Abstract:
In order to improve the thermal stability of RF power HBT and eliminate the self-heating effect which degenerates the transistor's electrical characteristics,the physical significance of thermal stability factor S is presented in detail based on the thermal-electric feedback network analysis.Furthermore,the expression of the minimum ballasting resistance
RC of HBT to compensate the self-heating effect(
S=0) is presented by taking into account of the temperature dependence of emitter current,the valence-band discontinuity at emitter junction(△
Ev),the bandgap narrowing due to heavy doping(△
Eg),additional ballasting resistance in emitter and base.It is found that the higher the temperature T is,the smaller the minimum ballasting resistance
RC to compensate the self-heating effect is under the condition that(△
Ev+△
Eg)>2KT.Owing to the reducing of ballasting resistance,RF power HBT will provide higher output power,power gain,and poweradded efficiency(PAE) in an amplifier block.