Gate turn-off thyristor with resistance layers

In a gate turn-off thyristor having a plurality of gate turn-off thyristor segments, each having a four-layer upon pnpn structure, a resistance layer is interposed between the emitter layer and the cathode electrode of each segment. A voltage drop occurs across the resistance layer and this voltage drop prevents a current concentration to a specific segment especially at the last stage of a turn-off process, so that the current flows in the respective remaining segments is improved. The voltage drop has a function of shunting the anode current so that the shunted current flows into the gate. Accordingly, the currents flowing through the respective segments and the turn-off times of the respective segments are intended to be made uniform. Therefore, the controllable on-state current can be considerably increased.