I-V Characteristics of MOSFET (Output Characteristics)
1. The I-V characteristics (output characteristics) of power MOSFET is shown in Figure.
- The source terminal is common between the input and output of the MOSFET. The output characteristics is a graph of drain current iD versus drain to source voltage VDS for different values of gate to source voltage VGS as shown in Figure.
- The saturation, cut-off and ohmic regions of the characteristics are also shown in Figure In the power electronic applications where the MOSFET is used as switch, the device must be operated in the cut-off and ohmic region when turned off and on respectively.
- The operation in the saturation region should be avoided to reduce the power dissipation in the on state. (The on state voltage across the MOSFET is high in the saturation region).
- The device must withstand to the applied voltage and to avoid the breakdown the drain to source breakdown voltage should be greater than the applied voltage. The breakdown takes place due to the avalanche breakdown of the drain body junction.
3. When a larger positive gate to source voltage is applied the power MOSFET goes into the ohmic region where the drain to source voltage VDS(on) (on) is small.
- In this region of operation the power dissipation can be kept reasonably low, by minimising the on state voltage.
- In the saturation region the drain current iD is almost independent of the drain to source voltage VDS. It is only dependent on the gate to source voltage VGS.
- In the saturation region the gate voltage VGS is greater than the threshold voltage VGS(th) and the drain current increases with increase in VGS.
Conclusions from the static characteristics
The important conclusions from the I-V characteristics are as follows
- The MOSFETs are voltage controlled devices i.e. the output current can be controlled by varying the gate to source voltage (VGS).
- With increase in VGS the drain current will increase.
- The gate to source voltage ( VGS ) should be large enough to drive the MOSFET into ohmic region. Practically the minimum VGS required is about 12 V. If VGS is less than 12 V, the MOSFET will operate in the active region which is not desired.
- When the forward voltage VDS applied to the MOSFET exceeds the breakdown voltage B VDSS, the avalanche breakdown takes place. Operation above the breakdown voltage must be avoided, to protect the MOSFET.
- The second breakdown does not exist in MOSFETS.