Gregory Mirsky

This is a replay of an excellent article from 2006 on depletion (instead of enhancement) mode MOSFETs. Features 20V/3A, R DS (ON) V GS =4.5V Pin Description R DS (ON) V GS =2.5V Super High Dense Cell Design Reliable and Rugged Lead Free Available (RoHS Compliant) Top View of SOT23-3L. Electronics Tutorial about the MOSFET Amplifier Circuit which uses an enhancement-mode mosfet to produce a common source mosfet amplifier circuit.

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Many switch-mode power supplies use “kick-start” circuits to initialize their offline operation. These circuits may be simple resistors, such as IRIS4015, or more complicated arrangements built with bipolar transistors or MOSFETs. These transistors provide the initial current for the flyback or PFC (power-factor-correction) IC. When such a power supply starts operating in normal mode, a supply voltage from a dedicated winding keeps supplying the PFC IC, thus reducing power consumption of the kick-start circuitry.

Such schemes reduce – but do not eliminate – the power consumption of the kick-start circuitry, because the active component is usually a high-voltage bipolar transistor or high-voltage enhancement-mode MOSFET. These transistors’ base or gate requires forward-biasing with respect to the emitter or the source for normal operation. Therefore, a power loss always occurs in the circuits that keep the transistors in the off state. Unfortunately, engineers pay too little attention to depletion-mode MOSFETs, which require no forward-biasing for normal operation and, moreover, require gate potentials below the source. These valuable properties of depletion-mode MOSFETs suit them for a role in no-loss kick-start circuits for power supplies.

Figure 1 shows a conventional PFC circuit whose IC initially receives power from the output through a depletion-mode MOSFET, Q₂, a DN2470. Q₂’s source feeds PFC IC₁ with an initial supply current of approximately 10 to 15 mA or less depending on the IC model. A brief power dissipation of approximately 4 to 6 W can do no harm to the MOSFET soldered to a copper pour. If you have concerns about the MOSFET’s health, you can use an IXTY02N50D. Resistors R₃ and R₄ set up Q₂’s working point to obtain the minimum required current. Zener diode D₅ limits voltage across IC₁ to approximately 15 V for an input voltage of 18 V, which is usually necessary for most PFC ICs and is less than the maximum for MOSFET Q₂.

When IC₁ starts working normally, the secondary winding of the PFC inductor, L, generates the IC’s supply voltage, which diodes D₁ and D₃ and capacitors C₁ and C₂ condition. Transistor Q₂ keeps feeding zener diode D₅ and IC₁ for a short interval. Eventually, bipolar transistor Q₃ gets its base supply through resistor R₅ from diode D₂, turning on and clamping Q₂’s gate to ground. Q₃’s power source is the IC’s positive-supply potential of approximately 15 V, which is more than enough to shut off Q₂. The residual thermal current of 10 to 20 µA produces no substantial power loss.

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FETs have a few disadvantages like high drain resistance, moderate input impedance and slower operation. To overcome these disadvantages, the MOSFET which is an advanced FET is invented.

MOSFET stands for Metal Oxide Silicon Field Effect Transistor or Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor. This is also called as IGFET meaning Insulated Gate Field Effect Transistor. The FET is operated in both depletion and enhancement modes of operation. The following figure shows how a practical MOSFET looks like.

Construction of a MOSFET

The construction of a MOSFET is a bit similar to the FET. An oxide layer is deposited on the substrate to which the gate terminal is connected. This oxide layer acts as an insulator (sio₂ insulates from the substrate), and hence the MOSFET has another name as IGFET. In the construction of MOSFET, a lightly doped substrate, is diffused with a heavily doped region. Depending upon the substrate used, they are called as P-type and N-type MOSFETs.

The following figure shows the construction of a MOSFET.

The voltage at gate controls the operation of the MOSFET. In this case, both positive and negative voltages can be applied on the gate as it is insulated from the channel. With negative gate bias voltage, it acts as depletion MOSFET while with positive gate bias voltage it acts as an Enhancement MOSFET.

Classification of MOSFETs

Depending upon the type of materials used in the construction, and the type of operation, the MOSFETs are classified as in the following figure.

After the classification, let us go through the symbols of MOSFET.

The N-channel MOSFETs are simply called as NMOS. The symbols for N-channel MOSFET are as given below.

The P-channel MOSFETs are simply called as PMOS. The symbols for P-channel MOSFET are as given below.

Now, let us go through the constructional details of an N-channel MOSFET. Usually an NChannel MOSFET is considered for explanation as this one is mostly used. Also, there is no need to mention that the study of one type explains the other too.

Construction of N- Channel MOSFET

Let us consider an N-channel MOSFET to understand its working. A lightly doped P-type substrate is taken into which two heavily doped N-type regions are diffused, which act as source and drain. Between these two N+ regions, there occurs diffusion to form an Nchannel, connecting drain and source.

A thin layer of Silicon dioxide (SiO₂) is grown over the entire surface and holes are made to draw ohmic contacts for drain and source terminals. A conducting layer of aluminum is laid over the entire channel, upon this SiO₂ layer from source to drain which constitutes the gate. The SiO₂ substrate is connected to the common or ground terminals.

Because of its construction, the MOSFET has a very less chip area than BJT, which is 5% of the occupancy when compared to bipolar junction transistor. This device can be operated in modes. They are depletion and enhancement modes. Let us try to get into the details.

What Is The Difference Between Enhancement And Depletion Mosfet

Working of N - Channel (depletion mode) MOSFET

For now, we have an idea that there is no PN junction present between gate and channel in this, unlike a FET. We can also observe that, the diffused channel N (between two N+ regions), the insulating dielectric SiO₂ and the aluminum metal layer of the gate together form a parallel plate capacitor.

If the NMOS has to be worked in depletion mode, the gate terminal should be at negative potential while drain is at positive potential, as shown in the following figure.

When no voltage is applied between gate and source, some current flows due to the voltage between drain and source. Let some negative voltage is applied at V_GG. Then the minority carriers i.e. holes, get attracted and settle near SiO₂ layer. But the majority carriers, i.e., electrons get repelled.

With some amount of negative potential at V_GG a certain amount of drain current I_D flows through source to drain. When this negative potential is further increased, the electrons get depleted and the current I_D decreases. Hence the more negative the applied V_GG, the lesser the value of drain current I_D will be.

The channel nearer to drain gets more depleted than at source (like in FET) and the current flow decreases due to this effect. Hence it is called as depletion mode MOSFET.

Working of N-Channel MOSFET (Enhancement Mode)

The same MOSFET can be worked in enhancement mode, if we can change the polarities of the voltage V_GG. So, let us consider the MOSFET with gate source voltage V_GG being positive as shown in the following figure.

When no voltage is applied between gate and source, some current flows due to the voltage between drain and source. Let some positive voltage is applied at V_GG. Then the minority carriers i.e. holes, get repelled and the majority carriers i.e. electrons gets attracted towards the SiO₂ layer.

With some amount of positive potential at V_GG a certain amount of drain current I_D flows through source to drain. When this positive potential is further increased, the current I_D increases due to the flow of electrons from source and these are pushed further due to the voltage applied at V_GG. Hence the more positive the applied V_GG, the more the value of drain current I_D will be. The current flow gets enhanced due to the increase in electron flow better than in depletion mode. Hence this mode is termed as Enhanced Mode MOSFET.

Mosfet Characteristics In Enhancement And Depletion Mode Pdf

P - Channel MOSFET

The construction and working of a PMOS is same as NMOS. A lightly doped n-substrate is taken into which two heavily doped P+ regions are diffused. Battleblock theater free download mac. These two P+ regions act as source and drain. A thin layer of SiO₂ is grown over the surface. Holes are cut through this layer to make contacts with P+ regions, as shown in the following figure.

Mosfet Enhancement And Depletion Mode

Working of PMOS

Best free mixing software for mac. When the gate terminal is given a negative potential at V_GG than the drain source voltage V_DD, then due to the P+ regions present, the hole current is increased through the diffused P channel and the PMOS works in Enhancement Mode.

When the gate terminal is given a positive potential at V_GG than the drain source voltage V_DD, then due to the repulsion, the depletion occurs due to which the flow of current reduces. Thus PMOS works in Depletion Mode. Though the construction differs, the working is similar in both the type of MOSFETs. Hence with the change in voltage polarity both of the types can be used in both the modes.

This can be better understood by having an idea on the drain characteristics curve.

Drain Characteristics

The drain characteristics of a MOSFET are drawn between the drain current I_D and the drain source voltage V_DS. The characteristic curve is as shown below for different values of inputs.

Actually when V_DS is increased, the drain current I_D should increase, but due to the applied V_GS, the drain current is controlled at certain level. Hence the gate current controls the output drain current.

Transfer Characteristics

Transfer characteristics define the change in the value of V_DS with the change in I_D and V_GS in both depletion and enhancement modes. The below transfer characteristic curve is drawn for drain current versus gate to source voltage.

Comparison between BJT, FET and MOSFET

Now that we have discussed all the above three, let us try to compare some of their properties.

Mosfet Enhancement Mode And Depletion Mode

So far, we have discussed various electronic components and their types along with their construction and working. All of these components have various uses in the electronics field. To have a practical knowledge on how these components are used in practical circuits, please refer to the ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS tutorial.