Electronics Engineering (ELEX) Board Practice Exam

What device in the thyristor family has its gate terminal connected to an n-type material near the anode?

1. PUT

2. SCR

3. IGBT

4. TRIAC

The correct answer is: PUT

The correct answer identifies a Programmable Unidirectional Trigger (PUT) as the device in the thyristor family with a gate terminal connected to an n-type material near the anode. The PUT is distinct due to its ability to control the turning on and off of the device using its gate terminal, which is an essential feature for its operation in various applications. In the case of the PUT, the gate terminal being connected to n-type material allows it to effectively control the conduction states using gate voltage, just like other members of the thyristor family. However, the PUT also incorporates a more complex structure enabling programmability, which differs from other devices in the family. For context, a Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR) has its gate connected to p-type material, allowing for the same switching functionality but with different operational features and applications. Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBTs) and TRIACs also have different configurations and do not fit the specific criteria of having a gate connected to n-type material near the anode in the same way as the PUT. Hence, the unique attributes of the PUT make it the correct choice for this question.