thyristor
nounEtymology Blend of thyratron (1930) + transistor (1947). First attested c. 1965, as an alternative name for the Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR) developed in the late 1950s.
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Business, Electrical engineering, Electricity, Electromagnetism, Electronics, Energy, Engineering, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Physics A semiconductor diode having an extra "gate" terminal to switch it on.
- In calling it a "Thyristor", Mr. Warder was following a growing practice which takes account of the fact that in years to come the controlled rectifier may be made of other materials than silicon.1963 November, “A "Second Generation" in traction”, in Modern Railways, page 290:
- Figure 1.4 shows a modern thyristor encapsulated in a presspack housing and Figure 1.5 illustrates a typical interdigitated gate geometry in a high-power thyristor; the black areas indicate silicon ( Si0₂ ) and the white areas the Al metallisation.1998, J. Arrillaga, High Voltage Direct Current Transmission, page 6:
- Derived terms
- photothyristor