NAIT 2000

The Use of Transistor Technology in Manufacturing Thomas E. Scott, Ph.D. Ohio University
For your own personal copy of this presentation www.ent.ohiou.edu/~tscott

Solid State Switching

January 3, 2000

EXTRA!!! EXTRA!!
EMR is DEAD
As the 21st century commences, we bid fond adieu to one of the mainstays of industrial electronics, the electro-magnetic relay. Surviving are numerous antiquated installations where EMRs continue to..

Industrial Electronics
Typical Applications
Rectification Motor Control Amplification Regulation Process Control

Transistor
Capable of performing
Amplifying Switching

Most common types

Bipolar junction (BJT) Field effect (FET)

Transistor
A three terminal device that controls current through the device depending on the amount of voltage applied to the base PNP or NPN emitter, base, collector bipolar device - both holes and electrons are used as internal carriers for maintaining current flow

Transistor

Biasing a Transistor
Base/emitter junction must be forward biased
emitter more negative than the base

base/collector junction must be reverse biased

base is more negative that the collector

Biasing a Transistor

Transistor Current Flow

Forward bias of base/emitter causes emitter to inject electrons into the depletion region between the emiitter and the base Biasing process is the turn on action

Transistor Current Flow

Transistor Applications
Developed to replace mechanical switches
No moving parts High resistance when transistor not turned on Low resistance when transistor turned on

Transistor Applications

Transistor Applications
May be used as amplifiers
Transistors gradually shut off By carefully controlling the base/emitter junction bias, possible to control varying degrees the through put of the emitter/collector current Acts as an amplifier

Transistors as amplifiers
Darlington amplifier Two transistors used together Gain is multiplicative

Field Effect Transistor

Like Bipolar Junction transistor except
BJT is current controlled FET is voltage controlled

Two types
JFETs Junction FETs MOSFETs Metal Oxide Semiconductor FETs Power MOSFETS have high power capability

Insulated Gate Bipolar

Has attractive features of both MOSFET and BJT Very fast on/off times (1 micro second) Extensively used in
Inverters High frequency welding systems

IGBT Application

Special Types of Transistors

THYRISTOR
SCR DIAC TRIAC

UJT

THYRISTOR
Thyra (Greek) - door, inferring either open or closed Thyristor - generic name for a type of semiconductor switch
Two stable states - ON and OFF No intermediate state Like a mechanical toggle switch Made up of alternating layers of semiconductor material

THYRISTOR Applications
Used in lamp-dimming circuits, motor speed control, ignition systems, charging circuits Control the transfer of power to various AC loads SCRs, TRIACs, DIACs, and UJTs

Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR)

Major element of motor control equipment Ratings as high as 2500 Volts and 2500 Amps Reverse blocking triode thyristor

SCR - Continued
Three terminals
anode - P-layer cathode - N-layer (opposite end) gate - P-layer near the cathode

Three junctions - four layers

Connect power such that the anode is positive with respect to the cathode - no current will flow NOTE: Blocked by the reverse bias of junction 2

SCR - Continued
Positive potential applied to the gate
Current will flow - TURNED-ON Once turned on, gate potential can be removed and the SCR still conducts

CALLED LATCHING Holding current maintains latch

Silicon Controlled Rectifier

SCR - Continued
Phase controller produces a trigger pulse to permit on a portion of the positive half cycle to get through Average power delivered is thereby controlled

Silicon Controlled Rectifier

Silicon Controlled Rectifier

SCR Application
Gate Turn Off switch (GTO) Electronic (pointless) automotive ignition

TRIAC
Bidirectional triode thyristor Equivalent of two SCRs connected Allows gate control of current flow in either direction

TRIAC Operation

DIAC
Bi-directional device without a gate Conducts in both directions but waits for a breakover voltage Therefore, always the same and not controllable Acts like two zener diodes in series, but conducts in both directions Excellent for controlling TRIAC

DIAC - Application
Brightness of a lamp

DIAC - Application
Brightness of a lamp
beginning half cycle, TRIAC off capacitor charges based on RC time constant eventually DIAC is activated TRIAC is activated and conducts Process repeated for each half cycle of the AC sine wave Adjust the brightness by changing the variable resistance which effects charging time

Unijunction Transistor (UJT)

Simple two layer transistor Operates using the principle of avalanche breakdown producing a saw tooth output Used to trigger an SCR or TRIAC Also used within pulse circuitry Output from photocells, thermistors, and other transducers can be used to trigger

Unijunction Transistor (UJT)

UJT as a trigger for an SCR

Industrial Blending Process

Computer sends bit (5 VDC) to UJT UJT sends trigger signal to SCR SCR activates and provides power to device

Application with UJT and SCR

Application with UJT and SCR

Inverter AC Motor Control

Solid State Switching

Advantages
No moving parts Controllable in the time domain

Disadvantages
Low resistance - but substantial heat

Solid State Switching

Advice for the future If you own stock in a company whos main product line is EMRs

SELL!