Question:
Anyone know an electronic switch besides FETs?
RoSczwin Koz
2012-08-13 05:56:24 UTC
Does anyone know any other electronic switch besides Fets and Transistor,I'm using a microcontroller to switch between 2 states and measure the voltage but because of the volta drop across the fets i can't use them,any other electronic switch i can use
Four answers:
Jonathan
2012-08-13 11:46:46 UTC
You really need to be a LOT more specific about exactly what you are doing and what considerations you've already made about it. Disclose, don't obfuscate. What are you doing and what are the primary considerations?



In a case where my problem was absolute accuracy from femptoamps to microamps (couldn't use a log-amp, for example), I used Coto relays at the first stage to change transimpedance gains. Nothing else would do the job properly. In another case, an integrator for the same purpose, charge injection was a serious problem for any discrete FET. A MOSFET generally does NOT remove and add equal amounts of charge, going on and off, for example. You can work hard to design them that way, but it takes custom design work and access to a brokered FAB process.



Anyway, you need to state exactly what you are doing.



EDIT: How low of a voltage? Bipolar input? What resolution and precision? What accuracy? What are you doing about offset voltage? (Reset phase? How?) And input bias currents (as I gather you are converting the low voltages to currents with a resistor?) What about noise? What opamp? What frequency of measurement? (Dual slope is generally slow, but must ask.) Why not consider a coto relay (better Coto relays tend to specify leakage resistances in the 10^12

ohms region, mercury wetted, and just plain bulky?)
charcinders
2012-08-13 13:16:38 UTC
What's the highest acceptable resistance for the switching device? You can get power MOSFETS that go down to less than 0.01 ohm.



Have you considered using relays? You can get relays with contacts rated for practically any current you might want to switch, from tiny dual-in-line reed relays to big chunky ones. They generally have a very low contact resistance.

The downside of relays is that switching time is slow and more current is needed to switch them. You will probably have to use a transistor to switch the current through the coil.
Colin
2012-08-13 13:09:08 UTC
If you're content with low switching speeds, consider relays.



Be aware of the existence of dedicated analogue switch ICs- see link to Analog Devices products; Google for Maxim products too.



It sounds like you're using the switch to select an input to a voltage measuring device. What "on" resistance can you tolerate? Consider the potential divider formed by the switch "on" resistance and the input resistance of the voltage measuring device.
GibsonEssGee
2012-08-13 14:45:33 UTC
http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/tps22924c.pdf TPS22924C rON=18.3 mΩ


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