Difference Between The CMOS And NMOS Technology

If you talk about the most popular semiconductor technologies, the name of CMOS technology will pop at the top. For ASICs, memories, and microprocessors, CMOS technology is the best one. This is because CMOS technology has a primary benefit over the NMOS technology, and that is in terms of power dissipation. 

So, how do we choose which technology is the best one for our motherboards? Should we only consider the parameter of power dissipation, or are there other differences between CMOS and NMOS technology? Just keep reading this article, and we will get there eventually.

What Is IC Technology?- Overview, And Definition

CMOS And NMOS Technology

There are three types of IC technology, such as MOS, BiCOMS, and Bipolar technology. 

MOS technology has three categories such as NMOS, CMOS, and PMOS. All the MOS technologies consist of a metal gate, semiconductor, and oxide. Polysilicon is usually used as the terminal. When the current passes from the collectors and emitters, polysilicon controls the flow. As we previously mentioned, MOS technology has a lower power consumption, and that is why it allows higher integration.

BiCMOS technology is usually incorporated in a semiconductor chip, and it is built with Bipolar and CMOS technologies. CMOS technology requires high input, but it provides low output. BiCMOS technology unites CMOS transistors and bipolar devices cost-effectively and derives the increased integration of MOS technology.

The structure of the bipolar transistor has either NPN or PNP technology. In bipolar transistors, a small amount of current stays in the thicker base and controls substantial current flow between the terminals of the collector and the emitter. Thus, base currents restrict the extra density of the bipolar appliances.

Overview Of CMOS Technology

CMOS technology is utilized in the digital logic circuits to structure microprocessors, microcontrollers, RAM, etc. Several analog circuits like data converters, image sensors, and highly integrated transceivers where CMOS technology is used.

Features

  1. The static power consumption is pretty low in CMOS technology.
  2. It reduces the circuit complexity.
  3. This technology provides high noise immunity.
  4. It provides a high density of logic to function on a chip.
  5. The complementary semiconductors of CMOS work mutually and restrict the O/P Voltage.

CMOS Inverter

Cmos Inverters are MOSFET inverters, which are used in chip designing. They function with low power consumption at high speed. CMOS inverter has two power transistors named NMOS transistors and PMOS transistors. But, this technology does not have any resistor, so it creates more power capacity than the average MOSFET inverters.

CMOS Applications

A CMOS battery typically lasts for 10 years. Therefore, many devices such as digital cameras, image sensors, digital circuits, static RAM, microprocessors, microcontrollers, data converters, etc. The CMOS battery always stays on unless it is damaged. CMOS technology powers the BIOS, and therefore it is used in the motherboard as well. But, in modern motherboards such as the northbridge motherboard, CMOS is not used.

Overview Of NMOS Technology

The logic family of the NMOS technology utilizes the negative channel of MOS. So, as you can see, this type of technology charges negatively. The transistors in NMOS technology are turned on and off with the electron movements. 

NMOS Features

  1. The number of diffusion steps required in NMOS technology is the lowest among all.
  2. The power dissipation amount is pretty low here.
  3. It has a very high noise margin.
  4. The power supply of NMOS may vary from 5V to 15 V.
  5. There is no isolation island required here, and only the NMOS transistors will be enough.

NMOS Inverter

There are two transistors, namely the depletion-mode PMOS transistors and an NMOS transistor, present in the NMOS inverter. The inverter circuit of o/ps voltage represents the opposite logic level i/p. If the characterization and operation of the NMOS inverter are thoroughly understood, the design will be extended to the creation of logic gates.

NMOS Applications

NMOS transistors work faster than PMOS transistors, and more of those can be fit into a single chip. It is also used in microprocessors, digital circuits, static RAM, etc. Moreover, for analog circuits, NMOS technology is used in image sensors and data converse, and for different modes of a telephone conversation, this technology is used as a trans-receptor.

The Difference Between CMOS Technology, And NMOS Technology

CategoriesCMOSNMOS
Full-FormCMOS is the acronym of  Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor.NMOS is the acronym of  N-type metal oxide semiconductors.
UsabilityIt is mainly used in the making of batteries, digital cameras, image sensors, etc.It is primarily used in digital circuits and the making of logic gates
Operational ModesCMOS has two modes of operation like depletion and inversion.However, NMOS has four modes of operation like a cut-off, triode, saturation, and velocity saturation.
Logic LevelThe logic level of CMOS is 0/5V.The logic level of NMOS depends on poor noise margin and beta ratio.
Power DissipationIn standby mode, the power dissipation of CMOS technology is zero.Power dissipation only happens when the output is zero. 
Layout StructureCMOS technology has a regular layout.NMOS technology has an irregular layout.
Packing DensityThe packing density in CMOS is less. For N-inputs, it requires 2N devices.The packing density in NMOS is denser. Therefore, for N-inputs, it requires N+1 devices. 

The Final Decision-Which One Is Better?

As we have elaborated on the features of both CMOS and NMOS technologies, we have understood how one differs from the other. However, compared to NMOS, CMOS is of superior quality in noise resistance, power dissipation, power consumption, energy conversion, etc. Although CMOS technology has a complicated composition, which makes it more expensive, people still prefer CMOS over NMOS any day.

Kacee Christian is a freelance content writer and enthusiastic blogger. She is the co-founder of Exclusiverights. She contributes to many authority blogs such as worldtech24, Newsstoner, Worldnewsinn, Newsprofy, Techmagnews.


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