Electronic – Determining the Maximum Gate Voltage for an N-Channel MOSFET

Compare the actions of a P and N channel MOSFET in your circuit.

(I've left the junction transistor in to aid comparison.)

The PIC output does not like being connected to 12V so the transistor acts as a buffer or level switch. Any output from the PIC greater than 0.6V (ish) will turn the transistor ON.

P CHANNEL MOSFET. (Load connected between Drain and Ground)

When the PIC output is LOW, the transistor is OFF and the gate of the P MOSFET is HIGH (12V). This means the P MOSFET is OFF.

When the output of the PIC is HIGH, the transistor is turned ON and pulls the gate of the MOSFET LOW. This turns the MOSFET ON and current will flow through the load.

N CHANNEL MOSFET. (Load connected between Drain and +12V)

When the PIC output is LOW, the transistor is OFF and the gate of the N MOSFET is HIGH (12V). This means the N MOSFET is ON and current will flow through the load.

When the output of the PIC is HIGH, the transistor is turned ON and pulls the gate of the MOSFET LOW. This turns the MOSFET OFF.

The 'improved' MOSFET circuit.

We could eliminate the transistor by using a digital N MOSFET type - it only needs the 0-5V signal from the PIC output to operate and isolates the PIC output pin from the 12V supply.

When the PIC output is HIGH the MOSFET is turned ON, when it is LOW the MOSFET is turned OFF. This is exactly the same as the original P MOSFET circuit. The series resistor has been made smaller to aid the turn ON, turn OFF times by charging or discharging the gate capacitance more quickly.

The choice of device is basically down to your design needs although in this case the digital type N MOSFET wins hands down for simplicity.

You have received a large amount of useful input related to the question that you asked and it will be of assistance to others who read these answers in future.

However, you have been wasting people's time and confusing your self because you stated what you thought you needed to do to fix your problem instead of telling your people what your problem is. While there is some overlap the answers that have been given mainly relate to things that you are not trying to do. While they do somewhat address what you are trying to do, the diagram that you provided would make almost no sense in most contexts and is NOT doing what it appears to be doing.

Lesson: "Tell us what you actually are trying to do and we will tell you the best way to do it".

Real question: See Maxim DS1822 Data Sheet -
PAGE 5 - POWERING THE DS1822 and
page 6 SUPPLYING THE PARASITE-POWERED DS1822 DURING TEMPERATURE

In the related diagram below Vpu is a "weak pullup" and the FET is a "strong pullup".
When the Vdd pin is grounded, power supply energy may be provided via the DQ line and is stored in an internal capacitor Cpp (C parasitic power). During most portions of operation the "parasitic" feed provides enough current Ipp at an acceptable voltage to power the IC. During some operation Ipp is inadequate and the iC must either be powered via Vdd or via a higher current source (see data sheet page 5). During these high current operations the FET is turned on to provide extra supply current. This low resistance power feed clamps the bus high and presents it being used for signalling by other ICs on the bus, so the 'strong pullup' is enabled only for as long a period as required.

SO:

You do need a FET for pullup, you do need a high side FET, this need is most simply met with a P channel FET - all as advised by others.

As Vmicrocontroller (Vmcu) is >= V1_wire_bus, the FET is not being used as a level converter but as a high side power supply switch.

Choosing a MOSFET:

Connecting a suitable P Channel MOSFET as shown in the diagram will fill the need. Many FETs will do the job.

Rdson / On resistance: MOSFET must have low enough on resistance = Rdson for the task.
A MOSFET that dropped 0.1V at 2 mA would probably suffice
Rdson = Vdrop / Iload =
= 0.1v/2 mA = 50 Ohms.
You'd have immense difficulty buying a P Channel FET with Rds = 50 Ohms = normally available ones are typically 50 to 5000 times BETTER (lower Rdson) ie 1 Ohm down to say 10 milliOhms.ie ANY P Channel MOSFET that meets other specs will have an OK Rdson

Gate operating voltage = Vth or Vgsth:
Vth or Vgsth should be << Vcpu.
ie the μP (microprocessor) should easily drive the MOSFET.
A 3.3V μP will JUST operate a MOSFET where Vth = 3V.
Operation will be better at Vgsth = 2.5V
and better again at 2V. Lower again does not hurt.

Vds_max > say 10V is OK - 20V or 30V better. > 30V OK.
Ids_max is so low as to be met by anything.

The horrible BSS184 - datasheet here is 20 cents in 1's at Digikey and does the job well enough. Digikey and others have many more that will do a better job - but not needed here.