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jonk
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The same topology shown above can also be made to work with MOSFETs:

schematic

simulate this circuit

In the above case, \$R_3\$ can be made very much larger and this can greatly reduce the quiescent current (holding) for the OFF state of the switch. (The circuit still depends upon \$Q_1\$ being ON and \$Q_2\$ being OFF, when quiescent/OFF, so this means that your supply voltage will be across \$R_3\$ in this state.)

Circuit details such as parasitics and worsening saturation beta for \$Q_2\$ at very low collector currents will be the limitation. I would say that designing around about \$10\:\mu\text{A}\$ would be easily achievable without such considerations. And that less might be had, with some thought to them.


The same topology shown above can also be made to work with MOSFETs:

schematic

simulate this circuit

In the above case, \$R_3\$ can be made very much larger and this can greatly reduce the quiescent current (holding) for the OFF state of the switch. (The circuit still depends upon \$Q_1\$ being ON and \$Q_2\$ being OFF, when quiescent/OFF, so this means that your supply voltage will be across \$R_3\$ in this state.)

Circuit details such as parasitics and worsening saturation beta for \$Q_2\$ at very low collector currents will be the limitation. I would say that designing around about \$10\:\mu\text{A}\$ would be easily achievable without such considerations. And that less might be had, with some thought to them.

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jonk
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My intuition tells me that the use of a single capacitor as two-state memory for this purpose makes the problem more difficult. Even with the use of MOSFETs. I think for stability and perhaps even simplicity's sake, I'd start out trying two capacitors. (I often use a MOSFET+BJT with one capacitor for a timed on-period, though, where the MOSFET+RC is vital to stay truer to the RC timing assumption.) One of them to ensure a consistent power-on state.

My intuition tells me that the use of a single capacitor as two-state memory for this purpose makes the problem more difficult. Even with the use of MOSFETs. I think for stability and perhaps even simplicity's sake, I'd start out trying two capacitors. (I often use a MOSFET+BJT with one capacitor for a timed on-period, though, where the MOSFET+RC is vital to stay truer to the RC timing assumption.)

I think for stability and perhaps even simplicity's sake, I'd start out trying two capacitors. (I often use a MOSFET+BJT with one capacitor for a timed on-period, though, where the MOSFET+RC is vital to stay truer to the RC timing assumption.) One of them to ensure a consistent power-on state.

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jonk
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(This assumes the current arriving at the base of \$Q_1\$ via \$R_5\$, \$R_4\$, and \$R_6\$ isn't sufficient to cause a voltage drop across \$R_5\$ that would turn \$Q_3\$ ON, of course. This is easily achieved, though, because \$Q_1\$'s collector is only sinking a very modest current determined by \$R_3\$ and therefore won't need a sizeable base current via \$R_5\$. [Easily arranged to avoid turning \$Q_3\$ ON.] When \$Q_3\$ is turned ON, of course, then \$Q_2\$'s collector must sink all of the needed base current of \$Q_3\$ and that will cause a voltage drop across \$R_5\$.)

The quiescent state should arrive with only a very small voltage across \$C_1\$ and \$C_2\$ (basically, whatever the \$V_{\text{CE}_\text{SAT}}\$ of \$Q_1\$ permits, and no more than that.) So both capacitors remain discharged, to start, and \$Q_1\$ is ON (because of the path through \$R_5\$, \$R_4\$, and \$R_6\$) and \$Q_2\$ is OFF.

The quiescent state should arrive with only a very small voltage across \$C_1\$ and \$C_2\$ (basically, whatever the \$V_{\text{CE}_\text{SAT}}\$ of \$Q_1\$ permits, and no more than that.) So both capacitors remain discharged, to start, and \$Q_1\$ is ON (because of the path through \$R_5\$, \$R_4\$, and \$R_6\$) and \$Q_2\$ is OFF.

(This assumes the current arriving at the base of \$Q_1\$ via \$R_5\$, \$R_4\$, and \$R_6\$ isn't sufficient to cause a voltage drop across \$R_5\$ that would turn \$Q_3\$ ON, of course. This is easily achieved, though, because \$Q_1\$'s collector is only sinking a very modest current determined by \$R_3\$ and therefore won't need a sizeable base current via \$R_5\$. [Easily arranged to avoid turning \$Q_3\$ ON.] When \$Q_3\$ is turned ON, of course, then \$Q_2\$'s collector must sink all of the needed base current of \$Q_3\$ and that will cause a voltage drop across \$R_5\$.)

The quiescent state should arrive with only a very small voltage across \$C_1\$ and \$C_2\$ (basically, whatever the \$V_{\text{CE}_\text{SAT}}\$ of \$Q_1\$ permits, and no more than that.) So both capacitors remain discharged, to start, and \$Q_1\$ is ON (because of the path through \$R_5\$, \$R_4\$, and \$R_6\$) and \$Q_2\$ is OFF.

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