[open source paper] Open-source circuit simulation tools for RF compact semiconductor device modelling

Open-source circuit simulation tools for RF compact semiconductor device modelling

Wladek Grabinski (editor), Mike Brinson, Paolo Nenzi, Francesco Lannutti, Nikolaos Makris, Angelos Antonopoulos and Matthias Bucher

September 2014

DOI: 10.1002/jnm.1973

SUMMARY: MOS-AK is a European, independent compact modelling forum created by a group of engineers, researchers and compact modelling enthusiasts to promote advanced compact modelling techniques and model standardization using high level behavioral modelling languages such as VHDL-AMS and Verilog-A. This invited paper summarizes recent MOS-AK open source compact model standardization activities and presents advanced topics in MOSEFT modelling, focusing in particular on analogue/RF applications. The paper discusses links between compact models and design methodologies, finally introducing elements of compact model standardization. The open source CAD tools: Qucs, QucsStudio and ngspice all support Verilog-A as a hardware description language for compact model standardization. Latter sections of this paper describe a Verilog-A implementation of the EKV3 MOS transistor model. Additionally, the simulated  RF model performance is evaluated and compared with experimental results for 90nm CMOS technology. 

KEYWORDS: CAD; GNU; Qucs; QucsStudio; ngspice; compact modeling; EKV3; RF; MOSFET; Verilog-A