thyristor

Blend of thyratron (1930) +‎ transistor (1947). First attested c. 1965, as an alternative name for the Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR) developed in the late 1950s.

• Rhymes: -ɪstə(ɹ)

thyristor (plural thyristors)

1. (electronics) A semiconductor diode having an extra "gate" terminal to switch it on.
   • 1963 November, “A "Second Generation" in traction”, in Modern Railways, page 290:

     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.

   • 1998, J. Arrillaga, High Voltage Direct Current Transmission, page 6:

     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.

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thyristor m (plural thyristors)

1. thyristor