thyristor

Noun

thyristor (plural thyristors)

1. 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