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RF linearity trade-offs for varying T-gate geometries of GaN HEMTs on Si

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 March 2023

Rana ElKashlan*
Affiliation:
imec, Kapeldreef 75, 3001 Leuven, Belgium Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Elsene, Belgium
Ahmad Khaled
Affiliation:
imec, Kapeldreef 75, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
Raul Rodriguez
Affiliation:
imec, Kapeldreef 75, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
Arturo Sibaja-Hernandez
Affiliation:
imec, Kapeldreef 75, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
Uthayasankaran Peralagu
Affiliation:
imec, Kapeldreef 75, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
AliReza Alian
Affiliation:
imec, Kapeldreef 75, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
Nadine Collaert
Affiliation:
imec, Kapeldreef 75, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
Piet Wambacq
Affiliation:
imec, Kapeldreef 75, 3001 Leuven, Belgium Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Elsene, Belgium
Bertrand Parvais
Affiliation:
imec, Kapeldreef 75, 3001 Leuven, Belgium Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Elsene, Belgium
*
Author for correspondence: Rana ElKashlan, E-mail: rana.y.elkashlan@imec.be
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Abstract

Short-channel Gallium Nitride (GaN) high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) often utilize T-shape gates due to their large gate-line cross-sectional area and subsequent fMAX increase. In this paper, we report the linearity trade-offs associated with varying the T-gate geometries of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs on Si, specifically the gate extensions which serve as field plates and their impact on the large-signal performance. Small-signal characterization and modeling, in addition to TCAD, provide initial guidelines for the optimal dimensions for the gate field plates using the ratio of fT and the product of the gate resistance and the gate-to-drain capacitance. We utilize various characterization methods, including 6 GHz non-linear vector network analyzer characterization in addition to load-pull, to quantify the amplitude and phase distortion and their subsequent impact on the large-signal metrics of the devices under differing matching conditions and bias points. We deduce that the influence of the gate field plates on the amplitude and phase distortion is non-negligible, particularly under matched conditions.

Information

Type
EuMW 2021 Special Issue
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution and reproduction, provided the original article is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press in association with the European Microwave Association
Figure 0

Fig. 1. (a) TEM cross-section of a 110 nm device with the definition of the dimensions. (b) Eight-finger GaN HEMT device layout with three BEOL metal layers. (c) TEM cross-section across the A-A″ cutline shown in (b) highlighting the three Cu layers.

Figure 1

Fig. 2. fT/fMAX versus bias for the shortest device at VD = 4 V. Device geometry: lg = 110 nm, lgfp = 250 nm, lfp(s) = 120 nm, lgs = 540 nm, lgd = 670 nm, NF × WF = 8 × 25 μm.

Figure 2

Fig. 3. Peak extrinsic transconductance for varying gate field plate lengths with error bars marking the variation across 10 measured dies at VG set to the bias corresponding to the maximum gm, and VD = 4 V. Device geometry: lg = 190 nm, lgs = 220 nm, lgd = 170 nm + lgfp, lfp(s) = 50 nm, NF × WF = 8 × 25 μm.

Figure 3

Fig. 4. Small-signal equivalent circuit used in the extraction of the intrinsic parameters and the extrinsic resistances after open-short de-embedding.

Figure 4

Fig. 5. Measured (symbols) versus modeled (lines) S-parameters with a frequency ranging from 100 MHz to 50 GHz at VD = 4 V and VG set to maximum gm. Device geometry: lg = 190 nm, NF × WF = 8 × 25 μm, lgs = 220 nm, lgd = 170 nm + lgfp, lfp(s) = 50 nm, and lgfp = (a) 50 nm, (b) 250 nm.

Figure 5

Fig. 6. Extracted and predicted small-signal parameters for three different lgfp. Device geometry: lg = 190 nm, lgs = 220 nm, lgd = 170 nm + lgfp, and NF × WF = 8 × 25 μm. The remaining SSEC parameters with marginal lgfp dependence: CDS = 495 fF/mm, ro = 900 Ω/mm, and CSUB = 50 fF, RSUB = 250 Ω.

Figure 6

Fig. 7. (a) fT and (b) fMAX for varying gate field plate lengths with error bars marking the variation across 10 measured dies at VG set to the bias corresponding to the maximum gm, and VD = 4 V. Device geometry: lgs = 220 nm, lgd = 170 nm + lgfp, lfp(s) = 50 nm, and NF × WF = 8 × 25 μm.

Figure 7

Fig. 8. (a) The ratio between fT and the product of RG and CGD extracted from RG modeling and TCAD simulations. (b) CINCparasitic, and ∂CIN/∂VGS versus VG for varying lgfp. lg = 190 nm, lgs = 220 nm, lgd = 170 nm + lgfp, and NF × WF = 8 × 25 μm.

Figure 8

Fig. 9. Passive load-pull characterization setup with the Focus L-67100 Delta Tuner. Achieved VSWR: 17.4 (ℾ: 0.891), characterization frequency f = 28 GHz.

Figure 9

Fig. 10. Phase distortion characteristics at 6 GHz for differing lgfp, at unmatched (NVNA) and matched (load-pull) load conditions with IDQ = 320 mA/mm and VD = 8 V. lg = 190 nm, lgs = 220 nm, lgd = 170 nm + lgfp, lfp(s) = 50 nm, and NF × WF = 8 × 25 μm.

Figure 10

Fig. 11. AM/PM characteristics obtained from the 28 GHz passive load-pull characterization for varying lgfp, lfp(s) at IDQ = 60 mA/mm and VD = 4 V. lg = 190 nm, lgs = 170 nm + lfp(s), lgd = 170 nm + lgfp, and NF × WF = 8 × 12.5 μm. ZL is matched for PAE.

Figure 11

Fig. 12. (a) Dynamic load lines, obtained from 6 GHz NVNA characterization at different compression levels, superimposed upon the DC characteristics, NF × WF = 8 × 25 μm, lgfp = lfp(s) = 50 nm, VG ranges from −6 to 0.8 V with a 0.4 V step and IDQ = 200 mA/mm, VDQ = 4 V. (b) PAE optimal load points obtained from load-pull characterization at 6 and 28 GHz for varying lgfp. lg = 190 nm.

Figure 12

Fig. 13. Large-signal metrics versus PIN obtained from the 6 GHz passive load-pull characterization for varying lgfp at IDQ = 320 mA/mm and VD = 8 V. lg = 190 nm, lgs = 540 nm + lfp(s), lgd = 540 nm + lgfp, lfp(s) = 120 nm, and NF × WF = 8 × 25 μm.

Figure 13

Fig. 14. Median PAE, PSAT obtained from the 6 GHz passive load-pull characterization of three dies for varying lgfp at IDQ = 320 mA/mm and VD = 8 V. lg = 190 nm, lgs = 170 nm + lfp(s), lgd = 170 nm + lgfp, lgfp = 50 nm, and NF × WF = 8 × 25 μm.

Figure 14

Fig. 15. Peak PAE, PSAT obtained from the 28 GHz passive load-pull characterization varying lgfp, lfp(s) at IDQ = 60 mA/mm and VD = 4 V. lg = 190 nm, lgs = 170 nm + lfp(s), lgd = 170 nm + lgfp, and NF × WF = 8 × 12.5 μm.