DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL

EDUCATION,A.P.
Name : B.RAJARAO
Designation : Lecturer
Branch : Electronics & communication Engg
Institute : Govt. Polytechnic, Visakhapatnam
Year/Semester : III Semester
Subject : Electronics -I
Subject Code : EE-305
Topic : Special devices(4/6)
Duration : 1H 50Mts.
Sub Topic : Two transistor analogy of SCR
Teaching Aids : Diagrams

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 Recap

• Already we discussed about the construction of SCR.

• Working principle of SCR.

• Characteristics of SCR.

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 objectives

• Upon completion of this period the student will

be able to know

• understand Regenerative action of SCR

• Applications of SCR

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 SCR

DEVICE

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 SCR

• .

CIRCUIT SYMBOL

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 SCR

TERMINAL
IDENTIFICATION

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TWO TRANSISTOR ANALOGY OF SCR

ANODE(A)

A
p P
A

N N N

P
P P G
GATE(G) G
K
N N K

CATHODE (K)
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 Two transistor analogy of SCR
A

IA

Ib1=Ic2

Ic2

IG
T1
IC1

G
Ib2
T2
IK

8
G
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 Two transistor analogy of SCR

• A anode
• K cathode
• G gate
• T1 first transistor (P-N-P type)
• T2 second transistor (N-P-N type)
• J1, J2, J3 the three junctions
• (α1) current gain of first transistor T1
• (α2) current gain of second transistor T2

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 Two transistor analogy of SCR

• IA anode current of the device

• IK cathode current of the device

• IE1 emitter current of T1 (P-N-P)

• IE2 emitter current of T2 (N-P-N)

• IB1 base current of T1 (P-N-P)

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 Two transistor analogy of SCR

• IB2 base current of T2

(N-P-N).

• IC1 collector current of

T1 (P-N-P).
T1
• IC2 collector current of
T2 (N-P-N). T2

• IG gate current of the

device.
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 Two transistor analogy of SCR

Assuming the leakage current of T1 and T2 to be

negligibly small, we get,
IB1 = IA – IC1 = (IA – α1.IA)

or

IB1 = (1 - α1) IA
From fig. it is clear that, IB1 = IC2

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 Two transistor analogy of SCR

• We known that,
IC2 = α2.IK

• Comparing above equations

• (1 - α1) IA = α2.IK

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 Two transistor analogy of SCR

• we know that IK = IA + IG

• substituting the value of IK from above Eq. we get

• (1 - α1) IA = α2 (IA + IG)

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 Two transistor analogy of SCR

• or IA – α1.IA - α2.IA = α2.IG

• or IA (1 – α1 - α2) = α2 IG

• or IA = [(α2 * IG) / (1 – α1 - α2)]

• or IA = [(α2.IG) / 1 – (α1 + α2)]

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 Two transistor analogy of SCR

• From equation it is seen that if α1 + α2 = 1, then IA =

α, i.e., the anode current suddenly attains a very high

value approaching infinity.

• In other words, we may say that the device suddenly

latches into conduction (ON) state from the original

non-conduction (OFF) state.

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 Two transistor analogy of SCR

• This characteristic of the device is known as its

regenerative action. It may also be said that if the gate
current IG is of such a value that α1 + α2 approaches unity,
the device will trigger.

• The value of (α1 + α2) can be made almost equal to unity

by giving a positive current IG of proper value and for short
duration at the gate. Signal IG when applied at the gate
(which is the base of T2) will cause a flow of current in T2.

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 Two transistor analogy of SCR

• This will give rise to the flow of collector current IC2 in T2.
Since IC2 is same as the base current of T1 (IC2 = IB1),
the first transistor T1 will be switched ON. Now, each of
the transistors would supply base current to the other,
thus the action is regenerative.

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 Two transistor analogy of SCR

• At this point even if the gate signal is removed the device

does not turn OFF as long as the current flow is not less
than the holding current.

• From the above discussions when the device is forward

biased it can be triggered by applying a small duration
positive pulse at the gate.

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 Two transistor analogy of SCR

• Once the device latches into its conducting state, the

gate loses its control and the device keeps on
conducting even if the gate is opened, till the current
level is maintained to minimum that of the holding
current.

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 Applications of SCR

• SCR can be used as a rectifier in high power

applications.

• SCR can be used to control the amount of power

delivered to a load.

• Static Switches.

• Inverters.

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 Applications of SCR

• Heater Controls.

• Pulse circuits.

• Motor controls.

• Battery chargers.

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 QUIZ
• 1) A SCR starts conducting only when it reached the

(a) Break over voltage

(b) Peak voltage

(c) Break down voltage

(d) Peak inverse voltage

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 Frequently asked questions

3. Explain why SCR is called regenerative device?

2. Obtain the anode current expression of SCR?

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