Hybrid-pi is a popular circuit model used for analyzing the small signal behavior of bipolar junction and field effect transistors. Sometimes it is also called Giacoletto model because it was introduced by L.J. Giacoletto in 1969. The model can be quite accurate for low-frequency circuits and can easily be adapted for higher frequency circuits with the addition of appropriate inter-electrode capacitances and other parasitic elements.

BJT parameters

The hybrid-pi model is a linearized two-port network approximation to the BJT using the small-signal base-emitter voltage,, and collector-emitter voltage, , as independent variables, and the small-signal base current, , and collector current, , as dependent variables. A basic, low-frequency hybrid-pi model for the bipolar transistor is shown in figure 1. The various parameters are as follows. is the transconductance, evaluated in a simple model, where: where:

Related terms

The output conductance, gce, is the reciprocal of the output resistance, ro: The transresistance, rm, is the reciprocal of the transconductance:

Full model

The full model introduces the virtual terminal, B′, so that the base spreading resistance, rbb, (the bulk resistance between the base contact and the active region of the base under the emitter) and rb′e (representing the base current required to make up for recombination of minority carriers in the base region) can be represented separately. Ce is the diffusion capacitance representing minority carrier storage in the base. The feedback components, rb′c and Cc, are introduced to represent the Early effect and Miller effect, respectively.

MOSFET parameters

A basic, low-frequency hybrid-pi model for the MOSFET is shown in figure 2. The various parameters are as follows. is the transconductance, evaluated in the Shichman–Hodges model in terms of the Q-point drain current, : where: The combination: is often called overdrive voltage. is the output resistance due to channel length modulation, calculated using the Shichman–Hodges model as using the approximation for the channel length modulation parameter, λ: Here VE is a technology-related parameter (about 4 V/μm for the 65 nm technology node ) and L is the length of the source-to-drain separation. The drain conductance is the reciprocal of the output resistance:

References and notes