Transient response of a transistor-tunnel diode hybrid combination

An approach is suggested for characterising the switching behaviour of a typical transistor-tunnel diode hybrid combination. The method uses the charge-control model for the transistor and empirical power functions for the tunnel diode. Though an accurate nonlinear power function is used for the tunnel diode, the final switching time expressions are obtained in terms of some average time constants associated with the various segments of the tunnel diode characteristic. Experimental observations with tunnel diode in combination with slow and gold-doped switching transistors demonstrate that the models used in the analysis are satisfactory for engineering calculations. Potentially, the method is quite general and can also be used for the analysis of other possible hybrid combinations.