Support for GP and VBIC is one thing. You point out how hard
it is to get the VBIC model parameters. But even the GP
parameters are rarely even close to fully provided.
For example, the models I've seen for BJTs are pretty weak in
low current beta. They usually don't include figures for Ise
(which defaults to 0) or Ne (defaulted to 1.5, which matters
not at all if Ise=0.) [Or in the older literature where these
parameters are called C_2=Ise/Is and n_EL.] The models I've
seen just assume that a log plot of Ic and Ib versus Vbe is a
nice line all the way back towards Vbe=0V, instead of the
dramatic knee that actually takes place because actual BJTs
have extra effects from recombinations of surface carriers
and carriers in the emitter-base space-charge layer, and also
due to the formation of emitter-base surface channels. Almost
never do I find these low current parameters modeled, nor is
there usually enough information in the data sheet to develop
them (they start their charts typically with base currents
near a microamp, with any serious beta drop-off not shown.)
Modelling a discrete equivalent to a PUJT, for example, isn't
possible without them because the beta drop at low currents
is what makes the difference between a simulation that models
real behavior of the discrete pair and one that completely
fails and instead finds a stable quiescent point.
>In principle it isn't too difficult to make up a set of VBIC
>parameters from Gummel-Poon data and a few extra measurements, but
>nobody seems to have bothered to do it.
I'd just like to see GP parameters, even. Rarely do I see
much more than EM2 model parameters, with a few strays from
GP added to the mix.
It would be interesting to sweep low base currents from say
5nA to 500nA in order to actually get Ise and Ne to use in
simulation. But it's not been a priority of any kind, yet. I
just remain aware of the problem. The BJT models that are
readily available rarely make use of anything close to all
the GP model parameters. And Ise and Ne are merely EM3 model
parameters (pre-GP.)
So while it may be not too difficult to add what's needed to
get VBIC, assuming you have all the GP parameters, the
problem is that you rarely have all the GP parameters. So the
difficulty now rises rapidly because of all the holes in the
missing modelling parameters for GP or even EM3 in the models
that us unwashed mortals can get.
Jon