Aging Analysis and Degradation Prediction of PLL Circuits in 14-nm FinFET Technology

This work investigates the reliability and aging predictions in a 14-nm FinFET-based analog circuit under high-temperature conditions. Aging simulations and accelerated aging tests were carried out on key devices of phase-locked loop (PLL) circuits, with a focus on the time-power-law exponent (n) of...

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Main Authors: Meng Li, Xin Xu, Xianghui Li, Yunpeng Li, Yiqun Shi, Qingqing Sun, Hao Zhu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IEEE 2025-01-01
Series:IEEE Journal of the Electron Devices Society
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10918946/
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author Meng Li
Xin Xu
Xianghui Li
Yunpeng Li
Yiqun Shi
Qingqing Sun
Hao Zhu
author_facet Meng Li
Xin Xu
Xianghui Li
Yunpeng Li
Yiqun Shi
Qingqing Sun
Hao Zhu
author_sort Meng Li
collection DOAJ
description This work investigates the reliability and aging predictions in a 14-nm FinFET-based analog circuit under high-temperature conditions. Aging simulations and accelerated aging tests were carried out on key devices of phase-locked loop (PLL) circuits, with a focus on the time-power-law exponent (n) of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\Delta $ </tex-math></inline-formula> Vth and temperature activation energy. A coupling phenomenon between hot-carrier injection (HCI) and negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) effects has been found at elevated temperatures, where HCI-induced self-heating effect (SHE) exacerbated the NBTI effects. Device degradation was found to be closely related to the waveform, frequency, and operating temperature. The quasi-static-approximation (QSA) model built with DC stress test data, was employed for device and circuit degradation predictions, and its limitations and applicability were discussed. Additionally, based on AC test data, the QSA model was used to simulate corrections for device and circuit degradation at corresponding frequencies. The results revealed over-predictions of degradation level by a time factor over 10.
format Article
id doaj-art-118aebf1659a4b6785ff67fcc1e76f3d
institution Kabale University
issn 2168-6734
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher IEEE
record_format Article
series IEEE Journal of the Electron Devices Society
spelling doaj-art-118aebf1659a4b6785ff67fcc1e76f3d2025-08-20T03:42:19ZengIEEEIEEE Journal of the Electron Devices Society2168-67342025-01-011327027710.1109/JEDS.2025.354975410918946Aging Analysis and Degradation Prediction of PLL Circuits in 14-nm FinFET TechnologyMeng Li0Xin Xu1Xianghui Li2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5054-4549Yunpeng Li3Yiqun Shi4Qingqing Sun5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6533-1834Hao Zhu6https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3890-6871School of Microelectronics, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaSchool of Microelectronics, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaSchool of Microelectronics, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaSchool of Microelectronics, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaSchool of Microelectronics, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaSchool of Microelectronics, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaSchool of Microelectronics, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaThis work investigates the reliability and aging predictions in a 14-nm FinFET-based analog circuit under high-temperature conditions. Aging simulations and accelerated aging tests were carried out on key devices of phase-locked loop (PLL) circuits, with a focus on the time-power-law exponent (n) of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\Delta $ </tex-math></inline-formula> Vth and temperature activation energy. A coupling phenomenon between hot-carrier injection (HCI) and negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) effects has been found at elevated temperatures, where HCI-induced self-heating effect (SHE) exacerbated the NBTI effects. Device degradation was found to be closely related to the waveform, frequency, and operating temperature. The quasi-static-approximation (QSA) model built with DC stress test data, was employed for device and circuit degradation predictions, and its limitations and applicability were discussed. Additionally, based on AC test data, the QSA model was used to simulate corrections for device and circuit degradation at corresponding frequencies. The results revealed over-predictions of degradation level by a time factor over 10.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10918946/Hot-carrier injection (HCI)negative bias temperature instability (NBTI)phase-locked loops (PLLs) circuitreliability
spellingShingle Meng Li
Xin Xu
Xianghui Li
Yunpeng Li
Yiqun Shi
Qingqing Sun
Hao Zhu
Aging Analysis and Degradation Prediction of PLL Circuits in 14-nm FinFET Technology
IEEE Journal of the Electron Devices Society
Hot-carrier injection (HCI)
negative bias temperature instability (NBTI)
phase-locked loops (PLLs) circuit
reliability
title Aging Analysis and Degradation Prediction of PLL Circuits in 14-nm FinFET Technology
title_full Aging Analysis and Degradation Prediction of PLL Circuits in 14-nm FinFET Technology
title_fullStr Aging Analysis and Degradation Prediction of PLL Circuits in 14-nm FinFET Technology
title_full_unstemmed Aging Analysis and Degradation Prediction of PLL Circuits in 14-nm FinFET Technology
title_short Aging Analysis and Degradation Prediction of PLL Circuits in 14-nm FinFET Technology
title_sort aging analysis and degradation prediction of pll circuits in 14 nm finfet technology
topic Hot-carrier injection (HCI)
negative bias temperature instability (NBTI)
phase-locked loops (PLLs) circuit
reliability
url https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10918946/
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AT xinxu aginganalysisanddegradationpredictionofpllcircuitsin14nmfinfettechnology
AT xianghuili aginganalysisanddegradationpredictionofpllcircuitsin14nmfinfettechnology
AT yunpengli aginganalysisanddegradationpredictionofpllcircuitsin14nmfinfettechnology
AT yiqunshi aginganalysisanddegradationpredictionofpllcircuitsin14nmfinfettechnology
AT qingqingsun aginganalysisanddegradationpredictionofpllcircuitsin14nmfinfettechnology
AT haozhu aginganalysisanddegradationpredictionofpllcircuitsin14nmfinfettechnology