X-FAB reduces flicker noise by a factor of five

The XH035 3.3V n-channel MOSFET has a lower flicker noise comparable to that of its companion XH035 3.3V p-channel MOSFET, when referenced to its input, and maintains the standard n-channel MOSFET’s threshold voltage and current drive capability. Using both types of low-noise transistors it is possible to design improved, lower-noise amplifier variants with a significantly higher SNR, and to make circuits that are more compact with better performance and are more cost-effective. Similarly, the 0.18µm process XH018 3.3V p-channel MOSFET exhibits a much lower flicker noise level than the standard p-channel device. The low-noise XH018 3.3V p-channel device behaviour is now similar to that of the low-noise XH035 3.3V p-channel MOSFET device.

Dr. Jens Kosch, CTO, X-FAB, explains the significance and cost-effectiveness of the new low-noise CMOS transistors. He says: "For years X-FAB has set the benchmark for low-noise transistors with our p-channel MOSFET transistor in our 0.35µm technology. When our customers asked for additional low-noise transistors, we developed our XH035 low-noise n-channel MOS transistor and our XH018 p-channel MOS transistor. The combination of the complementary XH035 n- and p-channel transistors offers designers more freedom in their circuit designs. No longer are they limited to only a low-noise p-channel device, and they benefit from having no additional mask layer expense. In addition, the XH018 p-channel device makes it possible to develop noise-critical designs for 0.18µm processes.”

The 0.35µm lower-noise n-channel transistor and its low-noise p-channel counterpart, integrated within the XH035 process design kit, are available immediately for new designs. Noise parameters are included within the device models to facilitate an accurate simulation of the noise behaviour of a circuit prior to its actual use. For the 0.18µm XH018 process, the new lower-noise 3.3V p-channel MOSFET will become available for new designs in November 2015.