Turn-On Principles of the MOS-GTO

MOS-GTO´s (GTO thyristors which are turned off by the action of a MOS-gate) represent a new generation of controllable thyristors offering considerable advantages in turn-off behavior as compared to conventional GTO´s. However, MOS-GTO´s generally require one control electrode for turn-on and another control electrode for turn-off, which might be regarded as a disadvantage. It is shown that in MOS-GTO´s with a p-channel cathode structure it is possible to turn the thyristor on and off by controlling just one MOS gate electrode. As a triggering current for turn-on, the MOS capacitor charging current is used.