TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION FOR SEMICONDUCTOR LOGIC GATES

Abstract: Temperature compensation for semiconductor digital or analog circuits is accomplished by two depletion mode MESFETs (30, 32). A first MESFET (30) is operated as a level shifter in the linear region of operation only in combination with a second MESFET (32) operating in the saturation region of operation.

Description: The present invention relates to semiconductor logic gates comprising depletion mode metal semiconductor field effect transistors (MESFETs) and more particularly to the temperature compensation therefor. Some types of semiconductor logic gates show a strong temperature dependence. This effect has proved to be particularly a problem in logic gates which use gallium arsenide (GaAs) depletion mode MESFETs but also may arise in other instances. The result of this temperature dependence is to limit the temperature range over which such logic gates may be used. This limited temperature range is much less than the full military temperature range of -55°C to +125°C for some logic families. In order to obtain logic gates of such families which can operate over this entire range, temperature compensation is required. In typical GaAs circuits such as Schottky Diode FET Logic (SDFL), Buffered FET Logic (BFL), Source Coupled FET Logic (SCFL), and input and output buffers, logic level shifting is achieved by Schottky diodes connected in series with a current source. FIGURE 1 shows a typical level shifting circuit employing a Shottky diode 10 in series with a FET 20. Circuits of the type shown in FIGURE 1 are of limited utility over wide temperature ranges because the negative temperature coefficient of the Schottky diode voltage drop adds to the negative temperature coefficient of the FET threshold voltage, V T . Schottky diodes and MESFETs typically have temperature coefficients on the order of -1.1mV/°C and -1.3mV/°C, respectively. Consequently, the noise margin of the circuit deteriorates rapidly with temperature variations. SDFL gate arrays implemented with standard Schottky diode level shifters can be expected to work only over a temperature range of about -35°C to about +73°C. EP-A 0 222 242 describes a temperature compensation circuit for semiconductor logic gates according to the precharacterizing portion of claim 1. In this known circuit the first FET has its gate region connected to its source and operates at current levels within its triode region of operation. The present invention as characterized in claim 1 achieves a further improvement with respect to temperature compensation of semiconductor circuits. Preferred details thereof are described in the dependent claims. The invention as described in claim 1 provides temperature compensation for logic gates comprising depletion mode MESFETs. The logic gate is constructed at least in part in a body of semiconductor material and has temperature compensation means. These comprise a first and second depletion mode MESFET. In a preferred embodiment the depletion mode MESFET has first and second terminating regions in said semiconductor body and a gate terminating region comprising a metallic electrical conductor on a surface of said semiconductor body. Said first MESFET's first terminating region is adapted to operate at a higher voltage than said first MESFET's second terminating region. Said MESFET's gate terminating region is electrically connected to said first MESFET's first terminating region, said first MESFET being adapted to operate at current levels within its linear region of operation. The second MESFET has first and second terminating regions in said semiconductor body and a gate terminating region. Said second MESFET's first terminating region is adapted to operate at a higher voltage than said second MESFET's second terminating region. Said second MESFET's gate terminating region is electrically connected to said second MESFET's second terminating region. Said second MESFET's first terminating region is electrically connected to said first MESFET's second terminating region. Said second MESFET is adapted to operate at current levels in its saturation mode of operation. Further details are described in the other dependent claims and will be described with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a schematic diagram of a standard level shifting circuit; FIGURE 2 is a schematic diagram of the temperature compensation element of the present invention; FIGURE 3 is a plot experimental data showing the temperature dependence of the present invention; FIGURE 4 is a schematic diagram of a Schottky diode FET logic gate with temperature compensation; and FIGURE 5 is a schematic diagram of a buffered FET logic gate with temperature compensation. The temperature compensation scheme of the invention has been tested with logic gates which utilize gallium arsenide (GaAs) metal semiconductor field effect transistors (MESFETs). The invention will therefore be described in terms of such logic gates. In the discussion to follow, the parameters and dimensions given are for one example of an embodiment of the invention based on actual data derived from a device build by Honeywell Inc. of Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Those skilled in the art will perceive that other dimensions could be used and might be required by variations from the devices described herein or by differences in products produced by different processes. FIGURE 2 shows the basic temperature compensating element of the invention. This element comprises two depletion mode GaAs MESFETs 30 and 32. MESFET 30 operates in the linear region and MESFET 32 operates in the saturation region. The gate of MESFET 30 is connected to its drain. The gate of MESFET 32 is connected to its source. MESFET 30 is thus approximately equivalent to a resistor with a positive temperature coefficient. Thus, the temperature shift of the operating point of the circuit is compensated over wide temperature ranges. The source of MESFET 30 is connected to the drain of MESFET 32. MESFET 30 may be referred to as the level shifting transistor, while MESFET 32 may be referred to as the pull-down transistor. FIGURE 3 is a plot of the voltage drop V D across the level shifting transistor 30 versus temperature in degrees Centigrade, T(°C) for one device of the invention. In the embodiment of the invention used for the device, the gate of the level shifting transistor had a length of 1 micrometer and a width of 10 micrometers. The gate of the pull-down transistor had a length of 1 micrometer and a width of 20 micrometers. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the dimensions chosen for the model are only one example of possible dimensions that may be advantageously employed in the invention and that other dimensions may be employed without destroying the utility of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize from the plot of FIGURE 3 that the invention operates over the entire military temperature range of about -55°C to about +125°C. In particular, in the range of about +24°C to about +140°C the voltage drop, V D , on the level shifting transistor may be expressed by the following quadratic equation: In the above equation V T is the threshold voltage, I d is the current of the pull-down transistor in saturation at V GS = 0 and I dss is the current of the level shifting transistor in saturation at V GS = 0. V GS is the gate to source voltage of the MESFET. For the model plotted in FIGURE 2 the voltage drop V D over the temperature range of about +24°C to about +140°C had a positive temperature coefficient of about +0.57 mv/°C. A typical temperature coefficient for V T for a depletion mode MESFET is about -1.3 mv/°C. In some cases the temperature coefficient for V T may be as large as -2mv/°C. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the temperature compensation circuit of the invention may be stacked up to compensate for the larger negative temperature coefficients of V T . Experimental data have also shown that, when compared to standard level shifting devices, the device of the invention exhibits a large voltage drop, V D , which is approximately 70% of V T for typical MESFET devices. The device of the invention also exhibits a large current capability during transient switching and is small in size since the level shifting transistor's saturation current must be about two times smaller than the pull-down transistor's current in saturation. Referring now to FIGURE 4, an SDFL gate employing one embodiment of the temperature compensation scheme of the invention is shown. The gate comprises MESFETs 42, 44, 50, and 52 and diode 40. MESFETs 42 and 44 are connected together in accordance with the scheme of the invention as shown at FIGURE 2. Diode 40 is connected at the anode to an input whereon an electrical signal is applied. The cathode of diode 40 is connected to the drain of MESFET 42. The source of MESFET 42 and the drain of MESFET 44 are connected at node 46 to the gate of MESFET 52. MESFET 52 is connected from source to ground and from drain to the source of MESFET 50 and to the output of the gate. The source of MESFET 50 is connected tp an external voltage source, V DD . The source of MESFET 44 is connected to a second external voltage source designated V SS . As used in the gate configuration shown in FIGURE 4, the invention works as follows. The invention takes advantage of the fact that in MESFETs the threshold voltage, V T , decreases as temperature increases. Therefore, in order for the gate to work over large temperature ranges, the output voltage of the level shifter circuit, V out , must also decrease as temperature increases. In other words, as V T falls, V out must also fall in order to be able to maintain control over the output of the gate. The device of the invention has a positive temperature coefficient for V D , which is the voltage drop across the level shifting transistor. Therefore, as V D increases with increasing temperature, V out must decrease thereby making the device operable over a large temperature range. In prior art devices having negative temperature coefficients for V D , as temperature goes up, V D decreases resulting in V out increasing as V T decreases. This results in an inability to turn MESFET 52 off and to control the gate because at higher temperatures V T will always be exceeded by V out when using depletion mode MESFETs. FIGURE 5 shows the temperature compensating scheme of the invention incorporated into a BFL gate. The gate comprises MESFETs 60, 62, 64, 70 and 72 and diode 66 connected in a pattern suitable to form a BFL gate. MESFETs 70 and 72 are connected according to the scheme of the invention as explained above. The present discussion as shown the use of the basic temperature compensating element of FIGURE 2 with SDFL and BFL circuits. Other types of logic families could be used with similar temperature compensation. Among those which could be effectively used with the present temperature compensation system are source coupled FET logic (SCFL) and low pinch-off FET logic (LPFL).

Claims: A temperature compensation circuit for electrical circuits, in particular logic gate circuits comprising a first (30) and a second (32) depletion mode metal semiconductor field effect transistor (MESFET) connected in series electrical relation, whereat a) said first MESFET (30) has its source electrically connected to the drain of said second MESFET (32); and b) said second MESFET (32) has its gate electrically connected to its source and is operated at current levels within its said saturation region of operation; characterized in that said first MESFET (30) has its gate electrically connected to its drain and is operated at current levels within its linear region of operation such that it is approximately equivalent to a resistor with a positive temperature coefficient. The circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that the gate of said first MESFET (30) has a width of about 10 micrometers and a length of about 1 micrometer ; and the gate of said second MESFET (32) has a width of about 20 micrometers and a length of about 1 micrometer. The circuit according to claim 1 or 2 constructed at least in part in a body of semiconductor material, characterized in that : a) the first depletion mode MESFET (30) has drain and source terminating regions in said semiconductor body and a gate terminating region comprising a metallic electrical conductor on a surface of said semiconductor body; b) said first MESFET's (30) drain terminating region operates at a higher voltage than said first MESFET's source terminating region; c) the second MESFET (32) has drain and source terminating regions in said semiconductor body and a gate terminating region; and d) said second MESFET's drain terminating region operates at a higher voltage than said second MESFET's source terminating region. The circuit according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that said semiconductor body comprises gallium arsenide. The circuit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the circuit comprises a logic gate of the type known as Schottky diode FET logic (SDFL). The circuit according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the circuit comprises a logic gate of the type known as buffered FET logic (BFL). The circuit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the voltage drop across said first depletion mode MESFET (30) is expressed by the quadratic equation: where V D is the voltage drop. V T is the threshold voltage of said first MESFET. I d is the current of second MESFET in saturation and I dss is the current of said first MESFET in saturation at V GS = 0 and where temperature is in the range of about +24°C to about +140°C.

Inventors: PECZALSKI, ANDREZEJ
Applicants: HONEYWELL INC.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: H03K19
IPC codes: H03K17, H03K19