CHAPTER 8: Noise Modeling

8.1 Flicker Noise

8.1.1 Parameters

There exist two models for flicker noise modeling. One is called SPICE2
flicker noise model; the other is BSIM3 flicker noise model [35-36]. The
flicker noise model parameters are listed in Table 8-1.

Symbols Symbols
used in used in Description Default Unit
equation SPICE
Noia noia Noise parameter A (NMOS) 1e20 none
(PMOS) 9.9e18
Noib noib Noise parameter B (NMOS) 5e4 none
(PMOS) 2.4e3
Noic noic Noise parameter C (NMOS) -1.4e-12 none
(PMOS) 1.4e-12
Em em Saturation field 4.1e7 V/m
Af af Flick noise exponent 1 none
Ef ef Flicker noise frequency 1 none
exponent
Kf kf Flicker noise coefficient 0 none

Table 8-1. Flicker noise model parameters.

BSIM3v3.2.2 Manual Copyright 1999 UC Berkeley 8-1

Flicker Noise

8.1.2 Formulations

1. For SPICE2 model

(8.1)
af
K f I ds
Noise density = 2
Cox Leff f ef

where f is the frequency.

2. For BSIM3 model

If Vgs > Vth + 0.1

(8.2)

q 2 kTeff I ds
(
Noia log N0 + 2 10 + Noib (N0 Nl ) + Noic N0 2 Nl 2 )
14
Noise density = 8 14
10 Nl + 2 10
2 ef
Cox Leff f 2
Vtm I ds Lclm Noia + Noib Nl + Noic Nl
2

+
Weff Leff f ef 108
2
(N l + 2 1014 )
2

where Vtm is the thermal voltage, eff is the effective mobiity at the given
bias condition, and Leff and Weff are the effective channel length and width,
respectively. The parameter N0 is the charge density at the source side
given by

(8.3)
Cox (Vgs Vth )
N0 =
q

The parameter Nl is the charge density at the drain end given by

8-2 BSIM3v3.2.2 Manual Copyright 1999 UC Berkeley

Flicker Noise

(8.4)

Cox (Vgs Vth min(Vds ,Vdsat ))

Nl =
q

Lclm is the channel length reduction due to channel length modulation and
given by

(8.5)
Vds Vdsat
+ Em
Litl log Litl (forVds > Vdsat)
Lclm = Esat



0 (otherwise)
2 vsat
Esat =
eff

where
Litl = 3 X jTox

Otherwise

(8.6)
Slimit Swi
Noise density=
Slimit + Swi

Where, Slimit is the flicker noise calculated at Vgs = Vth + 0.1 and Swi is given
by

BSIM3v3.2.2 Manual Copyright 1999 UC Berkeley 8-3

Channel Thermal Noise

(8.7)
Noia Vtm Ids
2

Swi =
Weff Leff f ef 41036

8.2 Channel Thermal Noise

There also exist two models for channel thermal noise modeling. One is called
SPICE2 thermal noise model. The other is BSIM3v3 thermal noise model. Each of
these can be toggled through the model flag, noiMod.

1. For SPICE2 thermal noise model

(8.8)
8kBT
(Gm + Gmbs + Gds )
3
where Gm, Gmbs and Gds are the transconductances.

2. For BSIM3v3 thermal noise model [37]

(8.9)
4 k B T eff
2
Q inv
Leff

Qinv is the inversion channel charge computed from the capacitance models
(capMod = 0, 1, 2 or 3).

8-4 BSIM3v3.2.2 Manual Copyright 1999 UC Berkeley

Noise Model Flag

8.3 Noise Model Flag

A model flag, noiMod, is used to select different combination of flicker and
thermal noise models discussed above with possible optoins described in Table 8-
2.

noimod Thermal noise

flag Flicker noise model model
1 SPICE2 SPICE2
2 BSIM3v3 BSIM3v3
3 BSIM3v3 SPICE2
4 SPICE2 BSIM3v3

Table 8-2. noiMod flag for differnet noise models.

BSIM3v3.2.2 Manual Copyright 1999 UC Berkeley 8-5

Noise Model Flag

BSIM3v3.2.2 Manual Copyright 1999 UC Berkeley 8-6