Transistor arrangement for MOSFET driver

Alec_t

Joined Sep 17, 2013
14,263
One name for the arrangement is a push-pull driver. It is used to provide a low impedance, relatively high current, source and sink to allow the gate capacitance of the MOSFET to charge/discharge quickly. This ensures the MOSFET is either fully 'on' or fully 'off'; not in a half-way state where maximum heat dissipation would occur.
 

crutschow

Joined Mar 14, 2008
34,201
A power MOSFET has a large gate capacitance, so a low impedance driver is needed to rapidly charge and discharge this capacitance, as Alec noted.
The circuit you posted is a push-pull emitter-follower driver.
 

Papabravo

Joined Feb 24, 2006
21,094
It is also related to a Class AB audio amplifier stage. In that case you are trying to drive the inductive load of a speaker.
 

MaxHeadRoom

Joined Jul 18, 2013
28,576
Google IR (International Rectifier) Power Mosfet manual AN-937
Page 5, Section 4
Gives an explanation of totem pole and other interfaces to Mosfets.
Max.
 
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