THYRISTORS

Review question
1. What is a diode?
2. What are the applications of diodes?
3. What are transistors and how do they operate?
Unit outline…
• Introduction to thyristors
• The Silicon-Controlled Rectifier (SCR)
• SCR Applications
• The Diac and Triac
• The Silicon-Controlled Switch (SCS)
• The Unijunction Transistor (UJT)
Introduction to thyristors

• The basic thyristor is a 4-layer device with two terminals, the anode
and the cathode. It is constructed of four semiconductor layers that
form a pnpn structure.
• The device acts as a switch and remains off until the forward voltage
reaches a certain value; then it turns on and conducts. Conduction
continues until the current is reduced below a specified value.
 Although the 4-layer diode is seldom used in new designs, the
principles form the basis of other thyristors that you will study.
The 4 layer diode (shockley diode)
The Silicon-Controlled Rectifier (SCR)

• Like the 4-layer diode, the SCR has two possible states of operation.
In the off state, it acts ideally as an open circuit between the anode and
the cathode; actually, rather than an open, there is a very high
resistance. In the on state, the SCR acts ideally as a short from the
anode to the cathode; actually, there is a small on (forward) resistance.

• An SCR (silicon-controlled rectifier) is a 4-layer pnpn device similar

to the 4-layer diode except with three terminals: anode, cathode, and
gate.
SCR block diagram and Schematic symbol
SCR Equivalent Circuit
Turning the SCR On
• When the gate current, IG , is zero, as shown in Figure 11–9(a), the
device acts as a 4-layer diode in the off state. In this state, the very
high resistance between the anode and cathode can be approximated
by an open switch, as indicated. When a positive pulse of current
(trigger) is applied to the gate, both transistors turn on (the anode must
be more positive than the cathode). This action is shown in Figure 11–
9(b). IB2 turns on Q2, providing a path for IB1 into the Q2 collector,
thus turning on Q1 .
• The collector current of Q1 provides additional base current for Q2 so
that Q2 stays in conduction after the trigger pulse is removed from the
gate. By this regenerative action, Q2 sustains the saturated conduction
of Q1 by providing a path for IB1 in turn, Q1 sustains the saturated
conduction of Q2 by providing IB2.Thus, the device stays on (latches)
once it is triggered on, as shown in Figure 11–9(c). In this state, the
very low resistance between the anode and cathode can be
approximated by a closed switch, as indicated.
• Like the 4-layer diode, an SCR can also be turned on without gate
triggering by increasing the anode-to-cathode voltage to a value
exceeding the forward-breakover voltage VBR(F) as shown on the
characteristic curve in Figure 11–10(a). The forward-breakover
voltage decreases as IG is increased above 0 V, as shown by the set of
curves in Figure 11–10(b). Eventually, a value of IG is reached at
which the SCR turns on at a very low anode-to-cathode voltage. So, as
you can see, the gate current controls the value of forward breakover
voltage, VBR(F) required for turn-on.
Turning the SCR Off
 When the gate returns to 0 V after the trigger pulse is removed, the
SCR cannot turn off; it stays in the forward-conduction region. The
anode current must drop below the value of the holding current, in
order for turn-off to occur. The holding current is indicated in Figure
11–10.

Here are two basic methods for turning off an SCR: anode current
interruption and forced commutation.
anode current interruption
• The anode current can be interrupted by either a momentary series or
parallel switching arrangement
The series switch in part (a) simply reduces the anode current to zero
and causes the SCR to turn off.

The parallel switch in part (b) routes part of the total current away
from the SCR, thereby reducing the anode current to a value less than
IH
Forced commutation
• The forced commutation method basically requires momentarily
forcing current through the SCR in the direction opposite to the
forward conduction so that the net forward current is reduced below
the holding value
• The basic circuit, as shown in Figure 11–12, consists of a switch
(normally a transistor switch) and a capacitor. While the SCR is
conducting, the switch is open and Cc is charged to the supply voltage
through RC, as shown in part (a). To turn off the SCR, the switch is
closed, placing the capacitor across the SCR and forcing current
through it opposite to the forward current, as shown in part (b).
Typically, turn-off times for SCRs range from a few microseconds up
to about 30 microseconds.
SCR Characteristics and Ratings
• Forward-breakover voltage, VBR(F) This is the voltage at which the
SCR enters the forward-conduction region. The value of VBR(F) is
maximum when IG = 0 and is designated VBR(F0).When the gate current
in increased, VBR(F) decreases and is designated VBR(F1),VBR(F2) and so
on, for increasing steps in gate current(IG1,IG2 and so on).
• Holding current, IH This is the value of anode current below which
the SCR switches from the forward-conduction region to the forward-
blocking region. The value increases with decreasing values of IG and
is maximum for IG = 0.
• Gate trigger current, IGT This is the value of gate current necessary
to switch the SCR from the forward-blocking region to the forward-
conduction region under specified conditions.
• Average forward current, IF(avg) This is the maximum continuous
anode current (dc) that the device can withstand in the conduction
state under specified conditions.
• Forward-conduction region, This region corresponds to the on
condition of the SCR where there is forward current from anode to
cathode through the very low resistance (approximate short) of the
SCR.
• Forward-blocking and reverse-blocking regions, These regions
correspond to the off condition of the SCR where the forward current
from anode to cathode is blocked by the effective open circuit of the
SCR.
• Reverse-breakdown voltage, VBR(R) This parameter specifies the
value of reverse voltage from cathode to anode at which the device
breaks into the avalanche region and begins to conduct heavily (the
same as in a pn junction diode).
SCR APPLICATIONS
• The SCR is used in many applications, including motor controls, time-
delay circuits, heater controls, phase controls, relay controls, and
sawtooth generators.
On-Off Control of Current
• Figure below shows an SCR circuit that permits current to be switched
to a load by the momentary closure of switch SW1 and removed from
the load by the momentary closure of switch SW2.
• Assuming the SCR is initially off, momentary closure of SW1 provides
a pulse of current into the gate, thus triggering the SCR on so that it
conducts current through. The SCR remains in conduction even after
the momentary contact of SW1 is removed if the anode current is
equal to or greater than the holding current, When SW2 is
momentarily closed, current is shunted around the SCR, thus reducing
its anode current below the holding value, This turns the SCR off and
reduces the load current to zero.
Example
Determine the gate trigger current and the anode current when the
switch, SW1, is momentarily closed in Figure 11–16. Assume and
IH = 5mA
Backup Lighting for Power Interruptions
• As another example of SCR applications, let’s examine a circuit that
will maintain lighting by using a backup battery when there is an ac
power failure.

Figure 11–21 shows a center tapped full-wave rectifier used for

providing ac power to a low-voltage lamp. As long as the ac power is
available, the battery charges through diode D3 and R1 D .
Working mechanism
An Over-Voltage Protection Circuit
• Figure 11–22 shows a simple over-voltage protection circuit,
sometimes called a “crowbar” circuit, in a dc power supply. The dc
output voltage from the regulator is monitored by the zener diode D1
and the resistive voltage divider R1 and R2. The upper limit of the
output voltage is set by the zener voltage. If this voltage is exceeded,
the zener conducts and the voltage divider produces an SCR trigger
voltage. The trigger voltage turns on the SCR, which is connected
across the line voltage. The SCR current causes the fuse to blow, thus
disconnecting the line voltage from the power supply.
A basic SCR over-voltage protection circuit (shown in blue).
Sawtooth Generator
Thus all for today folks!