Industrial Electronics Assignment #2 Silicon Controlled Switch (SCS)

Daguplo, Jasper H April 14, 2020
Industrial Electronics
Assignment #2
I. Silicon controlled switch (SCS)
like the SCR, is a unilateral, four-layer three junction P-N-P-N silicon device with
four electrodes namely cathode, cathode gate, anode gate and the anode. is a power
semiconductor device similar to an SCR, but it is designed to turn off when a positive
voltage/input current pulse is applied to an additional “Anode gate” terminal.
Operational:
In a two-transistor equivalent circuit, it is seen that a negative pulse at the anode
gate G2 causes transistor Q1 to switch on. Transistor Q1 supplies base current to transistor
Q2, and both transistors switch-on. Similarly, a positive pulse at the cathode gate G1 can
switch the device on. Since only small currents are involved, the SCS may be switched
off by an appropriate polarity pulse at one of the gates. At the cathode gate a negative
pulse is required for switching-off while at the anode gate a positive pulse is needed.
Application:
Silicon Controlled Switch (SCS) is used in pulse generators, voltage sensors,
counters, timing, logic and triggering circuits. The device is used in lamp drivers, power-
switching circuits, and logic circuits as well as in essentially any circuit that requires a
switch that can be turned ON and OFF by two separate control pulses.
II. Diac
It is a bi-directional semiconductor switch that can be turned on in both forward
and reverse polarities above a certain voltage: it is often used to provide defined
switching for a triac. It comes from the words DIode AC switch. The DIAC is an
electronics component that is widely used to assist even triggering of a TRIAC when
used in AC switches and as a result they are often found in light dimmers such as those
used in domestic lighting. These electronic components are also widely used in starter
circuits for fluorescent lamps.
Operational:
When the terminal Anode 2 is positive, the current flow path is P1-N2-P2-N3
while for positive polarity of terminal Anode 1 the current flow path is P2-N2-P1-N1.
The operation of the diac can be explained by imagining it as two diodes connected in
series. When applied voltage in either polarity is small (less than breakover voltage) a
very small amount of current, called the leakage current, flows through the device.
Leakage current caused due to the drift of electrons and holes in the depletion region, is
not sufficient to cause conduction in the device. The device remains in non-conducting
mode. However, when the magnitude of the applied voltage exceeds the avalanche
breakdown voltage, breakdown takes place and the diac current rises sharply
Application:
These are a widely used electronic component. The chief application of DIACs is
for use in conjunction with TRIACs to equalize their switching characteristics. By
equalizing the switching characteristics of these TRIACs, the level of harmonics
generated when switching AC signals can be reduced. Despite this, for large applications,
two thyristors are generally used. Nevertheless, the DIAC / TRIAC combination is very
useful for lower power applications including light dimmers, etc.
Physical Diagram Schematic

Diagram Equivalent Diagram
III. Triac
These are electronic components that are widely used in AC power control
applications. They are able to switch high voltages and high levels of current, and over
both parts of an AC waveform. This makes triac circuits ideal for use in a variety of
applications where power switching is needed. While the thyristor can only control
current over one half of the cycle, the triac controls it over two halves of an AC
waveform. As such the triac can be considered as a pair of parallel but opposite thyristors
with the two gates connected together and the anode of one device connected to the
cathode of the other, etc..
Operational:
It is possible to connect various combinations of negative and positive voltages to
the triac terminals because it is a bidirectional device. The four possible electrode
potential combinations which make the triac to operate four different operating quadrants
or modes are given as.
1. MT2 is positive with respect to MT1 with a gate polarity positive with respect to
MT1.
2. MT2 is positive with respect to MT1 with a gate polarity negative with respect to
MT1.
3. MT2 is negative with respect to MT1 with a gate polarity negative with respect to
MT1.
4. MT2 is negative with respect to MT1 with a gate polarity positive with respect to
MT1.
In general, latching current is higher in second quadrant or mode whilst gate

trigger current is higher in the fourth mode compared with other modes for any triac.
Most of the applications, negative triggering current circuit is used that means 2
and 3 quadrants are used for a reliable triggering in bidirectional control and also when
the gate sensitivity is critical. The gate sensitivity is highest with modes 1 and 4 are
generally employed.
Application:
It is most commonly used semiconductor device for switching and power control
of AC systems as the triac can be switched “ON” by either a positive or negative Gate
pulse, regardless of the polarity of the AC supply at that time. This makes the triac ideal
to control a lamp or AC motor load with a very basic triac switching circuit given below.
It is also used in many applications. These electronic components are often used
in low to medium power AC switching requirements. Where large levels of power need
to be switched, two thyristors / SCRs tend to be used as they can be controlled more
easily.
Nevertheless, triacs are widely used in many applications:
 Lighting control - especially domestic dimmers.

 Control of fans and small motors.
 Electronic switches for general AC switching and control
There are naturally many other triac applications, but these are some of the most
common.
Physical Diagram Equivalent Diagram Schematic Diagram
IV. Unijunction Transistor (UJT)

A transistor that is formed because of the P-type and the N-type material so that a
single junction is formed because of them this type of transistor is defined as uni junction
transistor. These transistors are similar to that of JFET’s but their operations completely
differ. Hence this transistor doesn’t suit for amplification techniques. This can be utilized
during the switching of the devices to ON/OFF.
Operational:
The basic functionality of the UJT depends on the value of the voltage applied. If
the voltage applied in between the terminals of the emitter and the base1 are supposed to
be zero this UJT doesn’t conduct. Hence the N-Type material tends to acts as a resistor.
As the applied voltage tends to increase at the terminal of emitter the value of resistance
tends to increase and the device begin to conduct. In the whole process the conduction is
completely dependent on the majority of the charge carriers. This is the basic principle
involved in UJT.
The characteristics of the UJT are as follows
1. It requires very low amounts of the voltage to get triggered.

2. It is capable of controlling the current pulse.
3. It consists of the negative value of the resistance.
4. The cost of this transistor is very low.
Application:
The Unijunction Transistor can be employed in variety of applications such as:
 Switching Device
 Triggering Device for Triac and SCR
 Timing Circuits
 For phase control
 In sawtooth generators
 In simple relaxation oscillators
V. Programmable Unijunction Transistor (PUT)

Programmable unijunction transistors (PUT) are three-terminal thyristors that are
triggered into conduction when the voltage at the anode exceeds the voltage at the gate.
The PUT is similar to the unijunction transistor (UJT), but its intrinsic standoff ratio can
be set by two external resistors. Hence, the name "programmable" is used. A PUT is a
more advanced version of a UJT. In a PUT, operating characteristics such as base-to-base
resistance, intrinsic standoff voltage, valley current, and peak current can be programmed
by setting the values of two external resistors.
Operational:
When we bias the PUT Properly, The Current cannot be flow because the gate
terminal positive w.r.t cathode, when the anode voltage is increase form the cut off, the
PN junction is forward bias, the PUT turns ON. The PUT remains in ON state until the
anode voltage decreases below the cut off level and at that time the PUT is turn off.
Characteristics Curve
Application:
Applications for PUTs include:
 Thyristor triggers
 Oscillators
 Pulse
 Timing circuits with frequencies up to 10 kHz
An integrated circuit can include not only an integrated circuit chip, but also a
circuit transistor such as a PUT.
Physical Diagram Schematic Diagram Equivalent Diagram

Industrial Electronics Assignment #2 Silicon Controlled Switch (SCS)

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Daguplo, Jasper H April 14, 2020

Physical Diagram Schematic

In general, latching current is higher in second quadrant or mode whilst gate

Nevertheless, triacs are widely used in many applications:

 Lighting control - especially domestic dimmers.

Physical Diagram Equivalent Diagram Schematic Diagram

IV. Unijunction Transistor (UJT)

The characteristics of the UJT are as follows

1. It requires very low amounts of the voltage to get triggered.

The Unijunction Transistor can be employed in variety of applications such as:

V. Programmable Unijunction Transistor (PUT)

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