A gate turn-off thyristor (GTO) is a type of high-power (e.g. 1200 V AC) thyristor that unlike a normal thyristor is fully controllable and can be turned On and Off by their gate lead. It was invented by General Electric. Device descriptionNormal thyristors () are not fully controllable switches (a fully controllable switch can. .
GTO thyristors are available with or without reverse blocking capability. Reverse blocking capability adds to the forward voltage drop because of the need to have a long, low-doped P1 region. GTO thyrist. .
Unlike the (IGBT), the GTO thyristor requires external devices ( circuits) to shape the turn-on and turn-off currents to prevent device destruction. During tur. .
The main applications are in variable-speed motor drives, high-power inverters, and . GTOs are increasingly being replaced by (IGCT), which are an evolutionary developme.
[PDF Version]
