Showing posts with label Components. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Components. Show all posts

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Some Electronic Components Explained For Layman - Part I


Information is now easy to find on internet, but can we find the information related to a definite subject just at one place? I don't think so. I happened to find it really difficult to make out the uses and meanings of the electronic components being used in the electronic industry. So I thought to use this platform to share some basic information about some of the components about which I can provide you some information.

Wikipedia and other encyclopedias might give you some idea about what an electronic component is; just in case you are feeling lazy enough to visit them, let me explain that you. Wikipedia explains electronic components in this manner:

'An electronic component is a basic electronic element usually packaged in a discrete form with two or more connecting leads or metallic pads.' Some common example of electronic components, which I hope you would have heard, are- diodes, integrated circuits, crystals, transistors etc. Now what do they exactly mean to you? If you think I am going to ask you questions, then you are wrong. After all why would you read my article to get bombarded with questions? I am here to answer your queries. So below are the small information about some electronic components.

Sensors: A sensor is a device which measures a physical quantity and converts it into a signal which can be read by an observer or by an instrument. Sensors are used in everyday objects such as touch-sensitive elevator buttons and lamps which dim or brighten by touching the base.

Crystal oscillator: A crystal oscillator is an electronic circuit to facilitate the mechanical resonance of a vibrating crystal of piezoelectric material to generate an electrical signal with a very specific frequency. This frequency is normally used to track of time, to supply a stable clock signal for digital integrated circuits, and to stabilize frequencies for radio transmitters.

Digital potentiometers: A digital potentiometer adjusts and trims electronic circuits similar to variable resistors, rheostats and mechanical potentiometers and hence is sometimes called digital POT, RDAC, or digipot. These compact devices can be used to calibrate system tolerances or dynamically control system parameters.

Linear regulator: A linear regulator is an operational amplifier and a pass transistor and provides many imaginative design keys for challenging requirements.

Flash memory: A flash memory generally includes various types of delay circuits necessary for operations, a write/erase high-voltage stabilization circuit, and a reference voltage generation circuit as well as memory cells in a chip. The programming of data in flash memory is realized by the injection of hot electrons.

NVRAM: Non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) is the general name used to describe any type of random access memory which does not lose its information when power is turned off. This is in contrast to the most common forms of random access memory today, DRAM and SRAM, which both require continual power in order to maintain their data.

Electrolytic capacitor: An electrolytic capacitor is a type of capacitor typically with a larger capacitance per unit volume than other types, making them valuable in relatively high-current and low-frequency electrical circuits.

Film capacitors: they are designed using a number of different dielectrics. Dielectrics are the insulating materials between the plates of the film capacitor.

RF connector: is an electrical connector designed to work at radio frequencies in the multi-megahertz range. RF connectors are typically used with coaxial cables and are designed to maintain the shielding that the coaxial design offers.

Universal Serial Bus (USB): is a serial bus standard to interface devices. USB was designed to allow many peripherals to be connected using a single standardized interface socket and to improve the plug-and-play capabilities by allowing devices to be connected and disconnected without rebooting the computer (hot swapping). They can be used to connect one USB product with another or to connect other peripherals with USB port types.

Voltage detectors: are the ICs that keep a watch over the input voltage and the moment the voltage drops below the set value it raises an alarm.

Voltage regulator: is an electrical regulator designed to automatically maintain a constant voltage level. It may use an electromechanical mechanism, or passive or active electronic components. Depending on the design, it may be used to regulate one or more AC or DC voltages.

DC to DC converter: is a circuit which converts a source of direct current (DC) from one voltage level to another. It is a class of power converter.

Charge pumps ICs: or switched-capacitor ICs provide DC to DC voltage conversion using a switch network to charge and discharge one or more capacitors. The switch network toggles between charge and discharge states of the capacitors.

Temperature sensors: are device that ascertain temperature by physical characteristics like electric resistance, EMF i.e. electromagnetic field or thermal radiations.

Metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs): are electronic devices with a built-in capacitor as the input and a conducting channel as the output. An electrode called a gate controls the width of the channel and determines how well the MOSFET conducts.

Well for the time being digest the uses and meanings of these electronic components, I will explain some more in the next article.




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Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Entertainment - such as electronic components have changed the face of entertainment


It's hard to think entertainment without the aid of electronic components for today's generations of people. Virtually even sort of home entertainment in use today relies on electronics at any given time of the production or in the operation. Television, radio, CD and DVD players, even electronic keyboards, and video games all rely on elements which are defined as electronic.

The definition of electronics will be studying the flow of electrons through different materials and conductors are accepted. Electronics are the equipment or products flowing electrons use to function. Examples of electronic equipment, amplifiers, oscillators, or radio receiver. While electronics were used in the late 19th century in such devices such as telephones and telegraphy, it was not until to the invention of radio electronics took a giant step forward in understanding and applications.

Course has been used since its invention, the radio for information and entertainment. Most people messages count information on radio, if they are set off from a TV. The news from radio not the added benefit of images that are provided when using another form of media such as television or newspaper. The advantage of that radio about the other forms of media is its immediacy. While the most radio stations have dedicated a large part of their transmission time, the musical entertainment, the music for a News Flash may be interrupted. The cover is may be less complete, but it is often used to react.

Music is a more popular form of entertainment, the electronics used to be enjoyed. Almost every kind of music, which played or enjoyed today some sort of Electronics uses device to the played or heard. Many of the common instruments such as keyboards, guitars, and even violins have an acoustic and an electric version. This means that the electric version is not usually played without the electronic pickups.

The same way that electronics require the tools, to be played, require the pieces electronics collected in order for the sound. The recording is now much more complicated than it was originally. Stereo can for example. You actually win the feeling in a live performance because the sound is different from every speaker.

If you are using other electronic tools, to listen to music you get still a different experience. For example, a stereo recording of the song is heard in your home sound other than listen, if you even to the headphones while jogging through the Park. You would gain of course a different experience when you hear the same artist in a concert situation. Since many concerts especially with modern artists include, lights and other special effects, electronics play an important role in the overall concert experience. In fact, the artists perform could be heard without extensive amplification and their achievement might be big screen without the support shows seen be.




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Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Basic Electronic Components and Supplies Needed by the Electronics Newbie


Basic Components and Supplies to Start Out

Working on electronic projects is a great way of learning electronics and depending upon the project undertaken, a number of tools and electronic components may be needed accordingly. There are some basic electronic components and supplies which are needed in almost all electronic projects and are a 'must have.'

The first electronic components that you need to look into are resistors. You should have a good range of resistors in different values ranging from one ohm to 10 mega ohms with a 5% tolerance. Carbon film resistors are a good choice for small electronic projects. They are inexpensive and readily available from both online and offline merchants.

Another important component that is needed are capacitors. Ceramic disc capacitors or electrolytic capacitors are both good choices for beginning electronics projects, and again, a good variety would be needed in terms of values. Lower voltage capacitors (up to 50V) would certainly suffice for most beginners projects.

Signal diodes are also a good buy for electronic projects and these electronic components find application in a number of projects. A package of 50, 1N914 silicon diodes are a good choice as they can be used for both switching and analog signals.

The next electronic component to consider would be rectifier diodes which are needed in power supplies. About 20 of these diodes in varying values would be a good number to begin with.

Transistors are the next electronic components to be considered. PNP and NPN, which are the most common and widely available transistor would be needed. I recommend TO92 package for beginners.

LEDS, in a mix of colors and both rectangular and round packages are a good addition. Most standard LEDS readily available require about 3V to power them.

A switch is a good component to have on hand. Often switches are used to turn your circuit on or off. If you have to choose only one to start, choose a toggle or push button switch.

Depending upon the circuits and projects, some integrated circuits would also be needed. One of the most commonly used ICS is the 555 timer. Like all of the components listed above, they are available in both through hole and surface mount packages. Start with the through hole type until you feel more comfortable soldering smaller components.

Last but not least, some hookup wire and circuit boards are a must for electronics projects. Depending on your project, how about a project box or enclosure? These protect your circuit from the elements and dust and can be mounted with screws.

Ready to get started with electronics? Now that you have the basic components all together, find yourself a good book on basic circuits. If you're really new to electronics, don't be afraid to get a book that is geared towards children. The simple explanations and diagrams in those books will have you ready to move to the next level of experimenting quickly!




Andy Bauer is a tech writer for http://www.westfloridacomponents.com an internet based retailer of electronic parts and supplies.





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Monday, December 12, 2011

Keeping One Step Ahead of Counterfeit Electronic Components


Keeping one step ahead of Counterfeit Electronic Components is becoming more important and more difficult as the counterfeiters improve their processes and ways of hiding the true identity of the flawed products they produce and how they get them into the global electronic component supply chain. These companies and individuals throughout the world involved in producing counterfeit electronic components are producing components that are getting more difficult to detect, and as the production of counterfeit components gets more complex so must the processes put in place to detect them.

We all know the debilitating affect sub standard counterfeit components can have on electronic equipment which can be life threatening in certain circumstances. Detecting counterfeit components becomes more difficult once they are actually installed inside a device and when the device fails it is difficult to detect that the failure was caused by counterfeit components unless that was specifically been looked for during an inspection or repairing process so the detection process is best done at the supply stage.

There are several ways in which counterfeit components are produced; one of the most common ways is by harvesting components from scrapped circuit boards. Western countries are getting big on recycling everything possible in the mode of being green recycling electronics is becoming very popular, a lot of this recycled material ends up in developing countries where the component harvesting is done. The processes involved in the way the components are removed from their original and usually non functioning circuit boards is usually crude and even more damaging to the components, many already at the end of their useable life. The components are piled into like piles and go through a washing process and a sanding process to remove the original component markings. Having components piled together based on how they look has its own problems as components that are not the same end up together, different revisions, different uses and even not the same component all end up together to be sold as one type. The components finally go through a marking process to mark them all the same. A lot of trouble is gone to producing perfect looking component reels that match the real manufacturer's products; it's also very common for the counterfeiter to purchase real components to put at various places on the reel to help fool any visual inspection.

Another method of producing counterfeited electronic components involves the obtaining of discarded components that for one reason or another failed quality tests during the manufacturing process or had production issues and were discarded. These components are sourced directly from the manufacturer either through illegal means or scavenging the products then continuing the branding process and selling them as functioning components, which have original branding.

This is only two examples of how counterfeit electronic components are being produced in large quantities and pushed into the global supply chain. Most independent electronic component sources are staying ahead in the fight against allowing these products to gain entry into the supply chain and eventually into devices that we rely on, they are using state of the art detection processes and secure sourcing methods while working alongside different organizations such as ERAI which is a privately held global information services organization that monitors, investigates and reports issues that are affecting the global supply chain of electronics. Also independent component distributors can be members of organizations that collect relevant quality information and participate in advancing industry ethics, ensuring customer satisfaction, establishing standards, and promoting education such as The Independent Distributors of Electronics Association (IDEA) which is a non-profit trade association representing quality and ethically oriented independent distributors of electronic components.




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