Power semiconductors

In power circuits and the like, what is the small resistor placed in series in the current path to measure current called?

  1. AGate resistor
  2. BPull-up resistor
  3. CShunt resistor
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Answer: C. Shunt resistor

A shunt resistor is a small resistor in series with the current path; the current is found from the voltage across it using V = IR. To keep losses low, resistors of a few milliohms with small temperature dependence are used.

  • A. A gate resistor adjusts the switching speed of power devices.
  • B. A pull-up resistor pulls a signal line up to a high potential.
  • C. Correct. It is a small resistor for current sensing.
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More Power semiconductors questions

  1. Why is a switching power supply more efficient than a linear power supply, which operates its transistor linearly?
  2. What is the main advantage of the trench gate structure in power MOSFETs, in which the gate is buried in a groove etched into the silicon?
  3. Which correctly describes the typical division of use between silicon MOSFETs and IGBTs?
  4. What is the main purpose of a snubber circuit in a power device switching circuit?
  5. When one switch of an inverter turns on, which loss increases due to the reverse recovery of the diode in the opposite arm?