"Thyristor" flash units - new tutorial article

For some while, photoflash units that offer automatic control of exposure, using a light sensor on the flash itself, have often been spoken of (often by the manufacturers) as "thyristor" flash units. In the case of flash units offering various exposure control modes, the mode involving a sensor on the flash unit is sometimes identified as the "thyristor" mode (and other times as the "automatic" mode).

Just what is a thyristor, and why is that name used to identify a genre of flash units and a flash exposure control mode?

I have just posted to my technical information site, The Pumpkin, a new tutorial article, " 'Thyristor' Photoflash Units", available here:

http://doug.kerr.home.att.net/pumpkin/index.htm#ThyristorFlash

It describes the electron device known as a thyristor and discusses how its name has come to have those connotations in connection with photoflash technology.

Thanks Doug, good article.

Hi Steve,

All of Doug's articles are good. Well written, explain pretty technical stuff in a simple way.

Best wishes,

Ray