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Understanding MOSFET Data Sheets, Part 5 – SwitchingParameters

Brett Barr
Finally, we have arrived at the concluding entry in this "Understanding MOSFET Data Sheets" blog series
attempting to demystify the power MOSFET data sheet. In this blog, we will take a look at some of the othermiscellaneous switching parameters that appear in the MOSFET data sheet, and examine their relevance (orlack thereof) to overall device performance. Note that if you are more of a visual learner, you can watch the video"Understanding MOSFET data sheets - switching parameters".
On the one hand, switching parameters like output charge (QOSS) and the reverse recovery charge of the FET’s
intrinsic body diode (Qrr) are crucial elements that are responsible for a great portion of the FET’s switchinglosses in many high frequency power supply applications. Sorry if it may be starting to sound like a broken
record at this point, but designers need to be careful when comparing FETs based on these parameters,
because as is so often the case, test conditions matter!
Figure 1 below shows the output charge and reverse recovery charge as two sides to the same coin, measured
at two different rates of di/dt on TI’s CSD18531Q5A 60V MOSFET. On the left, Qrr was measured at 360A/µs
to be 85nC, and on the right, it was measured at 2000A/µs to be 146nC. While there is no industry standard for
di/dt to measure the part at, we have seen competitors rate all the way down to 100A/us, in order to give theappearance of extra low Qrr.

Figure 1. Qrr And QOSS Measured on the CSD18531Q5A At 360A/µs (Left) and 2000A/µs (Right).
Qrr can have an even stronger dependence on the diode forward current (If) the test was conducted at. And evenfurther complicating matters is that some vendors do not include QOSS as a separate parameter, but rather justabsorb this into the specification of Qrr. Besides the test conditions listed on the data sheet, other considerations
like parasitic board inductances and subjective measurement methodologies make it virtually impossible tocompare these parameters from separate vendors’ data sheets. That is not to say they are not importantparameters to consider and design around, but for reliable comparative data, the only effective solution is tocollect it independently using a common methodology and board.
The last parameters I will mention in this series are switching times. These four parameters are defined generally
by the waveform below in Figure 2 and appear on virtually every vendor’s data sheet. They are so dependent onboard and test conditions that one veteran in the FET industry (and personal mentor) often cites these as “themost useless parameters on the FET data sheet.” Meant to give an indication of switching speed, the reality isthese can be just as much a reflection of driver strength and drain current as they are the FET characteristics.

SSZTCH1 – JULY 2015
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Understanding MOSFET Data Sheets, Part 5 – Switching Parameters
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TI includes these parameters as tested at the device’s rated current, while others will test these at only 1A ID,
to give the appearance of a faster switching device. Much more indicative of the device’s actual switching speed
are the gate charge parameters and the internal gate resistance of the device, Rg, both of which are significantly
less susceptible to these specmanship games.

Figure 2. Waveform Defining the MOSFET Data Sheet Switching Times.
Thank you for taking the time to read this series on MOSFET data sheets. I hope you found this an enlightening
read, and walk away with a more clear understanding of the value and ambiguities of the parameters that appear
on the power MOSFET data sheet. Feel free to share the entire series with anyone who might benefit fromthis perspective on how to read a MOSFET data sheet. And don't forget to watch the video "NexFET™:Lowest
Rdson 80 and 100V TO-220 MOSFETs in the World" and consider one of TI’s NexFET power MOSFET products
for your next design.

2Understanding MOSFET Data Sheets, Part 5 – Switching Parameters
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