MOSFET as Amplifier and as Switch

The basis of using the MOSFET as an amplifier is that:

In saturation the MOSFET acts as a voltage controlled current source
Changes in vGS Changes in iD Changes in output voltage across a load
We need to get around the nonlinear relation to obtain linear amplification
Technique of dc Biasing:
Make MOSFET operate at a certain VGS and ID, (Operating Point)
Superimpose the signal to be amplified vgs on the dc bias VGS.
Keeping the signal small changes in iD almost proportional to vgs

Large signal operation (Overall Picture)

Common Source Circuit (CS)
Equation imposed by the load (RD):

On the characteristics of the MOSFET (iD -vs- vDS curves),

Draw the load line (solution to the above equation)

=
=

The intersection between the load line and the characteristics gives the operating points for
every = .
Determine vO for various values of vI
Voltage Transfer Characteristics (VTC)
Can be done graphically or analytically
Graphically: Point by Point we can draw the (VTC)
looking at the intersection points
corresponding to each value of vI.
Analytically: Write the equation of iD in MOSFET
Write equation of iD across RD,
Equate the two to obtain a relation
between vO and vI

Voltage Transfer Characteristics VTC

Point X vI = 0 MOSFET is cut off iD = 0 vO = VDD
Point A vI = Vt MOSFET is cut off iD = 0 vO = VDD
Between Point A and Point B: MOSFET is saturated
iD increases with increasing vI
= decreases as vI is increasing

After Point B: MOSFET is triode

Curves are very crowded
further decrease of vO slow (VTC between B and C)
At Point C: vI = VDD vO = VOC (very small )
MOSFET can be used as a switch; we use the two extreme regions of the VTC:
1. Low ( )
2. High ( ~ )

High ( ~ )
Low ( ~ )

Linear Amplifier
To operate MOSFET as a linear amplifier use saturation region of
the VTC:
1- MOSFET is biased at a point located in the middle of the
curve: (Point Q)
Q Operating Point or Quiescent Point
2- The signal vi to be amplified is superimposed on the dc
voltage VIQ.

Keeping vi small

restrict operation to an almost

linear segment of the VTC

Output signal vo is proportional to vi

Amplifier is nearly linear
=
voltage gain at Q
=

is the slope of VTC at Q

Selection of Operating Point

Bias Point Q1 does not leave sufficient room for
positive signal swing ( too close to VDD)
Bias Point Q2 too close to boundary of the triode
region: does not leave sufficient room for negative
signal swing
Operating Point Q ( below) give best selection