threshold switch

threshold switch

[′thresh‚hōld ‚swich]
(electronics)
A voltage-sensitive alternating-current switch made from a semiconductor material deposited on a metal substrate; when the alternating-current voltage acting on the switch is increased above the threshold value, the number of free carriers present in the semiconductor material increases suddenly, and the switch changes from a high resistance of about 10 megohms to a low resistance of less than 1 ohm; in other versions of this switch, the threshold voltage is controlled by heat, pressure, light, or moisture.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
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