Properties of ESFI MOS transistors due to the floating substrate and the finite volume

The specific current-voltage characteristics of epitaxial silicon films on insulator (ESFI®) SOS MOS transistors are shown, discussed in comparison to bulk silicon MOST´s, and explained by the differences in geometrical considerations, charge distribution, and operation mode, The ESFI MOST´s are produced on silicon islands, in most applications, the electrical substrate is at floating potential. This results in two effects. At first a threshold voltage change occurs with increasing drain voltage, producing a kink in the current curve; if the drain voltage further increases, a parasitic bipolar transistor begins to work and effects another kink or bend in the curve. On the other hand, the finite vo|ume effects a strong dependence of the base width of the parasitic bipolar transistor on the drain voltage and causes a rise of the current amplification with the drain voltage. The finite volume below the gate oxide also limits the bulk-charge magnitudes with subsequent increase in mobile carrier charge, thereby increasing the transconductance. All these effects are also described theoretically; the ID-VDcharacteristics could be simulated by computer model based on the physical effects.