Analysis of temperature and process variation effects on photo sensor circuits using device/circuit mixed-mode simulations
Impact of temperature and process variations on the output voltage variations of CMOS photo sensor is discussed. As temperature becomes high, output voltage (Vout) decreases because of the amplifier characteristics. But above 350 K, Vout increases in a weak light intensity range. The process variations have an impact when the operation temperature is high and irradiating light intensity is low. We also estimate influence of additional drive-in process, and find the sensitivities of process variation to increase. To consider both process and temperature variations at the same time, we evaluate Vout variation with mixed-mode simulation.
Physics-Based Photodiode Model Enabling Consistent Opto-Electronic Circuit Simulation
The paper developed a photodiode (PD) model for circuit simulation considering, contrary to existing models, the transient carrier generation explicitly in the solution of the continuity equation. The developed model is compatible with conventional compact electrical device models and is demonstrated to enable accurate simulation of opto-electronic integrated circuits. The electric field distribution along the depth direction of the PD is found to cause a tail in the photo current, which has an adverse effect on optical response of PD and the performance of opto-electronic circuits. The developed opto-electronic circuit model is also applicable to predict how circuit performance is improved with respect to the improvement of photo diode characteristics
A Critical Assessment on Functional Attributes and Degradation Mechanism of Membrane Electrode Assembly Components in Direct Methanol Fuel Cells
Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) are typically a subset of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) that possess benefits such as fuel flexibility, reduction in plant balance, and benign operation. Due to their benefits, DMFCs could play a substantial role in the future, specifically in replacing Li-ion batteries for portable and military applications. However, the critical concern with DMFCs is the degradation and inadequate reliability that affect the overall value chain and can potentially impede the commercialization of DMFCs. As a consequence, a reliability assessment can provide more insight into a DMFC component’s attributes. The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is the integral component of the DMFC stack. A comprehensive understanding of its functional attributes and degradation mechanism plays a significant role in its commercialization. The methanol crossover through the membrane, carbon monoxide poisoning, high anode polarization by methanol oxidation, and operating parameters such as temperature, humidity, and others are significant contributions to MEA degradation. In addition, inadequate reliability of the MEA impacts the failure mechanism of DMFC, resulting in poor efficiency. Consequently, this paper provides a comprehensive assessment of several factors leading to the MEA degradation mechanism in order to develop a holistic understanding.