The field of electronics is the study and use of systems that operate by controlling the flow of electrons or other electrically charged particles in devices such as thermionic valves and semiconductors. The design and construction of electronic circuits to solve practical problems is part of the field of electronics engineering, and includes the hardware design side of computer engineering. The study of new semiconductor devices and their technology is sometimes considered as a branch of physics. This page focuses on engineering aspects of electronics. In electronics, an active component is one that has gain or depends on the direction of the current. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The process of circuit design can cover systems ranging from national power grids all the way down to the individual transistors within an integrated circuit. ... Digital electronics is based on a number of discrete voltage levels, usually two, as distinct from Analog electronics which uses voltages to represent variables directly. ... An electronic component is a basic electronic building block packaged in a discrete form with two or more connecting leads or metallic pads. ... // Education in electronic engineering The university departments offering these courses are sometimes called departments of electrical and electronic engineering although recently in Europe, the tendency has been for electronic engineering (representing the lighter current, telecomms and computer aspects) to have been made independent of electrical engineering and to have their... Microelectronics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... An Optoelectonic component interfaces light and electronics in some way. ... A passive component is an electronic component that does not require a source of energy to perform its intended function. ... Power electronics is the technology associated with the efficient conversion, control and conditioning of electric power by static means from its available input form into the desired electrical output form. ... Properties The electron is a fundamental subatomic particle that carries a negative electric charge. ... ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ... In electronics, a vacuum tube (American English) or (thermionic) valve (British English) is a device generally used to amplify a signal. ... A semiconductor is a material with an electrical conductivity that is intermediate between that of an insulator and a conductor. ... An electrical network or electrical circuit is an interconnection of analog electrical elements such as resistors, inductors, capacitors, diodes, switches and transistors. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with electrical and electronics engineering. ... The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view. ... A Superconductor demonstrating the Meissner Effect. ...

Overview of electronic systems and circuits

Commercial digital voltmeter checking a prototype

Electronic systems are used to perform a wide variety of tasks. The main uses of electronic circuits are the controlling, processing and distribution of information, and the conversion and distribution of electric power. Both of these uses involve the creation or detection of electromagnetic fields and electric currents. While electrical energy had been used for some time to transmit data over telegraphs and telephones, the development of electronics truly began in earnest with the advent of radio. One way of looking at an electronic system is to divide it into the following parts: ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (600x800, 85 KB) Raviteja---Two digital voltmeters. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (600x800, 85 KB) Raviteja---Two digital voltmeters. ... Info redirects here; for other uses, see . ... Electric power is the amount of work done by an electric current in a unit time. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... // Electric current is the flow of electric charge. ... The first telegraph links in Europe Telegraph and telegram redirect here. ... The telephone or phone (Greek: tele = far away and phone = voice) is a telecommunications device which is used to transmit and receive sound (most commonly voice and speech) across distance. ...

• Inputs – Electronic or mechanical sensors (or transducers), which take signals from outside sources such as antennae or networks, (or signals which represent values of temperature, pressure, etc.) from the physical world and convert them into current/voltage or digital signals.

• Signal processing circuits – These consist of electronic components connected together to manipulate, interpret and transform the signals. Recently, complex processing has been accomplished with the use of Digital Signal Processors.

• Outputs – Actuators or other devices such as transducers that transform current/voltage signals back into useful physical form.

One example is a television set. Its input is a broadcast signal received by an antenna or fed in through a cable. Signal processing circuits inside the television extract the brightness, colour and sound information from this signal. The output devices are a cathode ray tube that converts electronic signals into a visible image on a screen and magnet driven audio speakers. The term input has a variety of uses in different fields. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... A transducer is a device, usually electrical or electronic, that converts one type of energy to another. ... Signal processing is the processing, amplification and interpretation of signals and deals with the analysis and manipulation of signals. ... A digital signal processor (DSP) is a specialized microprocessor designed specifically for digital signal processing, generally in real-time. ... // Information processing In information processing, output is the process of transmitting information by an object (verb usage). ... Brightness is an attribute of visual perception in which a source appears to emit a given amount of light. ... Color is an important part of the visual arts. ... A schematic representation of hearing. ... Cathode ray tube employing electromagnetic focus and deflection Cutaway rendering of a color CRT The cathode ray tube or CRT, invented by Karl Ferdinand Braun, is the display device that was traditionally used in most computer displays, video monitors, televisions, radar displays and oscilloscopes. ... For images in Wikipedia, see Wikipedia:Images. ...

Electronic devices and components

Main article: Electronic component

An electronic component is any indivisible electronic building block packaged in a discrete form with two or more connecting leads or metallic pads. Components are intended to be connected together, usually by soldering to a printed circuit board, to create an electronic circuit with a particular function (for example an amplifier, radio receiver, or oscillator). Components may be packaged singly (resistor, capacitor, transistor, diode etc) or in more or less complex groups as integrated circuits (operational amplifier, resistor array, logic gate etc). Active components are more usually called 'devices' as opposed to components. An electronic component is a basic electronic building block packaged in a discrete form with two or more connecting leads or metallic pads. ... active active lifestyle active volcano sexually active, meaning to regularly undertake sexual activity active grammatical voice active electronics are components, circuits or units of equipment that consume power other than the signal itself, most normally to provide amplification. ...

Analog circuits

Main article: analog circuits

Most analog electronic appliances, such as radio receivers, are constructed from combinations of a few types of basic circuits. Analog circuits use a continuous range of voltage as opposed to discrete levels as in digital circuits. The number of different analog circuits so far devised is huge., especially because a 'circuit' can be defined as anything from a single component, to systems containing thousands of components. An analog circuit (or analogue circuit) is an electric circuit that operates on analog signals. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (659x768, 100 KB) Summary Hitachi J100 adjustable frequency drive chassis. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (659x768, 100 KB) Summary Hitachi J100 adjustable frequency drive chassis. ... An analog or analogue signal is any variable signal continuous in both time and amplitude. ...

Analogue circuits are sometimes called linear circuits although many non linear effects are used in analoge circuits such as mixers, modulators etc. Good examples of analog circuits are valve or transistor amplifiers, operational amplifiers and oscillators.

Some analog circuitry these days may use digital or even microprocessor techniques to improve upon the basic performance of the circuit. This type of circuits is usually called 'mixed signal'.

Sometimes it may be difficult to differentiate between analog and digital circuits as they have elements of both linear and non linear operation. An example is the comparator that takes in a continuouse range of voltage but puts out only one of two levels as in a digital circuit. Similarly, a transistor amplifier overdriven can take on the characteristics of a controlled switch having substantially only two levels of output. Electrical switches. ...

Digital circuits

Main article: digital circuits

Digital circuits are electric circuits based on a number of discrete voltage levels. Digital circuits are the most common mechanical representation of Boolean algebra and are the basis of all digital computers. To most engineers, the terms "digital circuit", "digital system" and "logic" are interchangeable in the context of digital circuits. In most cases the number of different states of a node is two, represented by two voltage levels labeled "Low" and "High". Often "Low" will be near zero volts and "High" will be at a higher level depending on the supply voltage in use. Digital circuits are electric circuits based on a number of discrete voltage levels. ...

Computers, electronic clocks, and programmable logic controllers (used to control industrial processes) are constructed of digital circuits. Digital Signal Processors are another example. A computer is a machine for manipulating data according to a list of instructions known as a program. ... A quartz clock A quartz clock is a timepiece that uses an electronic oscillator which is made up by a quartz crystal to keep precise time. ... tsx17 Télémécanique PLC PLC & input/output arrangements A programmable logic controller, PLC, or programmable controller is a small computer used for automation of real-world processes, such as control of machinery on factory assembly lines. ... A digital system is one that uses numbers, especially binary numbers, for input, processing, transmission, storage, or display, rather than a continuous spectrum of values (an analog system) or non-numeric symbols such as letters or icons. ... A digital signal processor (DSP) is a specialized microprocessor designed specifically for digital signal processing, generally in real-time. ...

Building-blocks:

• logic gates
• flip-flops
• counters
• registers
• multiplexers
• Schmitt triggers

Highly integrated devices: A logic gate is an arrangement of controlled switches used to calculate operations using Boolean logic in digital circuits. ... This article is about the electronic component. ... This article is about the term counter used in electronics and computing. ... In computer architecture, a processor register is a small amount of very fast computer memory used to speed the execution of computer programs by providing quick access to commonly used values—typically, the values being in the midst of a calculation at a given point in time. ... A multiplexer combines more than one input into a single output. ... In electronics, a Schmitt (or Schmidt) trigger is a special kind of comparator circuit. ...

• microprocessors
• microcontrollers
• Digital signal processor (DSP)
• Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)

Microprocessors, including an Intel 80486DX2 and an Intel 80386. ... A microcontroller (MCU) is a computer-on-a-chip used to control electronic devices. ... A digital signal processor (DSP) is a specialized microprocessor designed specifically for digital signal processing, generally in real-time. ... A field-programmable gate array or FPGA is a gate array that can be reprogrammed after it is manufactured, rather than having its programming fixed during the manufacturing — a programmable logic device. ...

Mixed-signal circuits

Main article: Mixed-signal circuit

Mixed-signal circuits refers to integrated circuits (ICs) which have both analog circuits and digital circuits combined on a single semiconductor die or on the same circuit board. Mixed-signal circuits are becoming increasingly common. Mixed circuits contain both analog and digital components. analog to digital converters and digital to analog converters are the primary examples. Other examples are transmission gates and buffers. Mixed-signal circuits refers to integrated circuits (ICs) which have both analog circuits and digital circuits combined on a single semiconductor die. ... Mixed-signal circuits refers to integrated circuits (ICs) which have both analog circuits and digital circuits combined on a single semiconductor die. ... This article or section should include material from AD converters In electronics, an analog-to-digital converter (abbreviated ADC, A/D, or A to D) is a device that converts continuous signals to discrete digital numbers. ... In electronics, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC or D-to-A) is a device for converting a digital (usually binary) code to an analogue signal (current, voltage or charges). ... CMOS Transmission Gate A transmission gate is an electronic element. ...

Heat dissipation and thermal management

Main article: Thermal management of electronic devices and systems

Heat generated by electronic circuitry must be dissipated to prevent immediate failure and improve long term reliability. Techniques for heat dissipation can include heatsinks and fans for air cooling, and other forms of computer cooling such as liquid cooling for computers . Heat generated by electronic devices and circuitry must be dissipated to improve reliability and prevent prematiure failure. ... A large copper heatsink. ... Non-electric fan Household Electric Fan A fan has two purposes – to move air for creature comfort or for ventilation and to move air or gas from one location to another for industrial purposes. ... It has been suggested that computer fan be merged into this article or section. ... Liquid Cooling for Computers The components in a computer liquid cooling system consist of one or more “water blocks”, a pump, a radiator, one or more fans, tubing, cooling liquid, and may also include a reservoir and fittings. ...

Noise

Main article: electronic noise

Associated with all electronic circuits is noise. Noise is generally defined as any unwanted signal that is not present at the input of the circuit. Noise is not the same as distortion caused by the circuit. Associated with all electronic circuits is noise. ...

Electronics theory

Main article: Mathematical methods in electronics

Mathematical methods are integral to the study of electronics. To become proficient in electronics it is also necessary to become proficient in the mathematics of circuit analysis. // Mathematical methods in electronics Mathematical methods are integral to the study of electronics. ...

Circuit analysis is the study of methods to solve linear systems for the unknown variables such as the voltage at a certain node or the current though a certain branch of a network. A common representation of this is the SPICE circuit simulator. Node may mean: Node (botany), the place on a plant stem where a leaf is attached Node (physics), a spatial locus along a standing wave where the wave has minimal amplitude Node (networking), a device connected to a network, such as a computer or router Node (computer science), a basic... A wide variety of systems of interconnected components are called networks. ... Screen shot of Spice OPUS, a fork of Berkeley SPICE SPICE (Simulation Program with Integrated Circuits Emphasis) is a general purpose analog circuit simulator. ...

Also important to electronics is the study and understanding of electromagnetic field theory.

Electronic test equipment

Main article: Electronic test equipment

Electronic test equipment is used to create stimulus signals and capture responses from electronic Devices Under Test (DUTs). In this way, the proper operation of the DUT can be proven or faults in the device can be traced and repaired. Back to Electronics Electronic test equipment (sometimes called testgear) is used to create stimulus signals and capture responses from electronic Devices Under Test (DUTs). ...

Practical electronics engineering and assembly requires the use of many different kinds of electronic test equipment ranging from the very simple and inexpensive (such as a test light consisting of just a light bulb and a test lead) to extremely complex and sophisticated such as Automatic Test Equipment.

Computer aided design (CAD)

Main article: Electronic design automation

Today's electronics engineers have the ability to design circuits using premanufactured building blocks such as power supplies, resistors, capacitors, semiconductors (such as transistors), and integrated circuits. Electronic design automation software programs include schematic capture programs such as ORCAD, used to make circuit diagrams and printed circuit board layouts. Electronic design automation (EDA) is the category of tools for designing and producing electronic systems ranging from printed circuit boards (PCBs) to integrated circuits. ... The process of circuit design can cover systems ranging from national power grids all the way down to the individual transistors within an integrated circuit. ... An electrical network is an interconnection of electrical elements such as resistors, inductors, capacitors, diodes, switches and transistors. ... A power supply unit (sometimes abbreviated power supply or PSU) is a device or system that supplies electrical or other types of energy to an output load or group of loads. ... Resistor symbols (US and Japan) Resistor symbols (Europe) A pack of resistors A resistor is a two-terminal electrical or electronic component that resists an electric current by producing a voltage drop between its terminals in accordance with Ohms law. ... A capacitor is a device that stores energy in the electric field created between a pair of conductors on which equal but opposite electric charges have been placed. ... A semiconductor is a material with an electrical conductivity that is intermediate between that of an insulator and a conductor. ... Assorted component transistors The transistor is a solid state semiconductor device which can be used for amplification, switching, voltage stabilization, signal modulation and many other functions. ... SEM image of an integrated circuit showing defects in the aluminium layer deposition (shown in cyan). ... Electronic design automation (EDA) is the category of tools for designing and producing electronic systems ranging from printed circuit boards (PCBs) to integrated circuits. ... Schematic capture or schematic entry is a step in the design cycle of electronic design automation at which the electronic diagram, or schematic of the designed electronic circuit is created by a designer. ... An ORCAD Electrical system diagram; Typically OrCAD is used with Electronic components such as ICs, Etc. ... The circuit diagram for a 4 bit TTL counter, a type of state machine A circuit diagram (also known as an electrical diagram or electronic schematic) is a pictorial representation of an electrical circuit. ... Close-up photo of one side of a motherboard PCB, showing conductive traces, vias and solder points for through-hole components on the opposite side. ...

Construction methods

Many different methods of connecting components have been used over the years starting with point to point wiring using tag boards attached to chassis, through printed circuit boards and ending with highly integrated circuits. Some of the methods previously used are:

• Point-to-point construction
• Cordwood construction
• Wire wrap
• Printed circuit boards

Point-to-point construction is the way most electronics were constructed before the 1950s. ... Cordwood construction (aka cordwood masonry or stackwall construction) is a term used for an alternative building method in which cordwood or short lengths pieces of debarked tree are laid up crosswise with masonry to build a wall. ... This article deals with electronics manufacturing and prototyping techniques, see Wire wrap jewellery for the jewellery related topic Wire wrap is a technique for constructing small numbers of complex electronics. ... Close-up photo of one side of a motherboard PCB, showing conductive traces, vias and solder points for through-hole components on the opposite side. ...

Branch pages

• Digital electronics
• Analogue electronics
• Microelectronics
• Fuzzy electronics
• Electronic Devices and Circuits
• Integrated circuit
• Optoelectronics
• Printed circuit board
• Semiconductor
• Semiconductor device

Digital electronics is based on a number of discrete voltage levels, usually two, as distinct from Analog electronics which uses voltages to represent variables directly. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Microelectronics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Fuzzy electronics is using of fuzzy logic, instude of two value logic in Digital electronics. ... The process of circuit design can cover systems ranging from national power grids all the way down to the individual transistors within an integrated circuit. ... SEM image of an integrated circuit showing defects in the aluminium layer deposition (shown in cyan). ... Optoelectronics is the study and application of electronic devices that interact with light. ... Close-up photo of one side of a motherboard PCB, showing conductive traces, vias and solder points for through-hole components on the opposite side. ... A semiconductor is a material with an electrical conductivity that is intermediate between that of an insulator and a conductor. ... Semiconductor devices are electronic components that exploit the electronic properties of semiconductor materials, principally silicon, germanium, and gallium arsenide. ...

See also

• Electrical engineering
• Circuit diagram
• Signal theory
• transducer
• Computer engineering
• Datasheet
• Mechatronics
• E-waste

This article treats electronics engineering as a subfield of electrical engineering, though this is not universally accepted. ... The circuit diagram for a 4 bit TTL counter, a type of state machine A circuit diagram (also known as an electrical diagram or electronic schematic) is a pictorial representation of an electrical circuit. ... Signal theory is the theory of the engineering discipline of signal processing. ... A transducer is a device, usually electrical or electronic, that converts one type of energy to another. ... The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view. ... A datasheet is a document summarizing the characteristics of an electronic component in sufficient detail that a competent engineer can integrate the component into a new circuit or device. ... Mechatronics is the synergistic combination of mechanical engineering (mecha for mechanisms), electronic engineering (tronics for electronics), and software engineering. ... Abandoned monitor Electronic waste or e-waste is any broken or unwanted electrical or electronic appliance. ...

External links

Wikibooks has more about this subject:

Electronics

• Endtas robotics community website with lots of free robotic projects. Do it yourself
• IEEE
• IEEE spectrum
• Electronix Express
• Electronics Discussions Web access to electronics related newsgroups.
• Wikidevices.org A MediaWiki-powered website focusing entirely on electronic devices.
• LinuxLinks.com Linux Electronic Software.
• All About Circuits Online textbooks covering electricity and electronics.

Image File history File links Wikibooks-logo-en. ... Wikibooks logo Wikibooks, previously called Wikimedia Free Textbook Project and Wikimedia-Textbooks, is a sister project to Wikipedia and is part of the Wikimedia Foundation, begun on July 10, 2003. ...

Tutorials and projects

• Electronics Infoline Directory for electronics projects.
• Basic Electronic Tutorials On DC, AC, Semiconductor and Digital Theory Extensive free tutorial material and store.
• Electronics tutorials Modest site, mostly focused on radio electronics, awkward layout.
• Ian Purdie's Electronics tutorials
• Iguana Labs' Electronics Tutorials and Kits
• Electronic Meanings and Acronyms
• Lessons in Electric Circuits – A free series of textbooks on the subjects of electricity and electronics.
• Radio-Electronics.Com Free information and resources covering radio and electronics
• Circuit simulator with voltage and current visualization(java applet)
• A comprehensive guide to making integrated circuits
• HyperPhysics
• "Talking Electronics" Great for amateurs, commercial kits.
• Work Ready Electronics Free instructional online course materials for Community College Electronics Instructors and Students.
• Electronics and Radio Today Free basic guides and overviews of electronics and electronics principles.