
AN1008
Application Notes
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AN1008 - 4
2002 Teccor Electronics
Thyristor Product Catalog
I
GT
:
DC Gate Trigger Current
SCR
I
GT
 is the minimum DC gate current required to cause the thyris-
tor to switch from the non-conducting to the conducting state for 
a specified load voltage and current as well as case temperature. 
The characteristic curve illustrated in Figure AN1008.6 shows 
that trigger current is temperature dependent. The thyristor 
becomes less sensitive (requires more gate current) with 
decreasing junction temperatures. The gate current should be 
increased by a factor of two to five times the minimum threshold 
DC trigger current for best operation. Where fast turn-on is 
demanded and high di/dt is present or low temperatures are 
expected, the gate pulse may be 10 times the minimum I
GT
, plus 
it must be fast-rising and of sufficient duration in order to properly 
turn on the thyristor.
Figure AN1008.6
Normalized DC Gate Trigger Current for All 
Quadrants versus Case Temperature
Triac
The description for the SCR applies as well to the triac with the 
addition that the triac can be fired in four possible modes (Figure 
AN1008.7):
Quadrant I (main terminal 2 positive, gate positive)
Quadrant II (main terminal 2 positive, gate negative)
Quadrant III (main terminal 2 negative, gate negative)
Quadrant IV (main terminal 2 negative, gate positive)
Figure AN1008.7
Definition of Operating Quadrants
V
GT
: DC Gate Trigger Voltage
SCR
V
GT
 is the DC gate-cathode voltage that is present just prior to 
triggering when the gate current equals the DC trigger current. As 
shown in the characteristic curve in Figure AN1008.8, the gate 
trigger voltage is higher at lower temperatures. The gate-cathode 
voltage drop can be higher than the DC trigger level if the gate is 
driven by a current higher than the trigger current.
Triac
The difference in V
GT
 for the SCR and the triac is that the triac 
can be fired in four possible modes. The threshold trigger voltage 
can be slightly different, depending on which of the four operating 
modes is actually used.
Figure AN1008.8
Normalized DC Gate Trigger Voltage for All 
Quadrants versus Case Temperature
I
L
: Latching Current
SCR
Latching current is the DC anode current above which the gate 
signal can be withdrawn and the device stays on. It is related to, 
has the same temperature dependence as, and is somewhat 
greater than the DC gate trigger current. (Figure AN1008.1 and 
Figure AN1008.2) Latching current is at least equal to or much 
greater than the holding current, depending on the thyristor type.
Latching current is greater for fast-rise-time anode currents since 
not all of the chip/die is in conduction. It is this dynamic latching 
current that determines whether a device will stay on when the 
gate signal is replaced with very short gate pulses. The dynamic 
latching current varies with the magnitude of the gate drive cur-
rent and pulse duration. In some circuits, the anode current may 
oscillate and drop back below the holding level or may even go 
negative; hence, the unit may turn off and not latch if the gate sig-
nal is removed too quickly. 
Triac
The description of this characteristic for the triac is the same as 
for the SCR, with the addition that the triac can be latched on in 
four possible modes (quadrants). Also, the required latching is 
significantly different depending on which gating quadrants are 
used. Figure AN1008.9 illustrates typical latching current require-
ments for the four possible quadrants of operation.
0
1.0
3.0
4.0
-65
-15
+65
+25
+125
-40
Case Temperature (T
C
) – C
R
I
G
I
G
(
C
(PMT2 POSITIVE
(NMT2 NEGATIVE
MT1
MT2
+
  I
GT
REF
QII   
QIII
MT1
I
GATE
MT2
REF
MT1
MT2
REF
MT1
MT2
REF
QI
QIV 
 ALL POLARITIES ARE REFERENCED TO MT1
(
-
)
I
GATE
(+)
I
GT
-
I
GATE
(
-
)
I
GATE
(+)
-
NOTE: Alternistors will not operate in Q IV
0
.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
-65
-15
+65
+25
+125
-40
Case Temperature (TC) – C
V
G
C
R
V
G