Signal-Processing Application Based on Ferroelectric Tunnel Field-Effect Transistor

Abstract

This study introduces a ferroelectric tunnel field-effect transistor (Fe-TFET) capable of implementing three types of signal processing for frequency doubler, phase shifter, and signal follower. In addition, we verify its I/O characteristics using technology computer-aided design simulations. The proposed Fe-TFET has bidirectional tunneling currents as an inherent TFET characteristic, and the ferroelectric layer's polarization adjusts the device's threshold voltage (VTH). Depending on the degree of polarization by program voltage, the device operating within the input signal range of −0.5 to 0.5 V can be determined by the following current components: 1) source-to-channel tunneling current (ISC), 2) channel-to-drain currents (ICD), and 3) ISC and ICD. Then, through the mixed-mode circuit simulations, the I/O characteristics from each program condition are confirmed with 1) frequency doubler, 2) phase shifter, and 3) signal follower characteristics using a single Fe-TFET-based circuit. In addition, an investigation of the impact of frequency variations on the three modes reveals no attenuations in output signals. Consequently, the simple configuration and low power consumption, as opposed to conventional signal processing circuit, make the proposed processing method more suitable for analog circuit design.