CH 11 (Thyristor)

Electronic Devices
Ninth Edition
Floyd
Chapter 11
Electronic Devices, 9th edition 2012 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458.
Thomas L. Floyd All rights reserved.
Summary
Thyristors
Thyristors are a class of semiconductor devices characterized

by 4-layers of alternating p- and n-material. Four-layer
devices act as either open or closed switches; for this reason,
they are most frequently used in control applications.
Some thyristors and their symbols are
(a) 4-layer diode (b) SCR (c) Diac (d) Triac (e) SCS
Summary
Thyristors
The concept of 4-layer devices is Anode

usually shown as an equivalent circuit of pn junction 1
a pnp and an npn transistor. Ideally, Q1
these devices would not conduct, but
when forward biased, if there is pn junction
2
sufficient leakage current in the upper
Q2
pnp device, it can act as base current to
the lower npn device causing it to
pn junction 3
conduct and bringing both transistors
Cathode
into saturation.
Summary
The Four-Layer Diode
The 4-layer diode (or Shockley diode) is a type of

thyristor that acts something like an ordinary diode but
conducts in the forward direction only after a certain anode
to cathode voltage called the forward-breakover voltage is
reached.
The 4-layer diode has two leads, labeled the Anode (A) A
anode (A) and the cathode (K). The symbol p

reminds you that it acts like a diode. It does n
1
not conduct when it is reverse-biased. p

2
3
n
Cathode (K) K
Summary
The Four-Layer Diode
The characteristic curve for a 4-layer diode shows the

forward blocking region. When the anode-to-cathode
voltage exceeds VBR, conduction occurs. The switching
current at this point is IS.
IA
Once conduction begins, it
will continue until anode Forward-
conduction
current is reduced to less than On region
the holding current (IH). This IH
IS
is the only way to stop Off Forward-
VAK blocking
0 VBR(F)
conduction. region
Summary
A
The SCR
The SCR had its roots in the 4-layer diode. By

adding a gate connection, the SCR could be
G
triggered into conduction. This improvement made
a much more useful device than the 4-layer diode.
K
The SCR can be turned on by
IA
exceeding the forward
breakover voltage or by gate IG2 > IG1 IG1 > IG0 I = 0
I H0
current. Notice that the gate G0
I H1
current controls the amount
I H2
of forward breakover voltage VR VF
0 VBR(F 2) VBR(F1) VBR(F0)
required for turning it on. IR
Summary
The SCR
Like the 4-layer diode, the SCR will conduct as long as

forward current exceeds IH. There are two ways to drop the
SCR out of conduction: 1) anode current interruption
and 2) forced commutation. +V
Anode current can be interrupted by breaking the anode
current path (shown here), providing a path around the SCR,
IA = 0
or dropping the anode voltage to the point that IA < IH.
Force commutation uses an external circuit to momentarily RA
force current in the opposite direction to forward

conduction.
SCRs are commonly used in ac circuits, which forces the G
SCR out of conduction when the ac reverses.
Summary
SCR Specifications
Three important SCR specifications are:

Forward-breakover voltage, VBR(F): IF
This is the voltage at which the SCR Characteristic
enters the forward-conduction region. for IG = 0
Forward-
Holding current, IH: This is the value of conduction
region (on)
anode current below which the SCR for IG = 0
switches from the forward-conduction IH
VBR(R)
region to the forward-blocking region. VR
0 VBR(F)
VF
Gate trigger current, IGT: This is the Reverse-

blocking Forward-
Reverse- blocking
value of gate current necessary to switch avalanche
region
region (off)
region
the SCR from the forward-blocking
region to the forward-conduction region IR
under specified conditions.
Summary
SCR Applications
SCRs are used in a variety of power control applications.

One of the most common applications is to use it in ac
circuits to control a dc motor or appliance because the
SCR can both rectify and control.
The SCR is triggered on the I
positive cycle and turns off on R1
A
the negative cycle. A circuit
R2
like this is useful for speed R4
R3
control for fans or power tools
B
and other related applications. M
Summary
SCR Applications
Another application for SCRs is in crowbar circuits

(which get their name from the idea of putting a crowbar
across a voltage source and shorting it out!)
The purpose of a crowbar SW Fuse
circuit is to shut down a power

DC
supply in case of over-voltage. power supply
VOUT
Once triggered, the SCR

D1
latches on. The SCR can
handle a large current, which D2
VTRIG
R1
causes the fuse (or circuit R2

R3
breaker) to open. "Crowbar circuit"
Summary
A1
The Diac
The diac is a thyristor that acts like two back-to-back

4-layer diodes. It can conduct current in either
direction. Because it is bidirectional, the terminals are A2
equivalent and labeled A1 and A2. I F
The diac conducts current after the

breakdown voltage is reached. At that
point, the diac goes into avalanche IH
conduction, creating a current pulse VR
VBR(R)
VF
0 VBR(F)
sufficient to trigger another thyristor (an IH
SCR or triac). The diac remains in

conduction as long as the current is
above the holding current, IH. IR
Summary
A1
The Triac
The triac is essentially a bidirectional SCR but the G

A2
anodes are not interchangeable. Triggering is done by
applying a current pulse to the gate; breakover triggering
is not normally used. IA
When the voltage on the A1

terminal is positive with respect IG2 IG1 IG0
IH0
to A2, a gate current pulse will IH1
IH2
cause the left SCR to conduct. VA
VBR(R0) VBR(R1) VBR(R2)
VBR(F2) VBR(F1) VBR(F0)
VA
IH2
When the anode voltages are IH1
reversed, the gate current pulse IG0 IG1 IG2 IH0
will cause the right SCR to

conduct. IA
Summary
Triac Applications
Triacs are used for control of ac in applications like

electric range heating controls, light dimmers, and
small motors.
Triac on
Like the SCR, the RL
IL
triac latches after
triggering and turns A1 Delay
Vin angle
off when the current is
G Conduction
below the IH, which A2
angle
happens at the end of VG
each alteration.
Summary
The Silicon-Controlled Switch (SCS) Anode (A)

Anode
gate
The SCS is similar to an SCR but with Cathode
(G A)
two gates. It can be triggered on with a gate

(GK)
positive pulse on the cathode gate, and Cathode (K)
can be triggered off with a positive pulse
on the anode gate. +VCC
GA
In this example, the SCS is VGK A
controlling a dc source. The load is in VGA
GK
the cathode circuit, which has the VL
advantage of one side of the load K
being on circuit ground. RL
Summary
B2
The Unijunction Transistor (UJT)

E
The UJT consists of a a block of lightly-doped
(high resistance) n-material with a p-material
grown into its side. It is often used as a trigger B1
device for SCRs and triacs. V E
The UJT is a switching device; Cutoff

Negative
resistance Saturation
it is not an amplifier. When the VP Peak
point
emitter voltage reaches VP (the
peak point), the UJT fires,
going through the unstable Valley point
negative resistance region to VV
produce a fast current pulse.

IE
IP IV
Summary
The Unijunction Transistor (UJT)
The equivalent circuit for a UJT shows that looks like a

diode connected to a voltage divider. The resistance of the
lower divider (rB1) is inversely proportional to the emitter
current. When the pn junction is first B 2
forward-biased, the junction

r
resistance of rB1 suddenly appears
B2
V
to drop, and a rush of current occurs. +
pn
E +
V BB
+
IE
An important parameter is , which is the VEB1
VBB
intrinsic standoff ratio. It represents the rB1
ratio of rB1 to the interbase resistance rBB B1
with no current.
Summary
The Unijunction Transistor (UJT) Application
A circuit using a UJT to fire an SCR is shown. When the

UJT fires, a pulse of current is delivered to the gate of the
SCR. The setting of R1 determines when the UJT fires. The
diode isolates the UJT
from the negative part A
D
of the ac. R 1
R L
VE UJT
The UJT produces a fast,
reliable current pulse to RG SCR
B
the SCR, so that it tends
R2
to fire in the same place C
every cycle.
Summary
A
The Programmable Unijunction Transistor (PUT)

G
The PUT is a 4-layer thyristor with a gate. It is
primarily used as a sensitive switching device.
The gate pulse can trigger a sharp increase in
current at the output. V (anode-to-cathode voltage)
AK
K
The characteristic of a PUT is

VP
similar to a UJT, but the PUT
intrinsic standoff ratio can be
programmed with external
resistors and the UJT has a VV
fixed ratio.
0 IP IV IA
(anode current)
Summary
The principle application for a PUT is for driving SCRs and

triacs, but, like the UJT, can be used in relaxation oscillators.
For the circuit to oscillate, R1 must be large +VCC
enough to limit current to less than the valley
current (IV). The period of the oscillations is
R1 R2
given by:
1
T R1C ln A
1 G
C R3
where K
R4
R3

R2 R3
Summary
What is intrinsic standoff ratio, and the period of the circuit?

+VCC
+20 V
R3 10 k
0.33
R2 R3 20 k + 10 k
R1 R2
1 220 k 20 k
T R1C ln
1 A
1 G
220 k 0.01 F ln 0.89 ms C R3
1 0.33 K 10 k
0.01 F
R4
27
What is the frequency? 1.12 kHz

Selected Key Terms
4layerdiode Thetypeof2terminalthyristorthatconducts
currentwhentheanodetocathodevoltagereaches
aspecifiedbreakovervalue.
Thyristor Aclassoffourlayer(pnpn)semiconductor
devices.
SCR Siliconcontrolledrectifier;atypeofthree
terminalthyristorthatconductscurrentwhen
triggeredbyavoltageatthesinglegateterminal
andremainsonuntilanodecurrentfallsbelowa
specifiedvalue.
Selected Key Terms
LASCR Lightactivatedsiliconcontrolledrectifier;afour
layersemiconductordevice(thyristor)that
conductscurrentinonedirectionwhenactivated
byasufficientamountoflightandcontinuesto
conductuntilthecurrentfallsbelowaspecified
value.
Diac Atwoterminalfourlayersemiconductordevice
(thyristor)thatcanconductcurrentineither
directionwhenproperlyactivated.
Triac A three-terminal thyristor that can conduct current
in either direction when properly activated.
Selected Key Terms
SCS Siliconcontrolledswitch;atypeoffourterminal
thyristorthathastwogateterminalsthatareused
totriggerthedeviceonandoff.
UJT Unijunctiontransistor;athreeterminalsinglepn
junctiondevicethatexhibitsanegativeresistance
characteristic.
PUT Programmable unijunction transistor; a type of
three terminal thyristor (physically more like an
SCR than a unijunction) that is triggered into
conduction when the voltage at the anode exceeds
the voltage at the gate.
Quiz
1. The 4-layer (Shockley) diode can conduct current if

a. the anode-to-cathode voltage exceeds VBR
b. a current pulse is applied to the gate
c. both a and b are correct
d. none of the above
Quiz
2. The SCR can conduct current if

a. the anode-to-cathode voltage exceeds VBR
b. a current pulse is applied to the gate
c. both a and b are correct
Quiz
3. A bidirectional thyristor is the

a. 4-layer diode
b. SCR
c. triac
d. silicon-controlled switch
Quiz
4. A thyristor that looks like two back-to-back 4-layer

diodes is the
a. SCR
b. triac
c. SCS
d. diac
Quiz
5. An SCR turns off when the

a. gate trigger current drops below a specified level
b. anode current drops below the holding current
c. both a and b are true
Quiz
6. The purpose of a crowbar circuit is to protect a load

from
a. excessive ripple
b. low-voltage
c. over-voltage
d. all of the above
Quiz
7. A diac and triac are similar in that both devices

a. can use breakover triggering
b. can be used in ac circuits
c. are bidirectional
d. all of the above
Quiz
8. A device that has an unstable negative resistance region

is the
a. UJT
b. diac
c. triac
d. SCS
Quiz
9. The symbol for a silicon-controlled switch (SCS) is
(a) (b) (c) (d)
Quiz
10. A programmable unijunction transistor (PUT) is

programmed by choosing the
a. RC time constant
b. gate resistors
c. power supply voltage
d. cathode resistor
Quiz
Answers:
1. a 6. c
2. c 7. d
3. c 8. a
4. d 9. d
5. b 10. b

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Electronic Devices

Thyristors are a class of semiconductor devices characterized

The concept of 4-layer devices is Anode

The Four-Layer Diode

The 4-layer diode (or Shockley diode) is a type of

anode (A) and the cathode (K). The symbol p

not conduct when it is reverse-biased. p

The Four-Layer Diode

The characteristic curve for a 4-layer diode shows the

The SCR had its roots in the 4-layer diode. By

Like the 4-layer diode, the SCR will conduct as long as

force current in the opposite direction to forward

SCR out of conduction when the ac reverses.

Three important SCR specifications are:

Gate trigger current, IGT: This is the Reverse-

SCRs are used in a variety of power control applications.

Another application for SCRs is in crowbar circuits

circuit is to shut down a power

Once triggered, the SCR

causes the fuse (or circuit R2

The diac is a thyristor that acts like two back-to-back

equivalent and labeled A1 and A2. I F

The diac conducts current after the

SCR or triac). The diac remains in

The triac is essentially a bidirectional SCR but the G

When the voltage on the A1

reversed, the gate current pulse IG0 IG1 IG2 IH0

will cause the right SCR to

Triacs are used for control of ac in applications like

The Silicon-Controlled Switch (SCS) Anode (A)

two gates. It can be triggered on with a gate

The Unijunction Transistor (UJT)

device for SCRs and triacs. V E

The UJT is a switching device; Cutoff

negative resistance region to VV

produce a fast current pulse.

The Unijunction Transistor (UJT)

The equivalent circuit for a UJT shows that looks like a

forward-biased, the junction

The Unijunction Transistor (UJT) Application

A circuit using a UJT to fire an SCR is shown. When the

The Programmable Unijunction Transistor (PUT)

The characteristic of a PUT is

The Programmable Unijunction Transistor (PUT)

The principle application for a PUT is for driving SCRs and

The Programmable Unijunction Transistor (PUT)

What is intrinsic standoff ratio, and the period of the circuit?

What is the frequency? 1.12 kHz

1. The 4-layer (Shockley) diode can conduct current if

2. The SCR can conduct current if

3. A bidirectional thyristor is the

4. A thyristor that looks like two back-to-back 4-layer

5. An SCR turns off when the

6. The purpose of a crowbar circuit is to protect a load

7. A diac and triac are similar in that both devices

8. A device that has an unstable negative resistance region

9. The symbol for a silicon-controlled switch (SCS) is

(a) (b) (c) (d)

10. A programmable unijunction transistor (PUT) is

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