Field-effect transistor
field-effect transistor
Noun
1. a transistor in which most current flows in a channel whose effective resistance can be controlled by a transverse electric field
(synonym) FET
(hypernym) transistor, junction transistor, electronic transistor
field effect transistor
<
electronics> (FET) A
transistor with a region of
donor material with two terminals called the "source" and the "drain", and an adjoining region of
acceptor material between, called the "gate". The voltage between the gate and the
substrate controls the current flow between source and drain by depleting the donor region of its charge carriers to greater or lesser extent.
There are two kinds of FET's,
Junction FETs and
MOSFETs.
Because no current (except a minute leakage current) flows through the gate, FETs can be used to make circuits with very low power consumption.
Contrast
bipolar transistor.
(1995-10-05)
(c) Copyright 1993 by Denis Howe
Field Effect Transistor
a transistor that uses an electric field to accumulate or deplete a channel region to block or allow conduction.
field effect transistor
field-effect transistor