5.

0 : INTRODUCTION TO OTHER
SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS
LEARNING OUTCOME :
5.1 Remember construction of other semiconductor components.
5.1.1 Desribe physical structure, schematic symbols of the following
components:-
a. Silicon Controlled Rectifier(SCR).
b. TRIAC
c. DIAC
d. Uni-Junction Transistor (UJT)
5.2 Understand characteristics of the semiconductor components
in section 5.1.1(a) ~(d)
5.2.1 Explain characteristics of the semiconductor components in
section 5.1.1(a) ~(d)
5.2.2 Outline application of the circuits for the components in section
5.1.1.
 a) Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR)

Structure of SCR Equivalent circuit Schematic symbol

-SCR is a 4 layer component that has three terminals which
are anode, cathode, and gate.
a) Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR)

I-V characteristic curve for SCR

- If current flow through the device, it must be properly biased.
- Anode MUST be more +ve than the cathode. If SCR is reverse biased, current will not
flow even
when the gate is triggered.
- When forward voltage, VF is increased, the SCR conducts only a small amount of leakage
current
initially. As VF continue to increase, eventually the breakover voltage is reached, and the
device
latches into a conducting state.
- The fwd breakover voltage represents the point where the SCR switches from a non-
conducting
state to a conducting state with no triggering gate signal.
- The SCR is almost always triggered at a value below the breakover voltage.
- The reverse breakdown voltage is equivalent to the zener. This voltage is usually not
exceeded.
 -if the device is operated in the zener region for prolonged periods, the
SCR may be damaged permanently.

SCR Operation
Conditions for SCR operation: -
i. The anode must be given the bias voltage. (Like ordinary diodes) and
ii. Gate are given a pulse or positive voltage that moment with
sufficient magnitude
- At this time, the current will flowing from the anode to the cathode.

** benefits: When SCR operation, the SCR continues to conduct

high current endlessly despite positive pulse had stopped.

The SCR operation can only be stopped with several ways:-

 -By open circuit the path current of SCR, e.g. put circuit breaker at
any current path.
-Short the anode and cathode.
-Shut down the positive voltage supply at anode.
-By changing the poles of voltage to anode to become negative.

Applications:-
- SCR mostly used as switch, motor controller, phase controller, relay
controller and anti-theft bell, regulated power supply and battery chargers…
b) TRIAC
-TRIAC is a device that has 5 layer which current can flow in two directions.
TRIAC also can be connected to GATE with positive or negative.
 -TRIAC also has 3 terminals.
- The differences is, SCR flows current only one direction but TRIAC flows
current in two direction
 -TRIAC also can be known as 2 SCR which is connected in parallel and
opposite direction because anode SCR 1 is connected with cathode SCR 2,
therefore the terminal of TRIAC is labeled as MT1 (main terminal 1) and MT2
(main terminal 2). GET terminal still can be used on TRIAC because terminal
GET SCR 1 and SCR 2 is connected

Structure Schematic symbol Equivalent circuit

TRIAC by using SCR
I-V characteristic curve for TRIAC

TRIAC curve-type is almost the same with SCR curve – type except
when reverse biased
When reverse biased, a curve is same with a curve at front biased
but in opposite direction. The other characteristic are the same with
the types of SCR curve.

Applications:-
- Same as SCR, TRIAC mostly used as phase controller (due to
Triac is used for operation at frequency around 50~60Hz)…
c) DIAC
the structure of a DIAC is similar to the TRIAC but a
DIAC does not have a GATE. That’s why DIAC is a
terminal component that labeled MT1 and MT2

Structure Schematic symbol

Equivalent circuit…
DIAC also can be classified such as a diode which has 4 layers.
The difference is a diode can flow the current only ONE direction
but a DIAC flow the current in TWO directions. When MT1 is
positive, the way of the current flow through P2-N2-P1-N1. Besides
that, when the MT2 is positive the current flow is pass through P1-
 I-V characteristic curve for DIAC

I-V characteristic curve for DIAC is almost same with TRIAC except the
characteristic gate is not available
 The different with SCR and TRIAC, DIAC only will operate when the
voltage cross through DIAC is more than breakdown voltage. DIAC don’t
have Gate which can decrease the breakdown voltage.
 DIAC can flow the current in two direction. Therefore, characteristic curve
of DIAC during reverse biased is same as fwd
Application:-
DIAC usually used as light dimmer circuit, sensor e.g. touch switch and
etc.
Application of DIAC
The main application of a DIAC is its use in a TRIAC triggering
circuit. The DIAC is connected to the gate terminal of the TRIAC.
When the voltage across the gate decreases below a predetermined
value, the gate voltage will be zero and hence the TRIAC will be
turned off.

Some other applications of a DIAC include:

1. It can be used in the lamp dimmer circuit
2. It is used in a heat control circuit
3. It is used in the speed control of a universal motor

A DIAC can be used with a TRIAC in a series combination for

triggering. The gate of TRIAC is connected with a terminal of the
DIAC. When the applied voltage across the DIAC increases above the
avalanche breakdown voltage, only then it can conduct.
 1. TRIAC LAMP DIMMER CIRCUIT.

- The circuit for a triac controlled by an R-C phase-shift network

and a diac is given in figure. This circuit is an example of a
simple lamp dimmer.
- The triac conduction angle is adjusted by adjusting the
potentiometer R.
- The longer the triac conducts, the brighter the lamp will be.
- The diac acts like an open-circuit until the voltage across the
capacitor exceeds its breakover or switching voltage (and the
triac’s required gate trigger voltage).
 2. HEAT CONTROL CIRCUIT.

- A typical diac-triac circuit used for smooth control of ac power to

a heater is shown in figure below.
- The capacitor C1 in series with choke L across the triac slows-
up the voltage rise across the device during off-state.
- The resistor R4 across the diac ensures smooth control at all
positions of potentiometer R2.
- The triac conduction angle is adjusted by adjusting the
potentiometer R2.
- The longer the triac conducts, the larger the output will be from
the heater. Thus a smooth control of the heat output from the
heater is obtained.
 2. HEAT CONTROL CIRCUIT.

The circuit shown in FIG. 3 features a wide speed-control range,

together with smooth motor performance. These desirable
characteristics stem from the use of full-wave triac control and a
double phase-shift network. The full-wave control
enables application of nearly full power to the motor at the high end of
the control range. As previously pointed out, half-wave control is a
rectification process; a half- wave rectifier working over the full 180-
degree of the AC half cycle can deliver only 45 percent of the average
load current that would be available directly from the ac line.
Another disadvantage of half-wave control arises when it’s desired to
use an isolation transformer in the incoming line—the
dc component that accompanies half- wave rectification tends to
saturate the transformer, thereby increasing its losses and distorting
the voltage waveshape in the secondary winding.
The triac does not provide full-wave rectification; its control mechanism
is even better for the purpose at hand. The triac functions as would two
SCRs connected back to back, but without the
gating complications attending the use of dual SCRs. The voltage
delivered to the load is always an ac sine wave. Variable fractions of a
true sine wave are produced by varying the timing of the gate trigger
signal. Because of the aforementioned wave symmetry, there is no
dc component. Because rectification is not involved, a universal motor
would be expected to perform much better than a dc series motor. Also,
this circuit could be used to provide limited speed control to certain
types of induction motors, such as the permanent-capacitor and
shaded-pole types.
The double phase-shift network comprises R1, C1, R2, and C2. This
network practically eliminates a disturbing hysteresis effect which
characterizes single phase shift networks when a thyristor is operated
at low conduction angles—this corresponds to low motor speeds. For
lamp loads, the hysteresis effect is merely a nuisance; you learn to
exercise patience when adjusting for dim illumination. How ever , for
motor control, the effect is more serious because erratic operation will
occur at low speeds. Hysteresis is due to the abrupt reduction of
voltage across timing capacitor C1 when triggering occurs. Techniques
for overcoming this effect involve imposing less loading on
this capacitor.
d. UNI-JUNCTION TRANSISTOR (UJT)
UJT is different with diode because UJT have 3 terminals.
(emitter, base 1 and base 2)
UJT is different with FET because UJT cannot increase the signal.
UJT can control bigger A.C power with smaller signal.

Structure Schematic symbol Equivalent circuit…

Application Of UJT ::-
- Phase controller
- Pensuisan
- Switching
- Timer
- Signal Generator
d. UNI-JUNCTION TRANSISTOR (UJT)

Application:-
UJT usually used as phase controller, switching, Timer and Signal
generator
 SCR TRIAC DIAC UJT

1. Physical
Structure
2. Schematic
Symbol
3. Equivalent
Circuit
4. I-V
Characteristic
Curve
5. Operation

6. Application
Self test
1. Draw the physical structure, schematic symbols of
components:-
a. Silicon Controlled Rectifier(SCR).
b. TRIAC
c. DIAC
d. Uni-Junction Transistor (UJT)

2. Draw equivalent circuit of :-

a. Silicon Controlled Rectifier(SCR).
b. TRIAC
c. DIAC
d. Uni-Junction Transistor (UJT)

3. Explain the application of :-

a. Silicon Controlled Rectifier(SCR).
b. TRIAC
c. DIAC
d. Uni-Junction Transistor (UJT)