Improving the firing mechanisms in thyristors for lighting applications

Thyristors to be used in 600 V domestic applications are still very widespread as AC switches or as TRIACs. These devices are typically integrated with very deep diffusions by using solid or liquid doping processes. Thyristors implemented with ion implantation processes exhibit more stable performances and their firing mechanisms are more controllable. In this paper three different thyristor structures are analysed and fabricated with deep and superficial diffusions, comparing the firing behaviour and their stability as a function of process technology characteristics.