Thyristor with two control terminals and control device

Abstract

A thyristor having a common-anode main thyristor and auxiliary thyristor combination integrated in a semiconductor chip with at least four alternating zones of different conductivity types. A first control electrode contacts a small-area control zone recessed in an emitter region. A first ring zone which is at least as highly n-doped as an emitter zone is disposed in the recessed control zone and is partially contacted by a second control electrode, as is also a portion of a p-doped base zone emerging at various places on the chip surface, the p-doped base zone forming a shorted auxiliary emitter. The second control electrode as well as the first control electrode, have leads separately brought out of the thyristor case, as are leads connected to a main cathode terminal and an auxiliary cathode terminal. The second control electrode together with the auxiliary cathode terminal can be used as a trigger-pulse source, or the second control electrode can alone be used as the trigger input to the thyristor.