Extra exam question E6A12
Subelement E6, CIRCUIT COMPONENTS· Group E6A
What is the purpose of connecting Zener diodes between a MOSFET gate and its source or drain?
- A.To provide a voltage reference for the correct amount of reverse-bias gate voltage
- B.To protect the substrate from excessive voltages
- C.To keep the gate voltage within specifications and prevent the device from overheating
- D.To protect the gate from static damage (correct answer)
WhyZener diodes connected between a MOSFET's gate and its source or drain protect the gate from static damage. Zener diodes are connected between a MOSFET's gate and its source or drain to clamp any transient voltage spike that might otherwise appear across the gate's extremely thin, fragile insulating layer, protecting it from static discharge damage, answer D. This isn't primarily about establishing a reverse-bias reference voltage, protecting the substrate, or preventing overheating, those aren't the specific failure mode these protective Zener diodes address.
Published 2026-08-28 · Last updated 2026-08-28 · Question text is verbatim from the 2024-2028 NCVEC Element 4 pool (public domain); the explanation above is original writing, see our methodology.
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