The MOSFET must be the most be the most manufactured item in human history, but it is not without its down-side. Because of the features which make it so useful, a naked MOSFET on its own can be a very delicate device., easily damaged by small electrostatic discharges. A complimentary pair of FETs connected in series across a supply rails makes the most basic logic element, CMOS inverter. Place them carelessly on a shared silicon substrate, and they will turn into a dead short which will persist until either the devices burn out or the supply is removed. This is known as latch-up.

Latch-up and ESD (ElectroStatic Discharge) sensitivity were once the Achilles Heel of CMOS devices.

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