VLSI Unit 6 Qquestion
VLSI Unit 6 Qquestion
Syllabus :
1. Study of MOSFETs:
a. Structure and Operation of n-channel enhancement MOSFET,
b. MOSFET Current-Voltage Characteristics,
2. CMOS Inverter-
a. DC Characteristics, Voltage Transfer Characteristics,
3. Noise Margin
4. Combinational MOS Logic Circuits:
a. Pass Transistors/Transmission Gates;
b. Designing with transmission gates.
5. MOS Layers Stick/Layout Diagrams:
a. Layout Design Rules,
b. Issues of Scaling,
c. Scaling factor for device parameters.
Questions :
1. Sketch the Voltage Transfer characteristics of CMOS inverter and explain in detail (include all the regions:
Region A, B, C, D, E).
2. Explain in detail with suitable diagram:
a. Dynamic Power dissipation
b. Noise Margin
c. Transmission Gate
3. Sketch the Schematic and Stick Diagram of the following circuits:
a. CMOS NOR Gate
b. CMOS OR Gate
c. CMOS EX-OR Gate
d. CMOS Inverter
e. Y = (A.B) + C
4. Explain the concept of constant-field scaling and constant voltage scaling in detail.
5. Describe the following:
a. Layout Design rule
b. Device Modelling
6. Explain the circuit extractors and hierarchical circuit extractors in detail.
7. Describe Lambda-based and Micron-based layout design rules in detail. Justify the answer with the example
of NMOS.
8. What is Scaling and Scaling Factor?
9. Draw Layout of CMOS inverter and mention at least 6 design rules.
10. With Diagram explain Modelling and extraction of circuit parameters from physical layout.
11. Explain Body effect and Channel length modulation in detail. [4]
12. Explain controllability measure with an example. [9]
Noise Margin
25. Explain noise margin. Give it expressions. [4]
26. Describe Noise Margin, Power Delay Product, Energy dissipation, channel modulation. [8]
vii. Working :
1. The working principle of a MOSFET depends upon the MOS capacitor. The
semiconductor surface at the below oxide layer is located between the source and
drain terminals. It can be inverted from p-type to n-type by applying positive or
negative gate voltages.
2. When we apply positive gate voltage, the holes present under the oxide layer
experience a repulsive force, and holes are pushed downward with the substrate.
The depletion region is populated by the bound negative charges that are associated
with the acceptor atoms. The electrons reach, and the channel is formed.
3. The positive voltage also attracts electrons from the n+ source and drain regions into
the channel. Now, if a voltage is applied between the drain and source, the current
flows freely between the source and drain and the gate voltage controls the
electrons in the channel. If we apply negative voltage, a hole channel will be formed
under the oxide layer.
b. Characteristics :
i. The characteristics of a MOSFET (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor) refer to
the electrical properties and behaviours of the device under different operating conditions.
ii. Threshold Voltage (Vth):
1. The threshold voltage (Vth) is the minimum gate-to-source voltage required to
induce an inversion layer in the semiconductor channel and turn on the MOSFET.
2. It determines the point at which the MOSFET transitions from the off state to the on
state.
iii. Operation Region :
1. Cut-off Region:
a. In the cut-off region, the MOSFET is turned off, and no significant current
flows between the drain and source terminals.
b. Operating point: Both gate-to-source voltage (Vgs) and drain-to-source
voltage (Vds) are below the threshold voltage (Vth).
c. Behaviour: The MOSFET's channel is depleted, preventing the flow of current
from the drain to the source.
d. Characteristics: Drain current (Id) is very small or negligible, and the MOSFET
behaves like an open switch.
e. Application: The cut-off region is used to ensure that the MOSFET is fully
turned off when not in use, minimizing power consumption and preventing
unintended current flow.
2. Saturation Region:
a. In the saturation region, the MOSFET is fully turned on, and significant
current flows between the drain and source terminals.
b. Operating point: The gate-to-source voltage (Vgs) is sufficiently high to
create an inversion layer in the channel, and the drain-to-source voltage
(Vds) is relatively low.
c. Behaviour: The MOSFET's channel is fully enhanced, allowing current to flow
freely from the drain to the source.
d. Characteristics: Drain current (Id) remains relatively constant with changes in
drain-to-source voltage (Vds), and the MOSFET behaves like a voltage-
controlled current source.
e. Application: The saturation region is used in switching applications, where
the MOSFET acts as a closed switch, conducting current between the drain
and source terminals.
3. Linear (Triode) Region:
a. In the linear region, the MOSFET operates between cut-off and saturation,
exhibiting a linear relationship between drain current (Id) and drain-to-
source voltage (Vds).
b. Operating point: The gate-to-source voltage (Vgs) is sufficiently high to
create an inversion layer in the channel, and the drain-to-source voltage
(Vds) is moderate.
c. Behaviour: The MOSFET's channel is partially enhanced, and the drain
current (Id) varies linearly with changes in drain-to-source voltage (Vds).
d. Characteristics: Drain current (Id) is proportional to drain-to-source voltage
(Vds), and the MOSFET behaves like a variable resistor.
e. Application: The linear region is used in amplification and signal processing
applications, such as voltage amplifiers and analog circuits.
iv. Input Characteristics / Transfer Characteristics (Id vs Vgs):
1. Transfer characteristics describe the relationship between drain current (Id) and
gate-to-source voltage (Vgs) at a constant drain-to-source voltage (Vds).
2. They show how the MOSFET's conductivity varies with changes in the gate voltage,
providing insights into its input behaviour and control.
3. In the enhancement mode, the MOSFET starts conducting significant drain current
when Vgs exceeds Vth. The drain current then increases with further increases in
Vgs.
4. In the depletion mode, the MOSFET initially conducts significant drain current when
Vgs is below Vth, and the drain current decreases with further increases in Vgs.
v. Output Characteristics/ Drain Characteristics (Id vs Vds):
1. Output characteristics illustrate the relationship between drain current (Id) and
drain-to-source voltage (Vds) at a constant gate-to-source voltage (Vgs).
2. They depict the MOSFET's behaviour in different operating regions, including
saturation, linear, and cut-off.
3. NMOS MOSFET:
a. Saturation Region: Drain current (Id) remains relatively constant with
changes in drain-to-source voltage (Vds), and the MOSFET behaves like a
voltage-controlled current source.
b. Linear (Triode) Region: Characteristics: Drain current (Id) is proportional to
drain-to-source voltage (Vds), and the MOSFET behaves like a variable
resistor.
4. PMOS MOSFET:
a. Saturation Region: Drain current (Id) remains relatively constant with
changes in drain-to-source voltage (Vds), and the MOSFET behaves like a
voltage-controlled current source.
b. Linear (Triode) Region: Drain current (Id) is proportional to drain-to-source
voltage (Vds), and the MOSFET behaves like a variable resistor.
2. CMOS Inverter :
a. A CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) inverter is a device that consists of both
NMOS (N-channel Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) and PMOS (P-channel Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor)
transistors configured in a complementary manner to achieve low power consumption, high noise
immunity.
b. Components of a CMOS Inverter:
i. NMOS Transistor (nMOSFET):
1. The NMOS transistor is an enhancement-mode MOSFET with a positive threshold
voltage (Vth).
2. It acts as the "pull-down" device and conducts when the input is logic LOW (0).
3. The NMOS transistor has its source connected to ground (GND) and its drain
connected to the output node.
ii. PMOS Transistor (pMOSFET):
1. The PMOS transistor is an enhancement-mode MOSFET with a negative threshold
voltage (Vth).
2. It acts as the "pull-up" device and conducts when the input is logic HIGH (1).
3. The PMOS transistor has its source connected to the supply voltage (VDD) and its
drain connected to the output node.