The silicon controlled switch (SCS) is a four-layer, three-junction semiconductor device similar to an SCR but with additional gates and smaller size/power handling. It can be switched on by applying a pulse to either the anode or cathode gate, causing two internal transistors to turn on and maintain conduction. SCS has advantages over SCR like faster turn-off time and more sensitive triggering. Applications include computer circuits, voltage sensors, pulse generators and oscillators, though it is limited to low power ratings.
The silicon controlled switch (SCS) is a four-layer, three-junction semiconductor device similar to an SCR but with additional gates and smaller size/power handling. It can be switched on by applying a pulse to either the anode or cathode gate, causing two internal transistors to turn on and maintain conduction. SCS has advantages over SCR like faster turn-off time and more sensitive triggering. Applications include computer circuits, voltage sensors, pulse generators and oscillators, though it is limited to low power ratings.
The silicon controlled switch (SCS) is a four-layer, three-junction semiconductor device similar to an SCR but with additional gates and smaller size/power handling. It can be switched on by applying a pulse to either the anode or cathode gate, causing two internal transistors to turn on and maintain conduction. SCS has advantages over SCR like faster turn-off time and more sensitive triggering. Applications include computer circuits, voltage sensors, pulse generators and oscillators, though it is limited to low power ratings.
The silicon controlled switch (SCS) is a four-layer, three-junction semiconductor device similar to an SCR but with additional gates and smaller size/power handling. It can be switched on by applying a pulse to either the anode or cathode gate, causing two internal transistors to turn on and maintain conduction. SCS has advantages over SCR like faster turn-off time and more sensitive triggering. Applications include computer circuits, voltage sensors, pulse generators and oscillators, though it is limited to low power ratings.
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Definition
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 C, cathode gate Gx, anode gate G2 and the anode A, as shown in figure. In fact, the SCS is a low power device compared with the SCR. It handles currents in milli amperes rather than amperes. SCS differs from an SCR in the following aspects. It has an additional gatethe anode gate. It is physically smaller than SCR .It has smaller leakage and holding currents than SCR. It needs small triggering signals. It gives more uniform triggering characteristics from sample to sample. The basic structure and schematic symbol of SCS are shown in the figures. It may be fabricated by using either the grown junction technique or the planar technique.
Schematic Symbol
Operation of the SCS
The easiest way to understand how it operates is to realize it to be formed of two transistors Q1 and Q2 placed back-to-back, as shown in figure b In a twotransistor equivalent circuit shown in figure.c, 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.
Volt-Ampere Characteristic of SCS
The volt-ampere characteristic of an SCS is similar to that of an SCR and is shown in figure. With the increase in applied voltage, the current first increases slowly up to point A and then rapidly in the region AB, as shown in the figure. At point B, the product 12 exceeds unity and the device is suddenly switched on. In the on state, the current increases enormously and is limited by the external series resistor. SCS also exhibits negative differential resistance in the on region similar to SCR. SCS gets switched on accidentally if the anode voltage gets applied suddenly. This is known as rate effect, which is caused by inter-electrode capacitance between electrodes G1 and G2, known as transition capacitance.
Advantages of SCS An advantage of SCS over an SCR is the reduced turn-off time, typically within the range of 1 to 10 microseconds for the SCS and 5 to 30 micro seconds for the SCR. Other advantages of the SCS over SCR are increased control and triggering sensitivity and a more predictable firing situation.
However, the SCS is limited to low power, current, and voltage ratings (typical maximum anode currents range from 100 mA to 300 mA with dissipation rating of 100 to 500 mW). Equivalent Circuit
Application
When the "on" pushbutton switch is actuated, there is a voltage applied
between the cathode gate and the cathode, forward-biasing the lower transistor's base-emitter junction, and turning it on. The top transistor of the SCS is ready to conduct, having been supplied with a current path from its emitter terminal (the SCS's anode terminal) through resistor R2 to the positive side of the power supply. As in the case of the SCR, both transistors
turn on and maintain each other in the "on" mode. When the lower transistor turns on, it conducts the motor's load current, and the motor starts and runs. Interrupting the power supply may stop the motor, as with an SCR, and this is called natural commutation. However, the SCS provides us with another means of turning off: forced commutation by shorting the anode terminal to the cathode. If this is done (by actuating the "off" pushbutton switch), the upper transistor within the SCS will lose its emitter current, thus halting current through the base of the lower transistor. When the lower transistor turns off, it breaks the circuit for base current through the top transistor (securing its "off" state), and the motor (making it stop). The SCS will remain in the off condition until such time that the "on" pushbutton switch is reactuated. A few of the more common areas of application of SCS include a variety of computer circuits (such as counters, registers, and timing circuits) voltage sensors, pulse generators, oscillators etc.
