MODULE 01

SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
 SCR (Silicon Controlled Rectifier)
- SCR is a 4 layer device with three terminals anode,
cathode and GATE as shown in the adjacent figure.

- The difference between SCR and normal diode is that

in diode it starts conducting when the forward voltage
is exceeds the cut in (threshold voltage) where an SCR
will conduct in the forward direction only when
forward voltage exceeds a minimum voltage and a
GATE signal is given.
V-I characteristics of SCR
- Forward Blocking Region(OA)
- As layer P1 is connected to positive supply the Junction J1 is
forward biased.
- Similarly N2 is connected to negative terminal of supply the
junction J3 is also forward biased.
- Junction J2 is only reverse biased (blocking junction) and
SCR does not carry any significant current.
- This is the forward blocking region OA of the SCR V-I
characteristics.
- Till the supply voltage does not increase beyond VBO
(forward breakover voltage), no significant current flows only
leakage current of the order of few micro amperes flows.

Forward Conduction (BC)

- If the V>VBO the junction J2 breaks down. Minority carrier concentration across
junction J1 becomes so high that SCR offers a very low resistance and current
rises through the SCR. This region is called the forward conduction region.
- As the resistance offered by the SCR is very low, the SCR gets ON and the
voltage across the SCR becomes approx. 1.1V.
Reverse Blocking region of SCR
- When the voltage across the anode cathode terminals of the SCR is reversed, the SCR is said to be
reverse biased.
- The junction J1 and J3 becomes reverse biased and J2 forward biased.
- SCR remains in the OFF state as the blocking junction J1 does not allow any significant current to flow
through the SCR.

Reverse Breakdown region (DE)

- If the reverse voltage across the SCR is increased beyond VRBD the junction J1 also breaks down resulting in
the large current flow through SCR.
- There will be permanent damage to SCR as the current as well as the voltage is very high in this region.
- Hence this region of operation should be avoided.
 Latching Current and Holding Current
Latching current is the minimum anode current that must supply
through SCR to launch it into the ON state even after the GATE is
removed.
The latching current is important when the SCR is being turned ON.

Holding current is the minimum anode current that can flow through
SCR and still hold it in the ON state.

If the forward anode current is reduced below the holding current, SCR
will be turned OFF.

The holding current is defined for zero GATE current.

UJT Trigger Circuit for SCR