High side n-MOS driver without charge pump

Question

I couldn't find details of this circuit configuration in an internet search. Most online results are about P-MOSFET in high side path or N-channel MOSFET with charge-pump/IC based driver.

^{simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab}

I understand the high level working of above circuit. It is part of an inrush limiter circuit and would hold the current through M1 constant during C1 charging.

1. R6 provides the initial path to build up output voltage.
2. Due to voltage drop across R2, Q1 Vbe crosses the threshold and starts conducting.
3. This increases the Vgs of M1 and it starts conducting, bypassing R6.
4. Current through R2 is maintained constant by the feedback effect on Vgs

Why is it not very popular? Any drawbacks for this circuit? What is the purpose of R5?

I could find a similar circuit in another SE answer- but it was with P-channel MOS.

Answer 1

Any drawbacks for this circuit?

The circuit will limit the current to around 7V/3R = 2.2A during start up (i.e. charging the output cap). Once the output capacitor charges enough the flowing current will be reduced.

However...

The output voltage of the circuit will be load-dependent: The lower the load resistance (i.e. higher current demand) the lower the output voltage.

The load current plus ripple current will continuously flow through R2 which is a needed element to drop some voltage so that Vgs of the NMOS becomes positive. This continuous flow will bring continuous dissipation. An NMOS is normally used to replace diodes or resistances to reduce the total losses but that R2 on its own zeroes this benefit. This gets worse if the load current demand is high because the network will continuously try to limit the peak currents to 2.2A.

With the help of R2 the Vgs of the NMOS will be positive, because the gate sees full rectified voltage via R5 (100k). But the developed Vgs will be relatively low (in your case less than VZ + VBE = 7V). Driving a power NMOS with very low Vgs will not bring the full low Rds-on advantage due to the lower Vgs. To make Vgs higher R2 should be higher. The higher R2 the higher the loss.

And I'll not mention the continuous loss across R6.

Apart from everything I've talked about above, there's one obvious thing:

• Without all the circuitry and complexity, the R2 on its own can work as an inrush limiter here - and actually, does most of the heavy lifting. Using a relay which shorts that R2 after a couple of milliseconds after energising the system would be even less expensive and less complex, and easier to implement.