MOSFET-SWITCHING CHARACTERISTICS

Figure shows the typical switching circuit of a Mosfet. Mosfet is biased as shown with a voltage VDD. To
turn it ON the control voltage Vgs must be set to a value above the threshold level. Below this voltage
the Mosfet is in the cut-off region.

------------Text marked in blue only for understanding. Need not write in the exam-----------------------

To operate the Mosfet as a switch, it must be in the linear/ohmic region. But at the instant when vgs just
exceeds the threshold value, the Mosfet is operating in the saturation region. This can be understood
from the curve shown below. As Vgs increases, Mosfet enters the linear region is now said to be fully
ON.
Figure below shows the VI characteristics of the Mosfet along with the load-line of the switching circuit.
The operating point of the circuit is marked as B in the cut-off region and A in the linear region when the
Mosfet in ON.
 Switching waveforms/ characteristics

Turn-on characteristics

Divided into three intervals td(on), tr and tfv

Turn-on delay time td(on): time taken for vgs to reach Vgs(th). The capacitances Cgs and Cds (in the
switching model get charged to Vgs(th).

Rise time, tr: Drain to source current Id rises to its full value id(on). The Mosfet operates in the
saturation region in this interval. At the end of this internal the capacitances Cgs and Cgd are getting
charges to the value vgsp which is the gate-source voltage required to operate the Mosfet in the linear
region.

Voltage fall time, tfv: Mosfet is in the linear/ohmic region. Hence, the drain-source voltage drops to the
on state voltage VDS(on).Vgs remains clamped to the value vgsp in this interval. After this interval Vgs
reaches its final value VGG.

Ton= td(on)+tr+tfv
 Turn-off characteristics

To initiate turn-off of a mosfet, the gate signal must be removed. As the Mosfet is level triggered, it
turns off without the gate control.

Divided into three intervals td(off), trv and tf

Turn-off delay time, td(off): time interval when Vgs reduces from its maximum value to vgsp. After this
interval the Mosfet comes out of the ohmic region.

Voltage rise time, trv: In this interval the Mosfet works in the saturation region. Hence, the voltage
across it rises and reaches the off state voltage Vds(off) at the end of this interval. Cgd fully discharges in
this interval

Fall time, tf: Once Vgs drops to vgs(th), the current drops to zero. Cgs fully discharges in this interval.

toff=td(off)+trv+tf