A model for the electric field in lightly doped drain structures

Abstract

A semi-quantitative model for the lateral channel electric field in LDD MOSFET's has been developed. This model is derived from a quasi-two-dimensional analysis under the assumption of a uniform doping profile. A field reduction factor and voltage improvement, indicating the effectiveness of an LDD design in reducing the peak channel field, are used to compare LDD structures with, without, and with partial gate/drain overlap. Approximate equations have been derived that show the dependencies of the field reduction factor on bias conditions and process parameters. Plots showing the trade-off between, and the process-dependencies of, the field reduction factor/voltage improvement and the series resistance are presented for the three cases. Structures with gate-drain overlap are found to provide greater field reduction than those without the overlap for the same series resistance introduced. This should be considered when comparing the double-diffused and spacer LDD structures. It is shown that gate-drain offset can cause the rise of channel field and substrate current at large gate voltages. This offset is also found to be responsible for nonsaturation of drain current. The model has also been compared with two-dimensional simulation results.