# Solving PMOS Analysis Problem

I am trying to analyze a PMOS circuit, but cannot seem to set it up correctly. Here is the circuit:

$$K_P=\frac{250 \mu A}{V^2}$$ where $$V_T = -1V$$

I have simulated the circuit with Pspice, but cannot get the same values by hand. I am mainly trying to solve for Vs:

$$V_S=5-1200\times I_\text{ds}$$ where: $$I_\text{ds}=\frac{V_S-5}{1200}$$

$$V_\text{GS}=V_G-V_S=0.174 - V_S$$

$$\frac{V_S-5}{1200}=250\times 10^6\times (0.174-V_S-1)^2$$

However, the above equation does not lead to the correct value for Vs (which is 4.1269V).

If someone can just point out how I am setting up the problem wrong, that would be very helpful.

• Your bulk contact is backwards – placeholder Oct 18 '12 at 5:26
• yeah, its drawn wrong in the diagram, but since body effect is ignored, I didn't think it really affected the problem. In the PSPICE simulation, it was connected to 5v. – user115188 Oct 18 '12 at 6:20
• Is the channel w/l of the pmos known? Does k' take that into account? Ids=k'*w/l*(vsg+|vtp|)^2 If you are just using Pspice, there may also be lambda effects depending on the operating region. – pat Oct 18 '12 at 8:15
• sorry, w/l = 1 and I'm pretty sure the operating region I'd saturation. – user115188 Oct 18 '12 at 15:27

The usual practice in teaching MOSFETs is to make all the derivations for NMOS and say something like: "for PMOS it is very similar, just switch the nodes...". Then it takes a whole lot of time to understand the actual difference between PMOS and NMOS.

I tend to believe that this is your case: you do know how to solve problems with NMOSs, but you do not have much experience with PMOSs.

First of all, the transistor in the schematic seems to be wired incorrectly (as pointed out in one of the comments).

Secondly, the current equation for PMOS in saturation is:

$$I_{SD}=K \times \frac{W}{L} \times (V_{SG}-|V_T|)^2$$

Substituting:

$$I_{SD}=250 \times 10^{-6} \times (V_S-0.714-1)^2$$

(note that $V_G=0.714V$ according to my calculations).

The current should also satisfy:

$$I_{SD}= \frac{5-V_S}{1200}$$

Equating the above two and solving for $V_S$ yields:

$$V_S=3.75V$$

We must also check that saturation condition holds (in order to justify our a-priory assumption):

$$V_{SG}=V_S-V_G=3.75-0.714=3.036V>|V_T|$$

and

$$V_{SD}=V_S-V_D=3.75-(-5+4000\times I_{SD})=4.59V>V_{SG}-|V_T|$$

Both conditions hold therefore PMOS is conducting and in saturation.

I suppose you might have been using a more sophisticated MOSFET model for Spice simulation, therefore the answer you got there is different (although pretty close).