MOSFET question: Drive voltage vs. Vgs(th)

Can anyone tell me the difference between the drive voltage and the
gate-to-source threshold voltage (Vgs,th) of a MOSFET, if any?


I was under the impression that these refer to the same voltage - the
voltage that is needed to turn the MOSFET 'on'.
However, if you look at the following datasheet for a Fairchild
MOSFET...


http://www.fairchildsemi.com/ds/FD%2FFDG311N.pdf


you'll see that the title says "2.5V Specified", which I understand
refers to the drive voltage. However, under the "On Characteristics,"
you'll see Vgs(th) min. = 0.4V and Vgs(th) max. = 1.5V. Why isn't
Vgs(th) max. = 2.5V, as the title suggests? Is there a difference
between Vgs(th) and the "specified voltage"?


Thanks!

 

[JeffM]

accolade@gmail.com MULTI-POSTED TO 5 GROUPS:

Can anyone tell me the difference between the drive voltage and the
gate-to-source threshold voltage (Vgs,th) of a MOSFET, if any?

http://groups.google.com/group/sci.electronics.basics/browse_frm/thread/7b7c0624331012bb/3958f18673b5f374?q=EVERY-group-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-appear+*-proper-answer-*-*-*-given+much-easier-*-*-*-*-what's-going-on+*-frowned-on+*-correcting+*-polite-*-mention-*-*-*-*-*-*-*+Just-because-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-does-not-mean-*-*-*-*-*-*+*-Followup-To-*+*-*-*-too-lazy-*-*-*-*-*-appropriate-*+*-*-_perfect_-*-*-*-*+*-*-*-*-two-groups-*-*-aren't-*-different
http://groups.google.com/groups?filter=0&q=MOSFET-question-Drive-voltage-vs-Vgs-th