Investigation of double-emitter reduced-surface-field horizontal current bipolar transistor breakdown mechanisms

Abstract

Breakdown behavior of double-emitter reduced-surface-field horizontal current bipolar transistor is extensively analyzed by measurements and 3D device simulations. By the addition of the 2nd drift region, BVCEO of double-emitter structure is improved from 12 V up to 36 V and can be tuned by the length of the drift region. By increasing the length of the drift region, positive feedback loop of the common-emitter soft-breakdown can be completely broken making the BVCEO independent on transistor current gain. Transistors with BVCEO and BVCBO equal to the collector-substrate breakdown voltage are demonstrated. We also report that base current reversal in forced-VBE measurement does not occur and cannot be used for accurate determination of BVCEO of analyzed structures.