Photothyristor optrons and optron microcircuits, part 1

An optron is a device for transmission of electric signals which are converted to optical signals and subsequent reconverted to electric signals. A photothyristor optron consists of two discrete galvanically isolated and optically direct coupled components in a common housing: emitter and photothyristor. Its output stage is a four layer silicon device and its emitter is an infrared GaAs diode. With a d.c. voltage across the photothyristor electrodes and zero diode current, the photothyristor is in a nonconducting state with only a small leakage current in the output circuit. The performance parameters of thyristor optrons are classified into input parameters, intermediate parameters, and output parameters. Three series of thyristor optrons are produced. They are used for galvanic isolation of logic circuits from inductive loads, for control of thyristors and semistors, for pulse shaping, as voltage monitors and for protection of secondary power supplies, as commutator switches for indicator lamps and for matching control circuits to indicator panels. They are desined to operate with functional integrated microcircuits. All these microcircuits are enclosed in metal glass housings.