Hybrid-pi model

The hybrid-pi model is a popular circuit model used for analyzing the small signal behavior of bipolar junction and field effect transistors. Sometimes it is also called Giacoletto model because it was introduced by L.J. Giacoletto in 1969. The model can be quite accurate for low-frequency circuits and can easily be adapted for higher frequency circuits with the addition of appropriate inter-electrode capacitances and other parasitic elements.

BJT parameters

The hybrid-pi model is a linearized two-port network approximation to the BJT using the small-signal base-emitter voltage, $\scriptstyle v_\text$, and collector-emitter voltage, $\scriptstyle v_\text$, as independent variables, and the small-signal base current, $\scriptstyle i_\text$, and collector current, $\scriptstyle i_\text$, as dependent variables.

A basic, low-frequency hybrid-pi model for the bipolar transistor is shown in figure 1. The various parameters are as follows.
:$g_\text = \left.\frac\right\vert_ = \frac$

is the transconductance, evaluated in a simple model,
where:
* $\scriptstyle I_\text \,$ is the quiescent collector current (also called the collector bias or DC collector current)
* $\scriptstyle V_\text ~=~ \frac$ is the ''thermal voltage'', calculated from Boltzmann's constant, $\scriptstyle k$, the charge of an electron, $\scriptstyle e$, and the transistor temperature in kelvins, $\scriptstyle T$. At approximately room temperature (295K, 22°C or 71°F), $\scriptstyle V_\text$ is about 25 mV.

*$r_\pi = \left.\frac\right\vert_ = \frac = \frac$

where:
* $\scriptstyle I_\text$ is the DC (bias) base current.
* $\scriptstyle \beta_0 ~=~ \frac \,$ is the current gain at low frequencies (generally quoted as ''h''_fe from the h-parameter model). This is a parameter specific to each transistor, and can be found on a datasheet.
* $\scriptstyle r_\text ~=~ \left.\frac\right\vert_ ~=~ \frac\left(V_\text \,+\, V_\text\right) ~\approx~ \frac$ is the output resistance due to the Early effect ($\scriptstyle V_\text$ is the Early voltage).

Related terms

The ''output conductance'', ''g'', is the reciprocal of the output resistance, ''r'':
:$g_\text = \frac$.

The ''transresistance'', ''r'', is the reciprocal of the transconductance:
:$r_\text = \frac$.

Full model

The full model introduces the virtual terminal, B', so that the base spreading resistance, ''r''_bb, (the bulk resistance between the base contact and the active region of the base under the emitter) and ''r''_b'e (representing the base current required to make up for recombination of minority carriers in the base region) can be represented separately. ''C''_e is the diffusion capacitance representing minority carrier storage in the base. The feedback components, ''r''_b'c and ''C''_c, are introduced to represent the Early effect and Miller effect, respectively.Dhaarma Raj Cheruku, Battula Tirumala Krishna, ''Electronic Devices And Circuits'', pages 281-282, Pearson Education India, 2008 .

MOSFET parameters

A basic, low-frequency hybrid-pi model for the MOSFET is shown in figure 2. The various parameters are as follows.
:$g_\text = \left.\frac\right\vert_$

is the transconductance, evaluated in the Shichman–Hodges model in terms of the Q-point drain current, $\scriptstyle I_\text$:

:$g_\text = \frac$,

where:
* $\scriptstyle I_\text$ is the quiescent drain current (also called the drain bias or DC drain current)
* $\scriptstyle V_\text$ is the threshold voltage and
* $\scriptstyle V_\text$ is the gate-to-source voltage.

The combination:
:$V_\text = V_\text - V_\text$

is often called ''overdrive voltage''.
:$r_\text = \left.\frac\right\vert_$

is the output resistance due to channel length modulation, calculated using the Shichman–Hodges model as
:$\begin r_\text &= \frac\left(\frac + V_\text\right) \\ &= \frac\left(V_E L + V_\text\right) \approx \frac \end$

using the approximation for the ''channel length modulation'' parameter, λ:

:$\lambda = \frac$.

Here ''V_E'' is a technology-related parameter (about 4 V/μm for the 65 nm technology node) and ''L'' is the length of the source-to-drain separation.

The ''drain conductance'' is the reciprocal of the output resistance:
:$g_\text = \frac$.

See also

*Small signal model
*h-parameter model

References and notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hybrid-Pi Model
Transistor modeling