EE 330 Lecture 26

Thyristors •SCR • TRIAC Review from Last Lecture Area Comparison between BJT and MOSFET

• BJT Area = 3600 l2 • n-channel MOSFET Area = 168 l2 • Area Ratio = 21:1 Review from Last Lecture The

A bipolar device in CMOS Processes

Consider a Bulk-CMOS Process D S G D S G

p n p n

Have formed a lateral pnpn device !

Will spend some time studying pnpn devices Review from Last Lecture The SCR Silicon Controlled

• Widely used to large resistive or inductive loads • Widely used in the power electronics field • Widely used in consumer electronic to interface between logic and power A

p A A A G n Gate p G n G G C C C C Symbols Cathode Usually made by diffusions in silicon

Consider first how this 4-layer 3-junction device operates Review from Last Lecture Variation of Current Gain (β) with Bias for BJT

Note that current gain gets very small at low base current levels Review from Last Lecture Operation of the SCR

Consider a modified application by adding a load (depicted as RL)

IF A IF A IB2 p RL R Q2 L IC1 n IG G IC2 VF p V VF G VG CC Q1 n VG IB1 IG VCC IG C C

All operation is as before, but now, after the triggering occurs, the voltage VF will drop to approximately 0.8 V and the voltage VCC-.8 will appear across RL

If VCC is very large, the SCR has effectively served as a switch putting VCC across the load and after triggering occurs, IG can be removed!

But, how can we turn it off? Will discuss that later Review from Last Lecture IF Operation of the SCR A I G VF G The Ideal SCR IFFG = fVV ,  C VG

IH is very small IG1 is small (but not too small)

called the SCR model

As for MOSFET, , and BJT, several models for SCR can be developed IF

IG=0

IH

VF VBGF0

IF

IG=IG1>0

IH

VF

VBGF1 Operation of the SCR VCC Operation with the Ideal SCR RL

IF VF Load Line: VCC = I F R L +V F Analysis: VG

IFI = f V F, V G 

The solution of these two equations is at the intersection of the load line and the device characteristics Note three intersection points I F Two (upper and lower) are stable equilibrium VCC R L points, one is not Load Line When operating at upper point, VF=0 so VCC

IH appears across RL We say SCR is ON V CC VF When operating at lower point, IF approx 0 so IG=0 no signal across RL We say SCR is OFF when I =0 G When IG=0, will stay in whatever state it was in Operation of the SCR

Operation with the Ideal SCR IF A I G VF G C I = f V, V  FI F G VG

IF

On State

VG1

VF

Off State Operation of the SCR VCC Operation with the Ideal SCR RL

IF Now assume it was initially in the OFF state and then VF a gate current was applied

IF VG VCC

RL Load Line VCCFLF = IR+V IH V CC VF IFIFG = fVV ,  IG=0

I F Now there is a single intersection point so a VCC R L unique solution Load Line The SCR is now ON

IH Removing the gate current will return to the V CC VF previous solution (which has 3 intersection points) but it IG=IG1>0 will remain in the ON state Operation of the SCR VCC Operation with the Ideal SCR RL

IF Turning SCR off when I =0 VF G IF

VCC

RL V Load G Line

IH V CC VF VBGF0 IG=0

Reduce VCC so that VCC/RL goes below IH This will provide a single intersection point

VCC can then be increased again and SCR will stay off

Must not increase VCC much above VBGF0 else will turn on Operation of the SCR VCC Operation with the Ideal SCR RL

IF Turning SCR off when IG=0 VF

IF VG VCC

RL Load Line

IH V CC VF VBGF0 IG=0 Operation of the SCR VCC Operation with the Ideal SCR RL

Often V is an AC signal (often 110V) IF CC VF SCR will turn off whenever AC signal goes negative

VG

IF

VCC

RL Load Line

IH V CC VF VBGF0 IG=0

V  CC RL Operation of the SCR VCC Operation with the Ideal SCR RL

Often V is an AC signal (often 110V) IF CC VF SCR will turn off whenever AC signal goes negative

VG

IF

VCC

RL Load Line

IH V CC VF VBGF0 IG=0

V  CC RL Operation of the SCR VCC Operation with the Ideal SCR RL

IF Turning SCR off when IG>0 VF

IF V CC VG RL Load Line

IH V CC VF IG=IG1>0

V  CC RL

Reduce VCC so that VCC/RL goes below IH This will provide a single intersection point

But when VCC is then increased SCR will again turn on

Not practical to turn it off if IG is very large Operation of the SCR VAC Operation with the Ideal SCR

RL Duty cycle control of RL IF VF VAC

t VG

VLOAD

IGATE Operation of the SCR VAC Operation with the Ideal SCR

RL Duty cycle control of RL IF VF

VLOAD

VG

IGATE

VLOAD

IGATE Operation of the SCR VAC Operation with the Ideal SCR

RL Duty cycle control of RL IF VF VAC

t VG

VLOAD

IGATE Operation of the SCR VAC Operation with the Ideal SCR

RL Duty cycle control of RL IF VF

VLOAD

VG

IGATE

VLOAD

IGATE Operation of the SCR

Operation with the actual SCR

IF I A F I G VF G C

VG ΔVF

IG=0

VBRR IH

VF VBRF0 Operation of the SCR

Operation with the actual SCR IF A I I F G VF G C

VG

IH VBRR VF VBRF0 IG4>IG3>IG2>IG1=0 Operation of the SCR

Operation with the actual SCR

IF VCC VCC

RL ΔVF RL

IG=0 IF VF VBGR IH

VCC VF VG VBGF0

Still two stable equilibrium points and one unstable point Operation of the SCR

Operation with the actual SCR VCC

I F RL VCC IF RL VF

VG

VBRR IH VF VCC

IG4>IG3>IG2>IG1=0

VBGF0

To turn on, must make IG large enough to have single intersection point VCC

SCR Terminology RL IF VF IF

VCC

RL VG

IG=0 IL

VBRR IH VF

VBGF0

IH is the holding current IL is the latching current (current immediately after turn-on) VBGF0 is the forward break-over voltage VBRR is the reverse break-down voltage IGT is the gate trigger current VGT is the gate trigger voltage SCR Terminology VCC IF V R Issues and Observations CC L RL IF VF

IG=0 IL VG VBRR IH VF

VBGF0

• Trigger parameters (VGT and IGT) highly temperature dependent • Want gate “sensitive” but not too sensitive (to avoid undesired triggering) • SCRs can switch very large currents but power dissipation is large • Heat sinks widely used to manage power • Trigger parameters affected by both environment and application • Trigger parameters generally dependent upon VF

• Exceeding VBRR will usually destroy the device • Exceeding VBGF0 will destroy some devices • Lack of electronic turn-off unattractive in some applications • Can be used in alarm circuits to attain forced reset • Maximum 50% duty cycle in AC applications is often not attractive

The good SCRs Triacs

The bad

Parasitic Device that can destroy integrated circuits Limitations of the SCR

IF IF A I G VF G C

IG=0 VG

IH

VF VBGF0

IF 1. Only conducts in one direction 2. Can’t easily turn off (though not major problem in AC switching)

IG=IG1>0

IH

VF

VBGF1 Operation of the SCR VCC

Performance Limitations with the SCR RL IF V Assume VCC is an AC signal (often 110V) and VG is static F

VAC

t VG IF

VCC

RL Load Line

V CC VF

V  CC RL

SCR is always off Operation of the SCR VCC

Performance Limitations with the SCR RL IF V Assume VCC is an AC signal (often 110V) and VG is static F

VAC

t VG IF

VCC

RL Load Line

V CC VF

V  CC VRL RL

SCR is ON about 50% of the time Operation of the SCR VCC

Performance Limitations with the SCR RL IF V Assume VCC is an AC signal (often 110V) and VG is static F

VAC

IF t VG VCC

RL Load Line

V CC VF VBGF0

VRL

V  CC RL

SCR is ON less than 50% of the time (duty cycle depends upon VG)

Often use electronic circuit to generate VG Alarm Application

Reset Switch (NC)

S1

r e

z R

z

u B

V 6V 1 S2 DUT NC Foil/ Widow Switch V2 Bi-directional switching

MT1

G2

G1

MT2

Use two cross-coupled SCRs

Limitations

Size and cost overhead with this solution

Inconvenient triggering since G1 and G2 WRT different terminals Bi-directional switching with the Triac

MT2 MT2 n p n G p G nn n

MT1 MT1

• Has two cross-coupled SCRs ! • Manufactured by diffusions • Single Gate Control MT2 Q4 Q2 The Triac MT2 n p G n p G MT1 nn n Q3 Q1 MT1 • Can define two cross-coupled pairs in each side VMT2 IT As for SCR, both circuits have regenerative MT 2 feedback Can turn ON in either direction with either I F2 positive or negative current

I I B4 B2 Defines 4 quadrants (in VMT21-VG-MT1 plane) for operation Q4 Q2 I IC3 C1 VMT2 >V MT1 V G-MT1 >0 Quadrant 1 IC4 IC2 VMT2 >V MT1 V G-MT1 <0 Quadrant 2 Q3 Q1 I B3 IG3 IG1 IB1 VMT2 0 Quadrant 4 G Usually use only one VG:VMT for control MT1 VMT1 Different voltage, duration strategies exist for Model for Quadrants 1 and 4 triggering (n-diffusion for gate not shown) Can’t have single VG:VMT control with two SCRs The ideal Triac The Triac MT2 IT

IT IG VTR

-V IG=0 G BGF MT I 1 H VGT1 VTR VBGF Consider the basic Triac circuit

VAC

IT RL

IT IG=IG1<0 VTR or IG=IG1>0 -VBGF

IH VGT1 VTR VBGF VBGF1 VAC Assume ideal Triac The Basic Triac Circuit RL IT Load Line: V = I R +V VAC CC T L TR IT VTR RL Analysis: VAC = I T R L +V TR -VBGF IG=0 -V VGT1 AC IH V IFI = f V TR, V GT1 AC VTR VBGF

V The solution of these two equations is at the intersection of  AC R L the load line and the device characteristics

IT VAC R L Two stable operating points for both positive and negative VAC

IG=0 -VBGF -V AC IH V AC VTR VBGF

V  AC RL Assume ideal Triac The Basic Triac Circuit VAC

IT V Load Line: AC VCC = I T R L +V TR RL RL

IT IG=IG1<0 Analysis: VTR or VAC = I T R L +V TR -VBGF IG=IG1>0 -V AC IH IFI = f V TR, V GT2  V V AC VTR GT1 VBGF VBGF1

V  AC RL Single solution for both positive and negative VAC

IT V AC Thus this state turns on the Triac for any input RL

IG=IG1<0 or -VBGF IG=IG1>0 -V AC IH V AC VTR VBGF VBGF1

V  AC RL Assume ideal Triac The Basic Triac Circuit VAC

RL IT IT VAC VTR

RL

VGT1

-VAC

VAC VTR VBGF1

V  AC RL The Actual Triac MT2

IT G

MT1

VTR

IG4>IG3>IG2>IG1=0 The Actual Triac in Basic Circuit

VAC IT

VAC RL

RL ΔV IT F VTR

IG=0 V BGR VGT1 I VTR - VAC HF V IHR AC VBGF0

V  AC R L Two stable operating points

IG=0 State The Actual Triac in Basic Circuit

VAC

RL

IT VTR

VGT1 IF IF

VAC VAC

RL RL

- V - VAC AC VF VF V VAC AC I >I >I >I =0 IG4>IG3>IG2>IG1=0 G4 G3 G2 G1

V  AC VAC  RL RL

Can turn on for either positive or negative VAC with single gate signal Phase controlled bidirectional switching with Triacs

VAC

t

VLOAD

IGATE

VLOAD

IGATE

VLOAD

IGATE Quadrants of Operation Defined in VM21-VGT1 plane

(not in the IT-VM21 plane)

MT2 IT V I M21 T IG VM21 G MT1 VGT1 Quadrant 2 Quadrant 1

VGT1 VM21

IG4>IG3>IG2>IG1=0 Quadrant 3 Quadrant 4

But for any specific circuit, can map quadrants from the VM21-VGT1 plane to IT-VM21 plane Identification of Quadrants of Operation in IT -VM21 plane VM21

MT2 IT

IG VM21 Quadrant 2 Quadrant 1 G MT V 1 GT1 VGT1

Quadrant 3 Quadrant 4 Identification of Quadrants of Operation in IT-VM21 plane

VM21

MT2 IT

Quadrant 2 Quadrant 1 IG VM21 G MT1 VGT1 VGT1

Quadrant 3 Quadrant 4

Curves may not be symmetric between Q1 and Q3 in the IT-VM21 plane

Turn on current may be large and variable in Q4 (of the VM21-VGT1 )

Generally avoid operation in Q4 (of the VM21-VGT1 plane)

Most common to operate in Q2-Q3 quadrants or Q1-Q3 quadrants (of the VM21-VGT1 plane) Quadrants of Operation Defined in VM21-VGT1 plane

(not in the IT-VM21 plane)

MT2 IT V I M21 T IG VM21 G MT1 VGT1 Quadrant 2 Quadrant 1

VGT1 VM21

IG4>IG3>IG2>IG1=0 Quadrant 3 Quadrant 4

But for any specific circuit, can map quadrants from the VM21-VGT1 plane to IT-VM21 plane Identification of Quadrants of Operation in IT -VM21 plane VM21

MT2 IT

IG VM21 Quadrant 2 Quadrant 1 G MT V 1 GT1 VGT1

Quadrant 3 Quadrant 4 Identification of Quadrants of Operation in IT-VM21 plane

VM21

MT2 IT

Quadrant 2 Quadrant 1 IG VM21 G MT1 VGT1 VGT1

Quadrant 3 Quadrant 4

Curves may not be symmetric between Q1 and Q3 in the IT-VM21 plane

Turn on current may be large and variable in Q4 (of the VM21-VGT1 )

Generally avoid operation in Q4 (of the VM21-VGT1 plane)

Most common to operate in Q2-Q3 quadrants or Q1-Q3 quadrants (of the VM21-VGT1 plane) VM21

Some Basic Triac Application Circuits Quadrant 2 Quadrant 1

VGT1

Quadrant 3 Quadrant 4

VAC VAC

RL RL

IT IT VTR VTR

MT MT1 1

VGG VGG

(V often from logic/control circuit) GG (VGG often from logic/control circuit)

Quad 1 : Quad 4 Quad 2 : Quad 3

(not attractive because of Quad 4) VM21

Some Basic Triac Application Circuits Quadrant 2 Quadrant 1

VGT1 VAC

Quadrant 3 Quadrant 4

RL

IT VTR Quad 2 : Quad 3 MT1

VGG

Limitations ?

If VAC is the standard 120VAC line voltage, where do we get the dc power supply?

10K VOUT

120VAC CFILTER 1K

Direct digital control of trigger voltage/current with dedicated IC VM21

Some Basic Triac Application Circuits Quadrant 2 Quadrant 1 VGT1

Quadrant 3 Quadrant 4 VAC

VAC VAC RL

RL RL

IT IT VTR VTR

IT

MT1 MT1 VTR

MT1

Quad 1 : Quad 3 Quad 1 : Quad 3 Quad 1 : Quad 3 Some Basic Triac Application Circuits VM21

Quadrant 2 Quadrant 1

VGT1

VAC Quadrant 3 Quadrant 4

IT

VTR

MT1

RL

Quad 1/ Quad 2 : Quad 3/Quad 4

Not real popular End of Lecture 26