Electronics and Gadgets Electronics is the branch of science, engineering and
technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical
components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits,
and associated passive interconnection technologies. The nonlinear behaviour of
active components and their ability to control electron flows makes
amplification of weak signals possible and is usually applied to information and
signal processing. Similarly, the ability of electronic devices to act as
switches makes digital information processing possible. Interconnection
technologies such as circuit boards, electronics packaging technology, and other
varied forms of communication infrastructure complete circuit functionality and
transform the mixed components into a working system.
A gadget is a small
technological object that has a particular function Rigid flex PCB, but is often thought
of as a novelty. Gadgets are invariably considered to be more unusually or
cleverly designed than normal technological objects at the time of their
invention. Gadgets are sometimes also referred to as gizmos.
Electronics
is distinct from electrical and electro mechanical science and technology, which
deals with the generation, distribution, switching, storage and conversion of
electrical energy to and from other energy forms using wires, motors,
generators, batteries, switches, relays, transformers, resistors and other
passive components. This distinction started around 1906 with the invention by
Lee De Forest of the triode, which made electrical amplification of weak radio
signals and audio signals possible with a non-mechanical device. Until 1950 this
field was called radio technology because its principal application was the
design and theory of radio transmitters, receivers and vacuum
tubes.
Today, most electronic devices use semiconductor components to
perform electron control. The study of semiconductor devices and related
technology is considered a branch of solid state physics, whereas the design and
construction of electronic circuits to solve practical problems come under
electronics engineering. This article focuses on engineering aspects of
electronics.
An electronic component is any physical entity in an
electronic system used to affect the electrons or their associated fields in a
desired manner consistent with the intended function of the electronic system.
Components are generally intended to be connected together, usually by being
soldered to a printed circuit board (PCB), to create an electronic circuit with
a particular function (for example an amplifier, radio receiver, or oscillator).
Components may be packaged singly or in more complex groups as integrated
circuits. Some common electronic components are capacitors PCB Prototype Manufacturer, inductors,
resistors, diodes, transistors, etc. Components are often categorized as active
(e.g. transistors and thyristors) or passive (e.g. resistors and
capacitors).
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. Analog circuits are
sometimes called linear circuits although many nonlinear effects are used in
analog circuits such as mixers, modulators, etc. Good examples of analog
circuits include vacuum tube and transistor amplifiers, operational amplifiers
and oscillators.
One rarely finds modern circuits that are entirely
analog. These days analog circuitry may use digital or even microprocessor
techniques to improve performance. This type of circuit is usually called mixed
signal rather than analog or digital. 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 which takes in a
continuous range of voltage but only outputs one of two levels as in a digital
circuit. Similarly, an overdriven transistor amplifier can take on the
characteristics of a controlled switch having essentially two levels of
output.
Digital circuits are electric circuits based on a number of
discrete voltage levels. Digital circuits are the most common physical
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. Most digital circuits use a
binary system with two voltage levels labeled 0 and 1. Often logic 0 will be a
lower voltage and referred to as Low while logic 1 is referred to as High.
However, some systems use the reverse definition (0 is High) or are current
based. Ternary (with three states) logic has been studied, and some prototype
computers made. Computers, electronic clocks, and programmable logic controllers
are constructed of digital circuits. Digital signal processors are another
example.
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