Impact of Collector-Base Junction Traps on Low-Frequency Noise in High Breakdown Voltage SiGe HBTs

Abstract

This work investigates the impact of collector-base (CB) junction traps on low-frequency noise in high breakdown voltage (HBV) SiGe HBTs. By comparing the base current and 1/f noise at the same internal emitter-base (EB) voltage of the standard breakdown voltage (SBV) and HBV devices, we show that the CB junction traps not only increase base current, but also contribute base current 1/f noise when high injection occurs. The individual 1/f noise contributions from the emitter-base junction traps and from the collector-base junction traps are separated. The dependence of the 1/f noise component on the corresponding base current component is determined, and shown to be different for the EB and CB junction traps. The dependence of the total 1/f noise on the total base current, however, remains the same before and after high injection occurs in the HBV device, which is approximately the same as that for the SBV device. The I/sub B/ contribution from the CB junction recombination current needs to be modeled for accurate I-V and 1/f noise modeling.