The two transistor model of SCR (Two transistor analogy)

The principle of thyristor operation can be explained with the use of its two-transistor model (or two-transistor analogy). Fig. 4.15 (a) shows schematic diagram of a thyristor. From this figure twotransistor model is obtained by bisecting the two middle layers along the dotted line in two separate hal!es as shown in Fig. 4.15 (b). "n this figure #unctions J1 J2 and J2 -J3 can be considered to constitute pnp and npn transistors separately. The circuit representation of the two-transistor model of a thyristor is shown in Fig. 5 (c).

Different packages

Testing of scr through multimeter

The anode which is connected to the positi!e lead of the ohmmeter

must now be shorted to the gate. This will cause the $%& to conduct' as a result a low-resistance reading will be indicated on the ohmmeter. &emo!ing the anode- to-gate short will not stop the $%& from conducting' but remo!ing either of the ohmmeter leads will cause the $%& to stop conducting ( the resistance reading will then return to its pre!ious high !alue. $ome $%&s will not operate when you connect an ohmmeter.

Principle of operation, construction details)

*hen a pn #uncation is added to a #uncation transistor the resulting three pn #unction de!ice is called a silicon controlled rectifier. "t is clear that it is essentially an ordinary rectifier (pn) + a #uncation transistor ( npn) combined in a one unit to form pnpn de!ice. *hen the end p layer is made positi!e wiyh respect to the end , layer the two outer #uncation #1 #- are forward biased but the middle #uncation #. becomes re!erse biased. Thus the #uncation #. because of presence of depletion layer does not allow any current to flow through the de!ice . only lea/age current negligibly small in

magnitude flows through the de!ice due to the drift of mobile charges. This current is insufficient to ma/e the de!ice conduct. "n other words scr under forward biased condition does not conduct. This is called as forward blocking state or off state of de ice *hen the end n layer is made positi!e with resoect to end p layer the middle #uncation #. becomes forward biased whereas the two outer #uncation #1+ #- becomes becomes re!erse biased. The #uncation #1 + #- do not allow any current to flow through the de!ice. 0nly a !ery small amout of lea/age current may flow because of drift of charges. The lea/age current is again insufficient to ma/e the de!ice conduct. This is known as re erse blocking state or off state of de ice The width of the depletion layer at #uncation #. decreases with the increase in the anode to cathode !oltage ( width is in!ersely proportional to !oltage) if the !oltage between the anode + cathode is /ept on increasing a stage comes when the depletion layer at #. !anishes. The re!erse biased #uncation #. will brea/down due to the large !oltage across it1s depletion layer. This phenomem is called a!alanche brea/down.

scr details

 2n scr has two states i.e either it conducts hea!ily ( turn on) or it

does not conduct ( turn off) there is no state in between. Therefore scr beha!es li/e a switch. Turn on condition There are two ways to turn on the scr! The first is to /eep the gate open + increase the supply !oltage e3ual to the brea/ o!er !oltage .The second which is more common is to turn it on by means of a small current through the gate terminal.
Turn off condition

To turn off the scr ( i.e to ma/e it non-conducting ) again there are . ways. 0ne is to reduce the supply !oltage so that current is below a limiting !alue called "olding current The other way is to increase the resistance in the circuit to such a !alue that the circuit current reduces below "h. The idea is that the current in the anode circuit should become less than "h to turn the scr off. The gate current is therefore can only switch on the scr but cannot switch it off. To switch the scr off we ha!e to reduce the anode current below the holding current

#mportant terms$ %reako er oltage)

"t is the minimum forward !oltage gate being open at which scr starts conducting hea!ily i.e turned on Peak re erse oltage$ "t is the maximum re!erse !oltage( cathode positi!e w.r.t anode) that can be applied to an scr with out conducting in the re!erse direction. "olding current$ "t is the maximum anode current gate is open at which scr is turned off from 0, condition. &orward current rating$ "t is the maximum anode current that an scr is capable of passing without destruction.