Section J4: FET Biasing

By comparing the equations developed and/or defined for the MOSFET and
JFET in the previous section, you can see that they are the same except for
the expressions for the zero-gate drain current IDSS, the constant K and the
notation for the threshold voltage (VT for MOSFET, VP for JFET). This actually
makes our work much simpler when in comes to defining amplifier circuits
and in the following biasing discussion since we can come up with a single
strategy and then just make the appropriate substitutions.

Biasing an FET amplifier circuit is similar to our work last semester with BJT
amplifiers. We will use components external to the transistor and dc sources
to define a predictable and stable operating point (our old friend, the Q-
point), about which the circuit may provide linear amplification. Bias
stability in FET amplifiers means that the dc drain current (ID) stays as
constant as possible with variations in operating conditions and device
parameters. As a rule of thumb:

For the FET to operate as a linear amplifier, the Q-point should be in

the middle of the saturation region, the instantaneous operating
point must at all times be confined to the saturation region, and the
input signal must be kept sufficiently small.

This is directly analogous to the requirements that the operating point stays
out of the cutoff and saturation regions for a BJT to provide amplification
without nonlinear distortion.

Discrete-component biasing using

source-resistance feedback is illustrated
in the figure to the right (based on Figure
6.21(a) in your text). Although the circuit is
shown with an enhancement MOSFET, this
biasing arrangement works for depletion
MOSFETs and JFETs (and should look
familiar as a biasing circuit for BJTs). Note
that if two supplies (VDD and –VSS) are used
instead of the single-supply illustrated, all
derived expressions will use VDD-VSS, rather
than VDD. Also, for depletion mode MOSFETs
or JFET devices, R2 can be either finite or
infinite (open). To start with, we are also
going to use the assumption that capacitors
used in the circuit are large enough to provide dc isolation and act as shorts
under ac conditions (the old “infinite and ideal” ploy).
Using the same procedure as the BJT derivations, we can define single bias
circuit for all FET amplifier configurations. This is presented as a Thevenin
equivalent circuit (Figure 6.22 in your text) for the single-source circuit
above, with components:

R1 R2
RG = R1 || R2 =
R1 + R2
. (Equation 6.24)
V R
VGG = DD 1
R1 + R2

Looking at the figure above, we have three unknown variables to define for
biasing (IDQ, VGSQ and VDSQ), so we need three dc equations. The first is
found from the definition of the drain current in the saturation region, while
the other two are the KVL equations obtained from the Thevenin equivalent
circuit.

2 2
⎛ VGSQ 2 ⎞ ⎛ V ⎞
I DQ = K (VGSQ − VT ) (1 + λV DSQ ) ≅ K (VGSQ
2
− VT ) = KVT ⎜⎜1 −
2
⎟ = I DSS ⎜1 − GSQ
⎟ ⎜
⎟
⎟ ( MOSFET )
⎝ VT ⎠ ⎝ VT ⎠
2 2
⎛ VGSQ ⎞ ⎛ V ⎞
I DQ = I DSS ⎜⎜1 − ⎟ (1 + λV DSQ ) ≅ I DSS ⎜1 − GSQ
⎟ ⎜
⎟
⎟ ( JFET )
⎝ VP ⎠ ⎝ VP ⎠

The final expressions for IDQ given above (a modified version of Equation
6.27) are obtained by making the assumption |λVDSQ|<<1 and are of the
same form for the MOSFET and JFET devices. The only difference is the
notation used for the threshold voltage and the expression for IDSS.

The second equation may be obtained by writing the KVL equation around
the gate-source loop in the figure above:

VGG = VGSQ + I DQ R S , (Equation 6.25)

and the third equation is the KVL equation of the drain-source loop (with
IG=0, so that IS=ID as shown in the figure):

V DD = I DQ R D + V DSQ + I DQ R S = V DSQ + I DQ ( R D + R S ) . (Equation 6.26)

Finally, it is often useful in design to use the transconductance parameter.

Using the approximation, |λVDSQ|<<1, gm may be expressed for the MOSFET
by:
 2 I DSS ⎛ VGSQ ⎞
gm = − ⎜1 − ⎟. (Equation 6.28)
⎜ ⎟
VT ⎝ VT ⎠

Equation 6.28 also holds for the JFET if VT is replaced by VP.

Recall the criteria mentioned earlier for FET amplifier biasing – to obtain
linear amplification, we want the transistor to operate in the active (also
called saturation or pinch-off) region. Many times, however, we are going to
have to begin the design process with this assumption. This is fine, this is
good, but always go back and check this assumption at the end of the
design process!!

Your author also notes that it is often not necessary to put the Q-point in the
center of the ac load line as we did for BJTs. If the FET amplifier is used as a
preamplifier to take advantage of its high input impedance, the input signal
is so small that we do not have to design for maximum swing. As usual, this
is pretty much just for information, the problem or circumstances will
determine Q-point placement.