UJTs

The Unijunction Transistor is a

breakover-type switching device.
Its characteristics make it very
useful in many industrial circuits,
including timers, oscillators,
waveform generators, and, most
importantly, gate control circuits
for SCRs and Triacs.

Schematic symbol & terminal

names

Equivalent circuit of UJT

UJT Simple Circuit

UJT VI Characteristic Curve

Theory and Operation of UJTs

Firing a UJT
In simplest terms, the UJT operates as follows:
1. When the voltage between emitter and
base 1, VEB1 , is less than a certain value
called the peak voltage, VP the UJT is
turned off, and no current can flow from E
to B1 (IE = 0).
2. When VEB1 exceeds VP by small amount, the
UJT fires or turned ON. The E and B1
becomes almost a short circuit, and current
can surge from one terminal to another.

Peak Voltage,(VP )

VP =VB2B1 + 0.6
Where:
- Intrinsic Standoff ratio
VB2B1 - Voltage Across B2
and B1
0.6 - Forward Voltage of Si

UJT Relaxation Oscillator

Relaxation Oscillator
Waveforms

UJT Relay Timer

One-Shot or Monostable
Timer

Clock or Astable Timer

Improved One-Shot Using a UJT

Line-Synchronized UJT Trigger

Circuit for an SCR

Waveforms

Sequential Switching Circuit Using

UJTs for Gate Control

Logic Output Amplifier Using an

SCR-UJT Combination

PUTs
A programmable unijuntion transistor has
effectively the same operating characteristics
as a standard UJT, and is used in similar
applications.
The cathode of the PUT corresponds to base 1 of
a UJT: When PUT fires, a burst of current
emerge from the device via the cathode lead,
just as a firing burst emerges from the base 1
lead of a UJT. Also, the cathode lead of the PUT,
like base 1 of a UJT, is the reference terminal
relative to which other voltages are measured.

Schematic Symbol & Terminal Names

PUTs Theory of Operation

The Anode of PUT corresponds to the emitter of
a UJT:
The PUTs anode voltage rises until it reaches a
certain critical value called the peak voltage,
Vp, which causes the device to fire.
The Gate of a PUT bears a rough
correspondence to base 2 of a UJT: For a PUT,
the gate receives a voltage from external
circuit, and that voltage sets the peak voltage
Vp according to the formula

Vp = Vg + 0.6V

PUT Relaxation Oscillator

Constant Slope ramp generator,

Ramp Height is set by Vg