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Thyristor Thyristors
A family of devices that are constructed of four semiconductor layers (pnpn). They act as open circuits capable of withstanding a certain rated voltage until they are triggered. When triggered, they turn on and become low resistance current paths and remain so, even after trigger is removed, until current is reduced to a certain level or until they are removed.

Industrial Electronics

Shockley Diode
Also known as 4-Layer Diode and SUS

Thyristors

SHOCKLEY DIODE

Shockley Diode
When a positive bias voltage is applied to the anode with respect to the cathode the base-emitter junctions are forward bias and the base-collector is in reverse bias.

Shockley Diode

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Shockley Diode Characteristic Curve

Shockley Diode
Forward Blocking Region
A region in the forward bias in which the device has a very high forward resistance (ideally an open) and is on off state.

Forward Breakover Voltage (VBR(F))

The value of VAK where the device enters the forward blocking region.

Shockley Diode
Holding Current (Ih)
Once the Shockley diode is conducting (on state), it will continue to conduct until the anode current is reduced below to this specified level.

Example
A certain 4-layer diode is biased in the forward blocking region with an anode-to-cathode voltage of 20 V. Under this bias condition , the anode current is 1A. Determine the resistance of the diode in the forward blocking region.

Switching Current (IS)

The value of the anode current at the point where the device switches from the forward-blocking region (off) to the forward-conduction region (on)

Example
Determine the value of anode current in the figure when the device is on. VBR(f) = 10 V. Assume the forward voltage drop is 0.9 V.

Thyristors

SILICON CONTROLLED RECTIFIER (SCR)

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SCR
Silicon Controlled Rectifier is a 4-layer pnpn device similar to a Shockley Diode except it has three terminals: anode, cathode, and gate.

SCR Equivalent

Turning ON the SCR

When the gate current, IG, is zero, the device acts as a Shockley diode in the off state. In this state, the very high resistance between the anode and cathode can be approximated by an open switch.

Turning ON the SCR

When a positive pulse of current (trigger) is applied to the gate, both transistors will turn on (the anode must be more positive to the cathode)

Turning ON the SCR

The device stays on (latches) once it is triggered on. In this state, the very low resistance between the anode and cathode can be approximated by a closed switch.

Turning ON SCR
Like the Shockley Diode, an SCR can be turned without triggering by increasing the anode-to-cathode voltage to a value exceeding the forward-breakover voltage.

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Turning ON SCR
The forward-breakover voltage decreases as IG is increased above 0 V. Eventually, a value of IG is reached at which the SCR turns on at a very low anode-to-cathode voltage.

Turning OFF the SCR

There are two basic methods for turning off an SCR:
Anode Current Interruption Forced Commutation

SCR WAVEFORMS
Conduction - is the number of degrees of an AC cycle during which the SCR is turned on. Firing delay - is the number of degrees of an AC cycle that elapses before the SCR is turned on. Firing delay + Conduction = 180

VAK AND VL WAVEFORMS

Anode Current Interruption

Forced Commutation
Forced Commutation method basically requires momentarily forcing current through the SCR in the direction opposite the forward conduction current so that the net forward current is reduced below the holding value.

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Forced Commutation

SCR Characteristics and Ratings

SCR Characteristics and Ratings

LASCR
Light Activated Silicon-Controlled Rectifier is a thyristor that operates as a conventional SCR except that it can be light-triggered. The LASCR conducts current in one direction when activated by a sufficient amount of light and continues to conduct until the current falls below a specified value. The LASCR is most sensitive to light when the gate terminal is open. If necessary, a resistor from the gate to the cathode can be used to reduce sensitivity.

LASCR Circuit
The input source turns on the lamp; the resulting incident light triggers the LASCR. The anode current energizes the relay and closes the contact. Notice that the input source is electrically isolated from the rest of the circuit.
Thyristors

APPLICATIONS OF SCR

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ON-OFF Control of Current

Example:
Determine the gate trigger current and the anode current when the switch, SW1 is momentarily closed. Assume VAK= 0.2 V, VGK= 0.7 V and IH= 5 mA

Half Wave Power Control

Used for the control of ac power for lamp dimmers, electric heaters and electric motors

180o Conduction

Half-Wave, Variable-Resistance Control Circuit.

Phase

90o Conduction

135o Conduction

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Example:
Show the voltage waveform across the SCR from anode to cathode (ground) in relation to the load current from 180o, 45o, and 90o. Assume an ideal SCR

Solution:
When the there is load current, the SCR is conducting and voltage across it is ideally zero. When the there is no load current, the voltage across the SCR is the same as the applied voltage.

Backup Lighting for Power Interruption

As long as the ac power is available, the battery charges through diode D3 and R1. The SCRs cathode voltage is established when the capacitor charges to the peak value of the full-wave rectified ac. The anode is at the 6 V battery voltage, making it less positive than the cathode, thus preventing conduction

Backup Lighting for Power Interruption

When there is an interruption of ac power, the capacitor discharges through the closed path R1, D3, and R3, making the cathode less positive than the anode or the gate. This action establishes triggering condition, and the SCR begins to conduct. Current from the battery is through the SCR and the lamp, thus maintaining illumination. When ac power is restored the capacitor recharges and the SCR turn off. The battery begins recharging

Overvoltage Protection Circuit

Also known as Crowbar Circuit The dc output voltage from the regulator is monitored by zener diode (Z1) and the resistive voltage (R1 and R2). The upper limit of the output voltage is set by 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.

Sawtooth Generator
The SCR can be used in conjunction with an RC circuit to produce a repetitive sawtooth waveform. The time constant is set by R1 and C1, and the voltage at which the SCR triggers on is determined by the variable voltage divider from R2 and R3. When the switch is closed, the capacitor begins charging and turns on the SCR. When the SCR turns on, the capacitor quickly discharges through it; the anode current then decreases below the holding value, causing the SCR to turn off. As soon as the SCR is off, the capacitor starts charging and discharging again. By adjusting the potentiometer, the frequency of the sawtooth waveform can be changed.