Native transistor

In electronics, a native transistor (or sometimes natural transistor) is a variety of the MOS field-effect transistor that is intermediate between enhancement and depletion modes. Most common is the n-channel native transistor.

Historically, native transistors were referred to as MOSFETs without specially grown oxide, only natural thin oxide film formed over silicon during processing of other layers.

A native MOSFET is a transistor with nearly zero Threshold voltage. Native n-channel transistors have a niche applications in low-voltage operational amplifiers and in low-voltage digital memory, where it functions as the weak pull-down. It is also used in low-voltage interface circuits.

The main disadvantages of the native transistor are the larger size due to additional doping mask, and sometimes lower transconductance. Typical minimal size of the native N-channel MOSFET (NMOS) gate is 2-3 times longer and wider than standard Threshold voltage transistor. The cost of chips including native transistors is also increased because of the additional doping operations.

External links

• Native NMOS circuit example