derivation of the gain is based on the assumption that
both the NMOS and the PMOS devices are velocity saturated at VM . For what range of r is this assump­
tion valid? What is the resulting range of VM ?

c) Use the method from section 5.3.2 to derive an expression for the inverter gain at VM for the case when
the sizing ratio is chosen to place VM just below limits of the range where both devices are velocity sat­
urated. What are the operating regions of the NMOS and the PMOS?

Problem 6: Static CMOS Inverter

For this problem use scalable CMOS design rules and assume:

VDD = 2.5V, WP/L = 1.25/0.25, WN/L = 0.375/0.25, L=Leff =0.25µm (i.e. xd= 0µm), CL=Cinv-gate, kn’ =
115µA/V2, kp’= -30µA/V2, Vtn0 = | Vtp0 | = 0.4V, λ = 0V-1, γ = 0.4, 2|φf|=0.6V, and tox = 58A. Use the Hspice
model parameters for parasitic capacitance given below (i.e. Cgd0, Cj, Cjsw), and assume that VSB=0V for all
problems except part (e).

VDD = 2.5V

L = LP = LN = 0.25µm

VOUT
VIN

CL = Cinv-gate
(Wp/Wn = 1.25/0.375)
-
+ VSB

Figure 5: CMOS inverter with capacitive load.

## Parasitic Capacitance Parameters (F/m)##

NMOS

CGDO=3.11x10-10, CGSO=3.11x10-10, CJ=2.02x10-3, CJSW=2.75x10-10

PMOS

CGDO=2.68x10-10, CGSO=2.68x10-10, CJ=1.93x10-3, CJSW=2.23x10-10

a) What is the Vm for this inverter?

b) What is the effective load capacitance CLeff of this inverter? (include parasitic capacitance, refer to notes
for Keq and m.) Hint: You must assume certain values for the source/drain areas and perimeters since
there is no layout. For our scalable CMOS process, λ = 0.125 µm, and the source/drain extensions are
5λ for the PMOS; for the NMOS the source/drain contact regions are 5λx5λ.
c) Calculate tPHL, tPLH assuming the result of (b) is ‘CLeff = 6.5fF’. (Assume ideal step input, i.e.
trise=tfall=0. Do this part by computing the average current used to charge/discharge CLeff.)

d) Find (Wp/Wn) such that tPHL = tPLH.

e) Suppose we increase the width of the transistors to reduce the tPHL, tPLH. Do we get a proportional
decrease in the delay times? Justify your answer.

f) Suppose VSB = 1V, what is the value of Vtn, Vtp, Vm? How does this qualitatively affect CLeff?

g) Use Magic to create a layout for this inverter. Extract the schematic, including parasitic capacitance,
from the layout and use HSPICE to simulate the circuit and measure tP and the average power for the
following input Vin: pulse(0 VDD 5n 0.1n 0.1n 9n 20n), as VDD varies from 1V - 2.5V with 0.25V inter­
val. [tP = (tPHL + tPLH) / 2]. Using this data, plot ‘tP vs. VDD’, and ‘Power vs. VDD’.

The extracted layout will include parasitics so you need not manually include AS, AD, PS, PD in your
spice deck, but remember to manually add CL = 6.5fF. Set VSB = 0V for this problem. Use the HSPICE
model parameters which can be found in “ logic025.l ”.

h) Using HSPICE, simulate the circuit for a set of ‘pulse’ inputs with rise and fall times of tin_rise,fall =1ns,
2ns, 5ns, 10ns, 20ns. For each input, measure (1) the rise and fall times tout_rise and tout_fall of the
inverter output, (2) the total energy lost Etotal, and (3) the energy lost due to short circuit current Eshort.
For measuring short circuit power, use the technique discussed in class (slide 96, Handout 2). Use the
HSPICE model parameters which can be found in “ logic025.l ”

Using this data, prepare a plot of (1) (tout_rise+tout_fall)/2 vs. tin_rise,fall, (2) Etotal vs. tin_rise,fall, (3) Eshort
vs. tin_rise,fall and (4) Eshort/Etotal vs. tin_rise,fall.

Provide simple explanations for:

(i) Why the slope for (1) is less than 1?
(ii) Why Eshort increases with tin_rise,fall?
(iii) Why Etotal increases with tin_rise,fall?