Radiation-controllable thyristor with multiple, non-concentric amplified stages

摘要

A radiation-controllable thyristor is disclosed, which includes an electrical trigger main thyristor having four semiconductor layers each having mutually different conductivity types, and a plurality of stages of pilot thyristors commonly having three other layers excluding one emitter layer of the above main thyristor. First-stage one of the pilot thyristors is a light-triggering type thryistor having a photo-sensing area onto which a control radiation, such as light beam, is irradiated. A collector electrode is provided on another emitter layer of the main thryistor in such a way as to substantially surround the above pilot thyristors.