Field Effect Transistors
Field Effect Transistors
Similarities:
Amplifiers , Switching devices , Impedance matching circuits
Differences:
FETs are voltage controlled devices. BJTs are current controlled devices.
The BJT transistor is a bipolar device, The FET is a unipolar device
FETs have a higher input impedance because reverse biased of gate
source. BJTs have higher current gains.
FETs are less sensitive to temperature variations and are more easily integrated
on ICs.
FETs are generally more static sensitive than BJTs.
In JFET, there are no junctions as in an ordinary transistor. The conduction is
through an n- type or p-type semi-conductor material. For this reason, noise level in
3
JFET is very small.
Contd…
• In BJT a current level and in the FET an applied
voltage.
• For the FET an electric field is established by the
charges present that will control the conduction path
of the output circuit;
Without the need for direct contact between
the controlling and controlled quantities.
Contd…
Step 2 VGS
2
I D I DSS 1 Step 3
V
GS(Off) 2
VGS
I D I DSS 1
V
Solving for VGS = -Vp = VGS(off), ID = 0A GS(Off)
Solving for VGS = 0V to Vp
Contd…
• Therefore, once VDS > VP the JFET has the
characteristics of a current source.
• As shown in Figure below, the current is fixed at ID =
IDSS,
• but the voltage VDS (for levels > VP) is determined
by the applied load.
p-Channel JFET.
Contd…
p-Channel JFET Characteristics
• As VGS increases more positively
• The depletion zone increases(I.e resistance increases)
• ID decreases (ID < IDSS)
• Eventually ID = 0 A
• Also note that at high levels of VDS the JFET reaches a
breakdown situation: ID increases uncontrollably if VDS >
VDSmax.
Contd…
Solution.
Referring to the transfer characteristic curve
we have,
Solution.
Since VGS (off) = – 4V, VP = 4V. The minimum
value of VDS for the JFET to be in
constant-current region is
VDS = VP = 4V
In the constant current region with VGS = 0V,
ID = IDSS = 12 mA
Applying Kirchhoff’s voltage law around the drain
circuit, we have,
VDD = VDS +V RD = VDS + ID RD
= 4V + (12 mA) (560Ω) = 4V + 6.72V = 10.72V
This is the value of VDD to make VDS = VP and put
the device in the constant-current region.
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FET Small-Signal Model
Transconductance: The relationship of a change in ID to the
corresponding change in VGS is called transconductance,
Transconductance is denoted gm and given by:
ΔI D
gm
ΔV GS
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Mathematical Definitions of gm and input
impedance
Input impedance: Z i
1
Output Impedance: Z o rd
y os
VDS
where: rd VGS constant
I D
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JFET Biasing
For the proper operation of n-channel JFET, gate must be negative w.r.t.
source. This can be achieved either by inserting a battery in the gate circuit
or by a circuit known as biasing circuit.
1. Bias battery. In this method, JFET is biased by a bias battery VGG. This
battery ensures that gate is always negative w.r.t. source during all parts of
the signal.
2. Biasing circuit. The biasing circuit uses supply voltage VDD to provide
the necessary bias. Two most commonly used methods are
(i) self-bias
(ii) (ii) potential divider method.
VGS = VG – VS = Negative. This means that VG is negative w.r.t. VS. Thus if VG = 2V and VS
= 4V, then VGS = 2 – 4 = – 2V i.e. gate is less positive than the source.
Like in a transistor amplifier, both d.c. and a.c. conditions prevail in a JFET
amplifier. The d.c. sources set up d.c. currents and voltages whereas the a.c.
source (i.e. signal) produces fluctuations in the JFET currents and voltages
. Therefore, a simple way to analyse the action of a JFET amplifier is to split
the circuit into two parts viz.
d.c. equivalent circuit and a.c. equivalent circuit.
The d.c. equivalent circuit will determine the operating point (d.c. bias
levels) for the circuit while a.c. equivalent circuit determines the output
voltage and hence voltage gain of the circuit.
Output impedance:
Z o rd || R D
Zo R D
rd 10R D
Voltage gain:
A v g m (rd || R D )
A v g m R D
rd 10R D
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Voltage Gain of JFET Amplifier
(i) for facility of reference. Note that R1 || R2 and can be replaced by a single
resistance RT. Similarly, RD || RL and can be replaced by a single resistance RAC (=
total a.c. drain resistance). The a.c. equivalent circuit can be of
We now find the expression for voltage gain of this amplifier. Referring to Fig. 19.36
(ii), output voltage (vout) is given by ;
vout = id RAC
Z i R1 || R 2
Output impedance:
Z o rd || R D
Zo R D
rd 10R D
Voltage gain:
A v g m (rd || R D )
A v g m R D
rd 10R D
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Example 8. The JFET in the amplifier of Figure given has a transconductance
gm = 1 mA/V. If the source resistance RS is very small as compared to RG,
find the voltage gain of the amplifier.
The total ac load (i.e. RAC) in the drain circuit consists of the parallel combination of RD
and RL i.e.
Total a.c. load, RAC = RD || RL
= 12 kΩ || 8 kΩ = 4.8 kΩ
The Drain (D) and Source (S) leads connect to the to n-doped regions
These N-doped regions are connected via an n-channel
This n-channel is connected to the Gate (G) via a thin insulating layer of SiO2
The n-doped material lies on a p-doped substrate that may have an additional terminal
connection called SS
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Basic Operation
A D-MOSFET may be biased to operate in two modes:
the Depletion mode or the Enhancement mode
The p-channel Depletion mode MOSFET is similar to the n-channel except that the
voltage polarities and current directions are reversed
The Drain (D) and Source (S) connect to the to n-doped regions
These n-doped regions are not connected via an n-channel without an external voltage
The Gate (G) connects to the p-doped substrate via a thin insulating layer of SiO2
The n-doped material lies on a p-doped substrate that may have an additional terminal
connection called SS
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E-MOSFET Symbols
ID(on)
To determine ID given VGS: ID = k (VGS - VT) 2 k=
(VGS(ON) - VT)2
where VT = threshold voltage or voltage at which the MOSFET turns on.
k = constant found in the specification sheet
k is based on the geometry of the device:
W KP Cox denoted capacitance per unit gate area
k = where KP = μNCOX
L 2
μ N is the mobility of electrons in the channel
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p-Channel Enhancement Mode MOSFETs
The p-channel Enhancement mode MOSFET is similar to the n-channel except that the
voltage polarities and current directions are reversed.
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Reading Assignments
• Common-Gate Configuration
• Common-Drain(Source-Follower) Configuration
• MOSFET Small-Signal Model
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