Voltage Regulators
What is a Voltage Regulator? There are two ways voltage regulators operate, a feed forward method or through a negative feedback loop. A prime example to visualize a negative feedback loop is how a room temperature works. The thermostat usually stops once the desired temperature is reached. As time passes the temperature starts to fluctuate. […]
Transistors
What is a Transistor? Transistors are best known to exclusively focus on amplifying current. With the help of resistors (converting current to voltage), transistors essentially amplify the voltage of what an integrated circuit gives off initially. This electrical component has the option to be operated as either a switch or an amplifier. Transistors can be […]
Switches
What is a Switch? Turning on and off the lights in a room requires a switch. Through a more technical description, a switch interrupts an electrical circuit. Referring to the light scenario switches can either fully activate or fully deactivate an electronic signal. There are many types of electric component switches varying from pushbutton switches, […]
Semiconductors
What is a Semiconductor? To think about what a semiconductor does first imagine life without an air conditioner or even a microwave to warm up your food. These two need a semiconductor installed to work the brains of the product. The semiconductor will ensure the system is running properly by maintaining the needed electricity charge. […]
Resistors
What is a Resistor? To understand a resistor, visualize a water dam controlling the amount of water that flows through. A resistor mimics the responsibility similar to the water dam, but instead resistors determine how much current can pass through (Ohm’s law). What are the types of Resistors? Resistors are part of the electrical component […]
Operational Amplifiers
What are Operational Amplifiers (OP-AMP)? Operational Amplifiers belong to the differential amplifier family. The other members of the differential family include the fully differential amplifier, the instrumentation amplifier, the isolation amplifier and the negative feedback amplifier. The Op-Amp functions as a electronic voltage amplifier that produces over a thousand times the voltage that comes through […]
Integrated Circuits
What are Integrated Circuits? Did you know that Integrated Circuits are static sensitive and can be damaged if you touch them because of the static electricity? Integrated Circuits, also known as IC Chips, are microchips that houses thousands to millions of mini capacitors, resistors, and transistors. There are two types of IC Chips, Analog, has […]
Diodes
What are Diodes? Diodes can be best thought about as stream of water; moving in only one direction. Both, positive and negative, voltages have the capability of transferring through the diode. However, only one type of energy can pass through due to the diode’s one way function. The first types of televisions and radios used […]
Crystals and Oscillators
What is an Oscillator? An oscillator’s main purpose to produce a repetition of energy transfers to another. These electronic signals that bounce around are used in electronics today to transfer energy in different shaped waves. Think about the FM station on your radio. The wave that carries it from one antenna to your car’s antenna […]
Connectors
What is a connector? Connectors components help join electrical circuits together. A connector can either join two wires together or connect one wire to a terminal. Connectors usually are designed with a “keyed” method to avoid having the parts mate with incorrect parts. Did you know there are over hundreds of different types of connectors […]