1

Objectives
After the completion of this section, you should
be able to:
• Describe the basic structure of different
thyristors and other industrial electronic
devices in terms of:
– Schematic symbols
– Terminals

2
• The two layer semiconductor
diode has led to three, four,
and even five layer devices.
• Thyristors refer to a class
of solid-state silicon
switching devices that are
constructed of four
semiconductor layers
(PNPN).
Electronic Devices by T. Floyd

3
• These devices do not require any control
current once they are turned on when triggered
or a quick pulse of control current is applied,
they turn on and become low-resistance
current paths and remain so.
• When the trigger is removed, thyristors keep
going as though nothing happened until the
current is reduced to a certain level or
triggered off depending on the type of device.

4
• It is constructed of four semiconductor layers
that form a pnpn structure. The device acts as
a switch and remains off until the forward
voltage reaches a certain value; then it turns
on and conducts.
• Conduction continues until the current is
reduced below a specified value (Holding
Current)

5
Electronic Devices by T. Floyd

6
• Thyristors are mostly used to control the
amount of power going to a working device.
They are used in lamp dimmers, motor speed
control, ignition systems and charging circuits.
• UJTs and PUTs can be used as triggering
devices for thyristors, oscillators and timing
circuits. They are generally high-power
devices that can handle great deal of power
without reaching harmful temperatures.

7
• The most important thyristors are SCR and
the triac.
• Like power FETs, the SCR and the triac can
switch large currents on and off.
• Because of this, they can be used for
overloading protection, motor controls,
heaters, lighting systems, and other heavy
current loads.

8
• A family of four-layer and other important
devices that will be discussed in this module
are:
• Shockley diode (Four-Layer Diode)
• Silicon-Controlled Rectifier (SCR)
• Gate Turn-Off SCR (GTO)
• Silicon Unilateral Switch (SUS)
• Silicon Bilateral Switch (SBS)
• Silicon-Controlled Switch (SCS)

9
• A family of four-layer and other important
devices that will be discussed in this module
are:
• Diac and Triac
• Unijunction Transistor (UJT)
• Programmable UJT (PUT)
• Phototransistor
• Light-Activated SCR (LASCR)

10
 Shockley Diode

Also called four-layer diode

11
Electronic Devices by T. Floyd

SCR

12
SUS SBS

13
Electronic Devices by T. Floyd
SCS GTO
Anode

Gate

Cathode

14
Electronic Devices by T. Floyd
TRIAC DIAC

15
Electronic Devices by T. Floyd
UJT PUT

16
Electronic Devices by T. Floyd
LASCR Phototransistor

17
Electronic Devices by T. Floyd
 Electronic Devices by T. Floyd

OPTOCOUPLERS

18
END