Device Model Reference

Device models are defined with the .MODEL statement and assign electrical parameters to device instances.

.MODEL name type (param=val ...)

Parameters not specified use their default values. All models support temperature scaling -- the simulator adjusts parameters from the nominal temperature (TNOM, default 27C) to the circuit temperature (TEMP).


Diode Model Parameters

Model type: D

.MODEL DMOD D (IS=1e-14 N=1.05 RS=10 CJO=2P VJ=0.7 BV=100)

DC parameters

Parameter Default Unit Description
IS 1e-14 A Saturation current
N 1 -- Emission coefficient
RS 0 ohm Series resistance
BV inf V Reverse breakdown voltage
IBV 1e-3 A Current at reverse breakdown voltage

Capacitance parameters

Parameter Default Unit Description
CJO 0 F Zero-bias junction capacitance
VJ 1 V Junction potential
M 0.5 -- Grading coefficient
TT 0 s Transit time (diffusion capacitance)
FC 0.5 -- Forward-bias depletion capacitance coefficient

Temperature parameters

Parameter Default Unit Description
EG 1.11 eV Bandgap energy (silicon)
XTI 3 -- Saturation current temperature exponent

Noise parameters

Parameter Default Unit Description
KF 0 -- Flicker noise coefficient
AF 1 -- Flicker noise exponent

Equations

The diode current is:

where is the thermal voltage (approximately 26mV at 27C).


MOSFET Level 1 (Shichman-Hodges)

Model type: NMOS or PMOS with LEVEL=1

.MODEL NMOS1 NMOS (LEVEL=1 VTO=0.7 KP=110U GAMMA=0.4 LAMBDA=0.04)

Threshold and transconductance

Parameter Default Unit Description
VTO 0 V Zero-bias threshold voltage
KP 2e-5 A/V^2 Transconductance parameter
GAMMA 0 V^0.5 Body-effect parameter
PHI 0.6 V Surface potential
LAMBDA 0 1/V Channel-length modulation

Resistance

Parameter Default Unit Description
RD 0 ohm Drain ohmic resistance
RS 0 ohm Source ohmic resistance

Junction capacitance

Parameter Default Unit Description
CBD 0 F Zero-bias bulk-drain junction capacitance
CBS 0 F Zero-bias bulk-source junction capacitance
IS 1e-14 A Bulk junction saturation current
PB 0.8 V Bulk junction potential
CGSO 0 F/m Gate-source overlap capacitance per unit channel width
CGDO 0 F/m Gate-drain overlap capacitance per unit channel width
CGBO 0 F/m Gate-bulk overlap capacitance per unit channel length
CJ 0 F/m^2 Bottom junction capacitance per unit area
CJSW 0 F/m Sidewall junction capacitance per unit periphery
MJ 0.5 -- Bottom grading coefficient
MJSW 0.33 -- Sidewall grading coefficient
FC 0.5 -- Forward-bias capacitance coefficient

Geometry and process

Parameter Default Unit Description
TOX 1e-7 m Oxide thickness
LD 0 m Lateral diffusion
U0 600 cm^2/V-s Low-field surface mobility
NSUB 0 1/cm^3 Substrate doping
TPG 1 -- Gate material type (+1 opposite, -1 same, 0 Al gate)
NSS 0 1/cm^2 Surface state density

Equations

Threshold voltage with body effect:

Drain current ():


MOSFET Level 2 (Grove-Frohman)

Model type: NMOS or PMOS with LEVEL=2

.MODEL NMOS2 NMOS (LEVEL=2 VTO=0.7 KP=110U UCRIT=1e4 UEXP=0.1)

Level 2 extends Level 1 with analytical models for short-channel and narrow-channel effects. It inherits all Level 1 parameters and adds:

Parameter Default Unit Description
NFS 0 1/cm^2 Fast surface state density
UCRIT 1e4 V/cm Critical field for mobility degradation
UEXP 0 -- Critical field exponent
UTRA 0 -- Transverse field coefficient
VMAX 0 m/s Maximum carrier drift velocity
NEFF 1 -- Total channel charge coefficient
XJ 0 m Metallurgical junction depth
DELTA 0 -- Width effect on threshold voltage

Key differences from Level 1: mobility degradation via UCRIT/UEXP, velocity saturation via VMAX, narrow-channel effect via DELTA, subthreshold conduction via NFS, and analytical channel-length modulation.


MOSFET Level 3 (Semi-empirical)

Model type: NMOS or PMOS with LEVEL=3

.MODEL NMOS3 NMOS (LEVEL=3 VTO=0.7 THETA=0.1 ETA=0.1 KAPPA=0.5)

Level 3 uses a semi-empirical approach to model short-channel effects. It inherits all Level 1 parameters and adds:

Parameter Default Unit Description
THETA 0 1/V Mobility modulation
ETA 0 -- Static feedback (DIBL effect)
KAPPA 0.2 -- Saturation field factor
VMAX 0 m/s Maximum carrier drift velocity
NFS 0 1/cm^2 Fast surface state density
XJ 0 m Metallurgical junction depth
DELTA 0 -- Width effect on threshold voltage

Level 3 is a reasonable choice for technology nodes from about 1um down to 0.35um. For geometries below 0.25um, BSIM3v3 (Level 8) is recommended.


BSIM3v3 Model Parameters

Model type: NMOS or PMOS with LEVEL=8

.MODEL NMOS8 NMOS (LEVEL=8 VERSION=3.3 TNOM=27
+ VTH0=0.5 K1=0.6 K2=-0.1
+ TOX=9e-9 U0=300 VSAT=1.5e5
+ CGSO=2.5e-10 CGDO=2.5e-10)

BSIM3v3 is the industry-standard model for sub-micron MOSFETs. It has 150+ parameters, typically extracted by foundries and provided in process design kits.

Model selection

Parameter Default Unit Description
VERSION 3.3 -- Model version
TNOM 27 C Parameter extraction temperature
TOX 1.5e-8 m Gate oxide thickness
TOXE 1.5e-8 m Electrical oxide thickness
DTOX 0 m TOX - TOXE
EPSROX 3.9 -- Gate oxide dielectric constant
WINT 0 m Channel width offset
LINT 0 m Channel length offset

Threshold voltage

Parameter Default Unit Description
VTH0 (VTHO) 0.7 V Long-channel threshold voltage at Vbs=0
K1 0.5 V^0.5 First-order body effect coefficient
K2 0 -- Second-order body effect coefficient
K3 80 -- Narrow width effect coefficient
K3B 0 1/V Body effect of narrow width
DVT0 2.2 -- Short-channel effect coefficient 0
DVT1 0.53 -- Short-channel effect coefficient 1
DVT2 -0.032 1/V Short-channel effect coefficient 2
NLXL 1.74e-7 m Lateral non-uniform doping length
W0 0 m Narrow width effect parameter
VFB -1 V Flat-band voltage

Mobility

Parameter Default Unit Description
U0 670/250 cm^2/V-s Low-field mobility (NMOS/PMOS)
UA 2.25e-9 m/V First-order mobility degradation coefficient
UB 5.87e-19 (m/V)^2 Second-order mobility degradation coefficient
UC -4.65e-11 1/V Body-bias sensitivity of mobility degradation

Drain saturation current

Parameter Default Unit Description
VSAT 8e4 m/s Saturation velocity
A0 1 -- Non-uniform depletion width effect coefficient
AGS 0.2 1/V Gate bias coefficient of Abulk

Subthreshold region

Parameter Default Unit Description
VOFF -0.11 V Subthreshold offset voltage
NFACTOR 1 -- Subthreshold swing factor
CIT 0 F/m^2 Interface trap capacitance
CDSC 2.4e-4 F/m^2 Drain/source to channel coupling capacitance

DIBL (Drain-Induced Barrier Lowering)

Parameter Default Unit Description
ETA0 0.08 -- DIBL coefficient in subthreshold
ETAB -0.07 1/V Body-bias coefficient for DIBL
DSUB 0.56 -- DIBL coefficient in strong inversion

Output conductance (Rout)

Parameter Default Unit Description
PCLM 1.3 -- Channel-length modulation parameter
PDIBLC1 0.39 -- First DIBL correction parameter
PDIBLC2 0.0086 -- Second DIBL correction parameter
PSCBE1 4.24e8 V/m Substrate current body effect parameter 1
PSCBE2 1e-5 V/m Substrate current body effect parameter 2
PVAG 0 -- Gate dependence of output resistance

Capacitance

Parameter Default Unit Description
CGSO 0 F/m Gate-source overlap capacitance per width
CGDO 0 F/m Gate-drain overlap capacitance per width
CGBO 0 F/m Gate-bulk overlap capacitance per length
CLC 1e-7 m Constant term for the short-channel model
CLE 0.6 -- Exponential term for the short-channel model
CF 0 F/m Fringing field capacitance
DLC 0 m Length offset for capacitance
DWC 0 m Width offset for capacitance

Junction diode

Parameter Default Unit Description
CJ 5e-4 F/m^2 Bottom junction capacitance per area
CJSW 5e-10 F/m Sidewall junction capacitance per perimeter
CJSWG 0 F/m Gate-side sidewall junction capacitance
MJ 0.5 -- Bottom junction grading coefficient
MJSW 0.33 -- Sidewall junction grading coefficient
PB 1 V Bottom junction built-in potential
JS 1e-4 A/m^2 Bulk junction saturation current density

Geometry scaling

BSIM3v3 supports automatic length/width scaling. Each parameter P can have associated LP, WP, and PP variants:


BSIM4 Model Parameters

Model type: NMOS or PMOS with LEVEL=14

.MODEL NMOS14 NMOS (LEVEL=14 VERSION=4.5 TNOM=27
+ VTH0=0.4 TOX=1.8e-9 U0=300 VSAT=1.2e5
+ RDSW=200 RDSWMIN=0)

BSIM4 extends BSIM3v3 with 200+ additional parameters for deep sub-micron and nanoscale MOSFETs. It is the standard model for technology nodes from 130nm down to 22nm.

Key additions over BSIM3v3

Gate tunneling current

Parameter Default Unit Description
AIGBACC 1.36e-2 -- Accumulation gate current parameter A
BIGBACC 1.71e-3 -- Accumulation gate current parameter B
CIGBACC 0.075 -- Accumulation gate current parameter C
AIGC 1.36e-2 -- Gate-to-channel tunneling current parameter A
BIGC 1.71e-3 -- Gate-to-channel tunneling current parameter B
CIGC 0.075 -- Gate-to-channel tunneling current parameter C
TOXREF 3e-9 m Nominal gate oxide thickness for tunneling

Source/drain resistance

Parameter Default Unit Description
RDSW 200 ohm-um Source/drain resistance per unit width
RDSWMIN 0 ohm-um Minimum RDSW
PRWB 0 1/V^0.5 Body effect on RDSW
PRWGS 0 1/V Gate bias effect on RDSW
WR 1 -- Width offset from Weff for Rds

Gate-induced drain leakage (GIDL)

Parameter Default Unit Description
AGIDL 0 A/V GIDL pre-exponential coefficient
BGIDL 2.3e9 V/m GIDL exponential coefficient
CGIDL 0.5 V GIDL reference voltage
EGIDL 0.8 V GIDL activation energy

Usage notes


BJT Model Parameters (Gummel-Poon)

Model type: NPN or PNP

.MODEL NPN1 NPN (IS=1e-15 BF=200 NF=1 VAF=100 IKF=0.04
+ ISE=1e-13 NE=1.5 BR=5 NR=1 VAR=20
+ RB=100 RE=1 RC=10
+ CJE=2P VJE=0.7 MJE=0.33
+ CJC=1P VJC=0.75 MJC=0.33
+ TF=0.3N TR=6N)

Forward DC parameters

Parameter Default Unit Description
IS 1e-16 A Transport saturation current
BF 100 -- Ideal maximum forward beta
NF 1 -- Forward current emission coefficient
VAF inf V Forward Early voltage
IKF inf A Corner for forward beta high-current roll-off
ISE 0 A Base-emitter leakage saturation current
NE 1.5 -- Base-emitter leakage emission coefficient

Reverse DC parameters

Parameter Default Unit Description
BR 1 -- Ideal maximum reverse beta
NR 1 -- Reverse current emission coefficient
VAR inf V Reverse Early voltage
IKR inf A Corner for reverse beta high-current roll-off
ISC 0 A Base-collector leakage saturation current
NC 2 -- Base-collector leakage emission coefficient

Resistance

Parameter Default Unit Description
RB 0 ohm Zero-bias base resistance
RBM RB ohm Minimum base resistance at high currents
IRB inf A Current where base resistance falls halfway to RBM
RE 0 ohm Emitter resistance
RC 0 ohm Collector resistance

Base-emitter capacitance

Parameter Default Unit Description
CJE 0 F Zero-bias base-emitter depletion capacitance
VJE 0.75 V Base-emitter built-in potential
MJE 0.33 -- Base-emitter grading coefficient
TF 0 s Ideal forward transit time
XTF 0 -- Transit time bias dependence coefficient
VTF inf V Transit time dependency on Vbc
ITF 0 A Transit time dependency on Ic

Base-collector capacitance

Parameter Default Unit Description
CJC 0 F Zero-bias base-collector depletion capacitance
VJC 0.75 V Base-collector built-in potential
MJC 0.33 -- Base-collector grading coefficient
XCJC 1 -- Fraction of Cbc connected to internal base
TR 0 s Ideal reverse transit time

Gummel-Poon equations

The Gummel-Poon model extends the Ebers-Moll model with base-width modulation (Early effect) via VAF/VAR, high-injection roll-off via IKF/IKR, and low-current non-ideal base current via ISE/NE and ISC/NC.

Collector current:

where is the normalized base charge:


JFET Model Parameters

Model type: NJF (N-channel) or PJF (P-channel)

.MODEL JMOD NJF (VTO=-2 BETA=1e-4 LAMBDA=2e-4 RD=10 RS=10 CGS=5P CGD=1P)

DC parameters

Parameter Default Unit Description
VTO -2 V Pinch-off voltage (negative for NJF, positive for PJF)
BETA 1e-4 A/V^2 Transconductance coefficient
LAMBDA 0 1/V Channel-length modulation
IS 1e-14 A Gate junction saturation current
N 1 -- Gate junction emission coefficient
B 1 -- Doping tail parameter

Resistance

Parameter Default Unit Description
RD 0 ohm Drain ohmic resistance
RS 0 ohm Source ohmic resistance

Capacitance

Parameter Default Unit Description
CGS 0 F Zero-bias gate-source junction capacitance
CGD 0 F Zero-bias gate-drain junction capacitance
PB 1 V Gate junction potential
FC 0.5 -- Forward-bias depletion capacitance coefficient

Equations

Drain current (NJF, ):