MOSFET

What does the "C" (complementary) in CMOS mean?

  1. ACircuits are built only from nMOS transistors connected in series
  2. BnMOS and pMOS transistors are combined and operate in a complementary way
  3. CBipolar transistors and MOSFETs are combined
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Answer: B. nMOS and pMOS transistors are combined and operate in a complementary way

CMOS is a circuit style that uses n-channel and p-channel MOSFETs in pairs. When the input changes, one turns on and the other off, so in steady state there is no current path from the supply to ground and power consumption can be kept low.

  • A. Using only nMOS transistors is NMOS logic.
  • B. Correct. nMOS and pMOS are combined in a complementary way.
  • C. Combining bipolar transistors with CMOS is called BiCMOS.
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More MOSFET questions

  1. When a MOSFET is used as a switch, which statement correctly describes its on-resistance?
  2. For a typical MOSFET in an integrated circuit, which statement about the source and drain is correct?
  3. What is the condition for a long-channel nMOSFET to operate in the saturation region? (Assume VGS > Vth.)
  4. How does the threshold voltage change when the impurity concentration of the channel region (p-type substrate) of an nMOSFET is increased?
  5. If the gate insulator of an nMOSFET is made thicker with all else unchanged, how does the magnitude of the threshold voltage generally change?