GATE CONTROL CIRCUITS

Capacitors used to delay firing or to trigger the SCR: requirements must have the following value,

1. Value of capacitor ranges; 0.01 to 1 µF (microfarad)

2. RC time constant ranges 1 x 10^-3 to 30 x 10^-3 second

Figure 1(a) the RC time constant is; RC = (R1 + R2) x C

Figure 1(b) The RC time constant is; RC1 = (R1 + R2) x C1

and RC2 = R3 x C2

Problem 1: Using figure (b), Assuming capacitor C1 = 0.068 µF and C2 = 0.033 µF in the gate control
circuit. Let RC range has a minimum of 2 x 10^-3 and a maximum of 25 x 10^-3 for RC1 and RC2 = 5 x
10^-3. What is the value of
R1, R2, and R3?

Solution:

let R2 = 0 (for a minimum firing delay angle) and RC1 min. = 2 x 10^-3

Therefore, (R1 + 0) C1 = 2 x 10^-3 ----------> R1 = 2 x 10^-3 / 0.068 x 10^-6

R1 = 29.4 kΩ

to solve for R2 use RC1 max = 25 x 10^-3, and R1 = 29.4 kΩ

(R1 + R2) C1 = 25 x 10^-3 ---------> R2 = (25 x 10^-3 / C1) – R1

R2 = 367.65 kΩ
To solve for R3,

R3 x C2 = RC2

R3 = 5 x 10^-3 / 0.033 x 10^-6

R3 = 151 kΩ

UJT used to delay firing or to trigger on the SCR

Figure 1(c)

UJT has following characteristics:

Ƞ = intrinsic standoff ratio Ip = Peak current

rB1 = UJT internal resistance at Base 1 Iv = Valley current

rB1 = UJT internal resistance at Base 2 Vp = Peak voltage

rBB = sum of rB1 and rB2 (rB1 + rB2) Vv = Valley voltage

Equations:

Ƞ = rB1/(rB1 + rB2) = rB1 / rBB

Vp = Ƞ VB2B1 + 0.6V
But first let us study the operations of UJT (Unijunction transistor)

Figure 2(a) and Figure 2(b)

In simplest terms, the UJT operates as follows,

1. When voltage between emitter and base 1, VEB1, is less than a certain value called the peak voltage,
Vp, the UJT is turned off, and no current can flow from E to B1 (IE = 0).

2. When VEB1 exceeds Vp by small amount, the UJT fires or turns ON. When this happens, the E to B1
circuit becomes almost short circuit, and the current can surge from one terminal to another. In
virtually all UJT circuits, the burst of current from E to B1 is short-lived, and the UJT quickly reverts
back to the OFF condition.

In figure (b), shows the external dc voltage (VB2B1) is applied between B2 and B1, with B2 the more
positive terminal. For a given type of UJT, the peak voltage Vp is a certain fixed percent of VB2B1, plus
0.6 V. That fixed percent is called the intrinsic standoff ratio, ƞ. Therefore, the peak voltage of a UJT

Vp = ƞVB2B1 + 0.6V
where 0.6 V is the forward turn-ON voltage across the silicon pn junction which exists between
the emitter and base 1.
Sample problem: If the UJT in figure (b) has a standoff ratio of ƞ = 0.55 and an externally
applied VB2B1 of 20 V, what is the peak voltage?
Solution: from equation Vp = ƞVB2B1 + 0.6V
Vp = 0.55(20 V) + 0.6 V = 11.6 V
So, VEB1 would have to exceed 11.6 V in order to fire (or turn-ON) the UJT.
 Also to get the voltage between Emitter, E and Base 1, VEB1 is
VEB1 = VD + ƞVB2B1
= VD + [rB1/(rB1 + rB2)] x VB2B1
= VD + VrB1
Where VrB1 is the internal voltage at rB1 = (rB1/rB1+rB2) x VB2B1 (voltage divider formula)
Internal illustration of UJT,

Figure 3(a) and Figure 3(b)

Sample problem: a) If UJT shown in figure 2(b) has an rB1 of 6.2 kΩ and an rB2 of 2.2 kΩ, what
is its standoff ratio? and b) How large is the peak voltage? (VB2B1 = 20 V)
Solution:
a) using equation: ƞ = rB1/(rB1+rB2) = 6.2 kΩ / (6.2 kΩ + 2.2 kΩ) = 0.74
b) Peak voltage, Vp = 0.74 x 20 V + 0.6 V = 15.4 V

UJT Relaxation Oscillators

Figure 4 (a), (b), (c) and (d)

The relaxation oscillator is the heart of most UJT timer and oscillator circuits. It is essentially the same
circuit as shown in figure 2(b), except that resistors are added to the B1 and B2 leads in order to develop
output signals. These external resistors are rather small compared to the internal resistance of the UJT,
rBB. The external resistors are usually symbolized R2 and R1. The typical value of a relaxation oscillator
are given in figure 4(a).

The operations when power is applied, CE charges through RE until the capacitor voltage
reaches Vp. At this point, the UJT will fire, as long as RE is not too large or it is limit into a lower value
that current could flow and the current called peak point current or peak current, Ip. The equation to
get the maximum and minimum value of RE with the frequency of the oscillation

REmax = (Vs -Vp)/ Ip and

REmin = (Vs – Vv)/Iv

f = 1/T = 1/RECE

Example problem: Refer to relaxation oscillator shown in figure 4(a) Assume that the UJT has the
following characterestics:

Ƞ= 0.63 rBB = 9.2 kΩ Vv = 1.5 V

rB1 = 5.8 kΩ Ip = 5 µA

rB2 = 3.4 kΩ Iv = 3.5 mA

a) Find Vp

b) What is the approximate output frequency?

c) Prove that a 10 kΩ (RE) is within the acceptable range. That is REmin < RE < REmax.

d) Describe the waveform that appears across R1. How tall are the spikes? What voltage appears across
R1 during the time that the UJT is OFF.

Solution:

a) Vp = (0.63) (VB2B1) + 0.6 V

but VB2B1 can be found by ratio and proportion

VB2B1/Vs = rBB/Rtotal = rBB/(R2 + rBB + R1)

VB2B1 = (VS)(rBB)/(R2 + rBB + R1)

VB2B1 = (24 V)( 9.2 kΩ)/(470Ω + 9.2 kΩ + 100 Ω)

Vb2B1 = 22.6 V

Vp = (0.63) (22.6 V) + 0.6 V = 14.8 V

b) f = 1/RECE = 1/(10 kΩ)(0.2 x 10^-6 farad) = 500 Hz

c) REmax = (Vs-Vp)/Ip = (24 V-14.8 V)/ 5 x 10^-6 A) = 1.84 MΩ

REmin = (Vs – Vv)/Iv = (24 V – 1.5 V)/(3.5 x 10^-3) = 6.4 kΩ

The RE value of 10 kΩ is between the range 6.4 kΩ and 1.84 MΩ, so it is acceptable. It will allow enough
emitter current to flow to fire the UJT but not enough to prevent it from turning back OFF.

d) The peak value of the spikes across R1 is given approximately by

VR1 = Vp – Vv = 14.8 V – 1.5 V = 13.3 V

This equation is valid because the capacitor voltage always equals the voltage. from emitter to base 1
plus the voltage across R1. At the instant, the capacitor voltage equals Vp and the emitter-to-base 1
voltage is approximately equal to Vv. Naturally the peak value of VR1 occurs at the instant the UJT fires,
so it can be calculated as shown in the above equation.

The voltage level to which VR1 returns when the UJT is OFF can be calculated by the series
voltage-division formula:

VR1 = (R!)(Vs)/Rtotal = (100 Ω)(24 V)/(470Ω + 9.2 kΩ + 100 Ω) = 0.25 V

The VR1 waveform could therefore be described as a rest voltage of 0.25 V with fast spikes rising to 13.3
V, occurring at a frequency of 500 Hz.

UJT in SCR Trigger Circuits

There are several reasons for the compatibility between UJTs and SCRs:

1. The UJT produces a pulse-type output, which is excellent for accomplishing sure turn-ON of an SCR
without straining the SCR’s gate power dissipation capability.

2. The UJT firing point is inherently stable over a wide temperature range.

3. UJT triggering circuits are easily adaptable to feedback control.

(a)
 (a)

Figure 5(a), (b), (c) and (d)

Component sizes for a UJT trigger circuit,

In figure 5(a) special care must be taken when selecting

R1. The value of R1 must be held as low as possible while
still being able to generate large enough voltage pulses
to fire the SCR reliably.

Given:

rBB = 6 kΩ ƞ = 0.60 Ip =2 µA Iv = 4 mA Vv = 3 V

If (Vs) ZD1 has zener breakdown voltage 0f 20 V, then the current through R1 before firing,

IR1 = 20 V / (R2+rBB+R1), neglecting R2 and R1 (quite a bit smaller than rBB

IR1 = 20 V / rBB = 20 V / 6 kΩ = 3.3 mA

SCR fire at a VGK is about 0.7 – 1 V which allow VR1 to go no higher than 0.3 V while UJT waiting to fire.
This allow a noise margin of at least 0.4 V (0.7 V - 0.3 V), which is usually adequate. Therefore:

R1 = VR1/IR1 = 0.3/3.3 mA = 100 Ω

As Explained RE must be small enough to allow enough current, Ip to flow into the emitter to trigger
UJT. Also , RE must be large enough to prevent the UJT from latching up; that is, RE must not to permit
the emitter to carry a current equal to the valley current, Iv, after CE has discharged. If current equal to
Iv does continue flowing , the UJT cannot turn back OFF and is said to have latched up,

REmin = (Vs – Vv) / Iv = (20 V – 3 V) / 4 mA = 4.25 kΩ - which means RE must be greater than 4.25 kΩ to
allow the UJT to turn OFF. So, let RE value of 10 kΩ.

Assuming VB2B1 is 20 V so, Vp = ƞ VB2B1 + VD = (0.6)(20 V) + 0.6 = 12.6 V

REmax = (Vs – Vp) / Ip = (20 – 12.6 V) = 3.7 MΩ - meaning that RE must be smaller than 3.7 MΩ in order
to deliver enough emitter current to fire the UJT.

To size the RE, there would be nothing wrong with averaging REmin and REmax:

RE = (4.25 kΩ + 3.7 MΩ)/2 = 1.85 MΩ

But it is better to use the geometric mean than arithmetic mean (average),

RE = √(𝑅𝐸𝑚𝑖𝑛)(𝑅𝐸𝑚𝑎𝑥) = √(4.25𝑘)(3.7𝑀) = 125 kΩ (for REV) approx. = 100 kΩ

REtotal x CE = 8.3 x 10^-3 (f = 60 Hz, T = (1/f)/2 = 8.3 x 10^-3

CE = 8.3 x 10^-3 / (10 kΩ + 100 kΩ) = 0.076 µF nearest standard size 0.082 µF

R2 for stability value is 1 kΩ.

Power almost 2 W during positive half cycle

So, I = P+half / Vs = 2 W / 20 V = 100 mA

Vline – Vz = 120 V – 20 V = 100 V

Rd = 100 v / 100 mA = 1 kΩ but for safety margin of 2 kΩ so choose 2.2 kΩ

PRd = V^2 / Rd = (100)^2 V / 2.2 kΩ = 4.5 W or standard value of 5 W