Electronic component

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Components

• Passive components are those that do not have gain
  Gain
  
  In electronics, gain is a measure of the ability of a electrical network to increase the Power or amplitude of a Signal . It is usually defined as the mean ratio of the Signalling of a system to the Signalling of the same system....
   or directionality. In the Electrical industry they are called Electrical elements or electrical components
  Electrical element
  
  The concept of electrical elements is used in the circuit analysis of electrical networks. Any electrical network can be modeled by decomposing it down to multiple, interconnected electrical elements in a Schematic diagram#Electronic industry or circuit diagram....
  
• Active components are those that have gain or directionality, in contrast to passive components, which have neither. They include semiconductor devices and vacuum tube
  Vacuum tube
  
  In electronics, a vacuum tube, electron tube , thermionic valve, or just valve is a device used to amplifier, switch, otherwise modify, or create an Electricity signal by controlling the movement of electrons in a low-pressure space....
  s (valves).

Terminals and connectors

• Terminal
  Terminal (electronics)
  
  A terminal is a conductive device for joining electrical circuits together. The connection may be temporary, as for portable equipment, or may require a tool for assembly and removal, or may be a permanent electrical joint between two wires or devices....
  
• Connector
  Electrical connector
  
  An electrical connector is a Electrical conductor for joining electrical circuits together. The connection may be temporary, as for portable equipment, or may require a tool for assembly and removal, or may be a permanent electrical joint between two wires or devices....
  
• Socket
  Jack (connector)
  
  In electronics, the term jack commonly refers to a surface-mounted female connector or socket. The related term "jack plug" refers to a male connector, and is generally shortened to simply "plug"....
  
• Screw terminal, Terminal Blocks
  Screw terminal
  
  A screw terminal is a type of electrical connector where a wire is clamp ed down to metal by a screw.The wire is sometimes just stripped of electrical insulation at the end, and is bent in a U or J shape to fit around the shaft of the screw....
  
• Header
  Header
  
  Header may refer to:* Header , supplemental data at the beginning of a data block* Header , a 2006 film* Header file, a text file used in computer programming ...
  
• Closed
  Closed
  
  Closed may refer to:Math* Closure * Closed manifold* Orbit #Closed Orbits* Closed set* One-formOther* Cloister, a closed walkway...
  

Cords

• Power cord
  Power cord
  
  For a musical note played on an electric guitar see Power chordA power cord, line cord, or mains cable is a cord or cable that temporarily connects an Small appliance to the distribution circuits of an electrical power source via a wall socket or extension cord....
  
• Patch cord
• Test lead

Switches

• Switch
  Switch
  
  In electronics, a switch is an electrical component which can break an electrical circuit, interrupting the Electric current or diverting it from one conductor to another....
   - manually operated switch
• Keypad
  Keypad
  
  A keypad is a set of buttons arranged in a block which usually bear digits and other symbols but not a complete set of alphabetical letters. If it mostly contains numbers then it can also be called a numeric keypad....
   - small array of pushbutton switches
• Relay
  Relay
  
  A relay is an electrical switch that opens and closes under the control of another electrical circuit. In the original form, the switch is operated by an magnet to open or close one or many sets of contacts....
   - Electrically operated switch. This is a mechanical component, unlike the Solid State Relay
  Solid state relay
  
  A solid state relay is an electronic switch, which, unlike an electromechanical relay, contains no moving parts. The types of SSR are photo-coupled SSR, transformer-coupled SSR, and hybrid SSR....
  
• Reed switch
  Reed switch
  
  The reed switch is an electrical switch operated by an applied magnetic field. It was invented at Bell Telephone Laboratories in 1936 by W. B....
   - Magnetically activated switch
• Thermostat
  Thermostat
  
  A thermostat is a Measuring instrument for regulating the temperature of a system so that the system's temperature is maintained near a desired setpoint temperature....
   - Thermally activated switch
• Circuit Breaker
  Circuit breaker
  
  A circuit breaker is an automatically-operated Electricity switch designed to protect an Electrical network from damage caused by Overcurrent or short circuit....
   - Over-current activated switch
• Limit switch - Mechanically activated switch
• Mercury switch
  Mercury switch
  
  A mercury switch is a switch whose purpose is to allow or interrupt the flow of electric current in an electrical circuit in a manner that is dependent on the switch's physical position or alignment relative to the direction of the "pull" of earth gravity....
  
• Centrifugal switch
  Centrifugal switch
  
  A centrifugal switch is an electric switch that operates using the centrifugal force created from a rotating shaft, most commonly that of an electric motor or gasoline engine....
  

Resistors

1. See the Transducer section below for resistors used to sense environmental conditions (Thermistor, Photo resistor, RTD...)
2. See the Protection section below for resistors used for current or voltage limiting (MOV, Inrush Limiters...)

• Resistor
  Resistor
  
  |- align = "center"||width = "25"|| |- align = "center"||| Potentiometer|- align = "center"| || |- align = "top"| Resistor|| Variable resistor...
   - fixed value
• Resistor network - array of resistors in one package
• Trimmer
  Trimmer (electronics)
  
  A trimmer is a miniature adjustable electrical component. It is meant to be set correctly when installed in some device, and never seen or adjusted by the device's user....
   - Small variable resistor
• Potentiometer, Rheostat
  Potentiometer
  
  A potentiometer is a three-terminal resistor with a sliding contact that forms an adjustable voltage divider. If only two terminals are used , it acts as a variable resistor or Rheostat....
   - variable resistor
• Heater
  Heater
  
  A heater is any object that emits heat or causes another body to achieve a higher temperature. In a household or domestic setting, heaters are commonly used to generate heating ....
   - heating element
  Heating element
  
  A heating element converts electricity into heat through the process of Joule heating. Electric current through the element encounters electrical resistance, resulting in heating of the element....
  
• Resistance wire
  Resistance wire
  
  Resistance wire is electrical wire used for its resistance. It is routinely used at high temperatures, so normally also has high melting point....
   - wire of high-resistance material, similar to heating element
• Thermistor
  Thermistor
  
  A thermistor is a type of resistor with electrical resistance proportional to its temperature. The word is a portmanteau of Thermal and resistor....
   - temperature-varied resistor
• Varistor
  Varistor
  
  A varistor is an electronic component with a significant non-Ohm current?voltage characteristic. The name is a portmanteau of resistor#Variable resistors....
   - voltage-varied resistor

Protection devices

1. While these components technically belong to the Wire, Resistor and Vacuum classes, they are grouped here based on their use.
2. Active components that perform a protection function are in the Semiconductor class, below.

• Fuse
  Fuse (electrical)
  
  In electronics and electrical engineering a fuse is a type of overcurrent protection device. Its essential component is a metal wire or strip that melts when too much current flows, which breaks the electrical network in which it is connected, thus protecting the circuit's other components from damage due to excessive current....
   - Over-current protection, one time use
• Resettable fuse
  Resettable fuse
  
  A polymeric positive temperature coefficient device is a passive electronic component used to protect against overelectric current faults in electronic circuits....
   (PolySwitch, self-resetting fuse)- Over-current protection, resettable
• Metal Oxide Varistor, Surge Absorber
  Varistor
  
  A varistor is an electronic component with a significant non-Ohm current?voltage characteristic. The name is a portmanteau of resistor#Variable resistors....
   (MOV) - Over-voltage protection. These are passive components, unlike the TVS
  Transient voltage suppression diode
  
  A transient voltage suppression diode is an electronic component used to protect sensitive electronics from voltage spikes induced on connected wires....
  
• Inrush current limiter
  Inrush current limiter
  
  An inrush current limiter is a component used to limit inrush current. Negative temperature coefficient thermistors and fixed resistors are often used for this....
   - protection against initial Inrush current
  Inrush current
  
  Inrush current or input surge current refers to the maximum, instantaneous input current drawn by an electrical device when first turned on....
  
• Gas Discharge Tube - protection against high voltage surges
• Circuit Breaker
  Circuit breaker
  
  A circuit breaker is an automatically-operated Electricity switch designed to protect an Electrical network from damage caused by Overcurrent or short circuit....
   - Over-current activated switch
• Spark gap
  Spark gap
  
  A spark gap consists of an arrangement of two Conductor electrodes separated by a gap usually filled with a gas such as air. When a suitable voltage is supplied, a spark forms, ionizing the gas and drastically reducing its electrical resistance....
   - two electrodes with a gap in between to create arcing
• Filament lamp
• GFCI or RCD
  RCD
  
  RCD may stand for:* Residual-current device in electrical engineering, a 'safety switch' style mechanism to prevent electrocution* Radiocarbon dating, a scientific method of dating once-living matter...
  

Capacitors

• Capacitor
  Capacitor
  
  A capacitor or condenser is a Passive component electronic component consisting of a pair of electrical conductor separated by a dielectric....
   - fixed capacitance
• Capacitor network (array)
• Variable capacitor
  Variable capacitor
  
  A variable capacitor is a capacitor whose capacitance may be intentionally and repeatedly changed mechanically or electronically. Variable capacitors are often used in RLC circuit to set the resonance frequency, e.g....
   - change the capacitance
• Varicap
  Varicap
  
  In electronics, a varicap diode, varactor diode, variable capacitance diode or tuning diode is a type of diode which has a variable capacitance that is a function of the voltage impressed on its terminals....
   diode - variable capacitor come diode

Magnetic (inductive) devices

• Inductor
  Inductor
  
  An inductor is a Passive component Electronic component that can store energy in a magnetic field created by the electric current passing through it....
  , coil, choke
• Variable inductor
• Saturable Inductor
  Saturable reactor
  
  A saturable reactor in electrical engineering is a special form of inductor where the magnetic core can be deliberately saturation by means of a direct current electric current flowing in a control winding....
  
• Transformer
  Transformer
  
  A transformer is a device that transfers electrical energy from one electrical network to another through inductive coupling conductors — the transformer's coils or "windings"....
  
• Magnetic amplifier
  Magnetic amplifier
  
  The magnetic amplifier is an electromagnetism device for amplifying electrical signals. The magnetic amplifier was invented early in the 20th century, and was used as an alternative to vacuum tube amplifiers where robustness and high current capacity were required....
   (toroid
  Toroid
  
  Toroid may refer to:*Toroid , a doughnut-like solid whose surface is a torus.*Toroidal inductors and transformers which have wire windings on circular ring shaped magnetic cores....
  )
• Ferrite impedances, beads
  Ferrite bead
  
  File:Two ferrite beads.jpgA ferrite bead is a passive electric component used to suppress high frequency Electronic noise in electronic circuits....
  
• Motor
  Electric motor
  
  An electric motor uses electrical energy to produce mechanical energy, nearly always by the interaction of magnetic fields and current-carrying conductors....
   / Generator
  Electrical generator
  
  In electricity generation, an electrical generator is a device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy, generally using electromagnetic induction....
  
• Solenoid
  Solenoid
  
  A solenoid is a three-dimensional coil. In physics, the term solenoid refers to a loop of wire, often wrapped around a metallic core, which produces a magnetic field when an electric current is passed through it....
  
• Speaker
  Loudspeaker
  
  A loudspeaker, speaker, or speaker system is an electroacoustical transducer that converts an electricity signal processing to sound....
   / Microphone
  Microphone
  
  A microphone, sometimes referred to as a mike or?more recently?mic, is an acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal....
  

Networks

• RC network - forms an RC circuit
  RC circuit
  
  A 'resistor?capacitor circuit' , or 'RC filter' or 'RC network', is an electric circuit composed of resistors and capacitors driven by a voltage source or current source....
  , used in Snubber
  Snubber
  
  A snubber is a device used to suppress voltage transients in Electronics systems, pressure transients in fluid systems, or excess force or rapid movement in Mechanics systems....
  s
• LC Network - forms an LC circuit
  LC circuit
  
  An LC circuit is a variety of resonant circuit or tuned circuit and consists of an inductor, represented by the letter L, and a capacitor, represented by the letter C....
  , used in tuneable transformers and RFI filters

Piezoelectric devices, crystals, resonators

• Components that use the effect to generate or filter high frequencies
• Crystal
  Crystal oscillator
  
  A crystal oscillator is an electronic circuit that uses the mechanical resonance of a vibrating crystal of Piezoelectricity#Materials to create an electrical signal with a very precise frequency....
   - Is a fudge crystal used to generate precise frequencies (See the Modules class below for complete oscillators)
• Ceramic resonator
  Ceramic resonator
  
  Description A ceramic resonator is an electronic component that can produce oscillation at a specific frequency when combined with other appropriate components....
   - Is a ceramic crystal used to generate semi-precise frequencies
• Ceramic filter - Is a ceramic crystal used to filter a band of frequencies such as in radio receivers
• Surface Acoustic Wave
  Electronic filter
  
  Electronic filters are electronic circuits which perform signal processing functions, specifically to remove unwanted frequency components from the signal and/or to enhance wanted ones....
   (SAW) filters
• Components that use the effect as mechanical Transducer
  Transducer
  
  A transducer is a device, usually electricity, electronics, electro-mechanical, electromagnetic, photonic, or photovoltaic that converts one type of energy or physical attribute to another for various purposes including measurement or information transfer ....
  s.
• Ultrasonic motor
  Ultrasonic motor
  
  An ultrasonic motor is a type of electric motor formedfrom the ultrasonic vibration of a component, the stator, placedagainst another, the Rotor or slider depending on the scheme...
   - Electric motor that uses the piezoelectric effect
• For piezo buzzers and microphones, see the Transducer class below

Power sources

• Battery
  Battery (electricity)
  
  In electronics, a battery or voltaic cell is a combination of one or more electrochemical cell Galvanic cells which store chemical energy that can be converted into electric potential energy, creating electricity....
   - acid- or alkali-based power supply
• Fuel cell
  Fuel cell
  
  A fuel cell is an Electrochemistry conversion device. It produces electricity from fuel and an Oxidizing agent , which react in the presence of an electrolyte....
   - an electrochemical generator
• Power supply
  Power supply
  
  Power supply is a reference to a source of electrical power. A device or system that supplies electrical or other types of energy to an output External electric load or group of loads is called a power supply unit or PSU....
   - usually a mains hook-up
• Photo voltaic device - generates electricity from light
• Generator
  Generator
  
  Generator may refer to:* Electrical generator* Engine-generator, an electrical generator, but with its own engine.* Generator , any of several closely related usages in mathematics....
   - an electromechanical power source

Transducers, sensors, detectors

1. Transducer
   Transducer
   
   A transducer is a device, usually electricity, electronics, electro-mechanical, electromagnetic, photonic, or photovoltaic that converts one type of energy or physical attribute to another for various purposes including measurement or information transfer ....
   s generate physical effects when driven by an electrical signal, or vice-versa.
2. Sensor
   Sensor
   
   A sensor is a device that measures a physical quantity and converts it into a signal which can be read by an observer or by an instrument. For example, a mercury thermometer converts the measured temperature into expansion and contraction of a liquid which can be read on a calibrated glass tube....
   s (detectors) are transducers that react to environmental conditions by changing their electrical properties or generating an electrical signal.
3. The Transducers listed here are single electronic components (as opposed to complete assemblies), and are passive
   Passivity (engineering)
   
   Passivity is a property of engineering systems, most commonly used in electronic engineering and control systems. A passive component, depending on field, may either refer to a component that consumes energy, or to a component that is incapable of gain....
    (see Semiconductors and Tubes for active
   Passivity (engineering)
   
   Passivity is a property of engineering systems, most commonly used in electronic engineering and control systems. A passive component, depending on field, may either refer to a component that consumes energy, or to a component that is incapable of gain....
    ones). Only the most common ones are listed here.

• Audio (see also Piezoelectric devices)
• Microphone
  Microphone
  
  A microphone, sometimes referred to as a mike or?more recently?mic, is an acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal....
   - Magnetic, electrostatic (capacitive), piezoelectric and others. Convert audio to electrical signal
• Loudspeaker
  Loudspeaker
  
  A loudspeaker, speaker, or speaker system is an electroacoustical transducer that converts an electricity signal processing to sound....
   - Magnetic or piezoelectric device to generate full audio
• Buzzer
  Buzzer
  
  A buzzer or beeper is a signalling device, usually electronic, typically used in automobiles, household appliances such as a microwave oven, or game shows....
   - Magnetic or piezoelectric sounder to generate tones
• Position, motion
• Linear variable differential transformer
  Linear variable differential transformer
  
  The linear variable differential transducer is a type of electrical transformer used for measuring linear displacement. The transformer has three solenoidal coils placed end-to-end around a tube....
   (LVDT) - Magnetic - detects linear position
• Rotary encoder
  Rotary encoder
  
  A rotary encoder, also called a shaft encoder, is an electro-mechanical device used to convert the angle position of a shaft or axle to an analog or digital code, making it an angle transducer....
  , Shaft Encoder - Optical, magnetic, resistive or switches - detects absolute or relative angle or rotational speed
• Inclinometer
  Inclinometer
  
  An inclinometer or clinometer is an instrument for measuring angles of slope , elevation or inclination of an object with respect to gravity....
   - Capacitive - detects angle with respect to gravity
• Motion sensor, Vibration sensor
• Flow meter - detects flow in liquid or gas
• Force, torque
• Strain gauge
  Strain gauge
  
  A strain gauge is a device used to measure the Strain of an object. Invented by Edward E. Simmons and Arthur C. Ruge in 1938, the most common type of strain gauge consists of an Electrical insulation flexible backing which supports a metallic foil pattern....
   - Piezoelectric or resistive - detects squeezing, stretching, twisting
• Accelerometer
  Accelerometer
  
  An accelerometer is a device for measuring acceleration and gravity.Single- and multi-axis models are available to detect magnitude and direction of the acceleration as a Euclidean vector quantity, and can be used to sense orientation, vibration and shock....
   - Piezoelectric - detects acceleration, gravity
• Thermal
• Thermocouple
  Thermocouple
  
  A thermocouple is a junction between two different metals that produces a voltage related to a temperature difference. Thermocouples are a widely used type of list of temperature sensors and can also be used to convert heat into electric power....
  , thermopile
  Thermopile
  
  A thermopile is an electronic device that converts thermal energy into electrical energy. It is composed of thermocouples connected usually in series connection...
   - Wires that generate a voltage proportional to delta temperature
• Thermistor
  Thermistor
  
  A thermistor is a type of resistor with electrical resistance proportional to its temperature. The word is a portmanteau of Thermal and resistor....
   - Resistor whose resistance changes with temperature, up PTC
  Positive temperature coefficient
  
  Positive Temperature Coefficient refers to materials that experience an increase in electrical resistance when their temperature is raised. Materials which have useful engineering applications usually show a relatively rapid increase with temperature, i.e....
   or down NTC
  Negative temperature coefficient
  
  A negative temperature coefficient occurs when the thermal conductivity of a material rises with increasing temperature, typically in a defined temperature range....
  
• Resistance Temperature Detector
  Resistance thermometer
  
  Resistance thermometers, also called resistance temperature detectors , are temperature sensors that exploit the predictable change in electrical resistance of some materials with changing temperature....
   (RTD) - Wire whose resistance changes with temperature
• Bolometer
  Bolometer
  
  A bolometer is a device for measuring the energy of incident electromagnetic radiation. It was invented in 1878 by the American astronomer Samuel Pierpont Langley....
  
• Thermal cutoff - Switch that is opened or closed when a set temperature is exceeded
• Magnetic field (see also Hall Effect in semiconductors)
• Magnetometer
  Magnetometer
  
  A magnetometer is a scientific instrument used to measure the strength and/or direction of the magnetic field in the vicinity of the instrument....
  , Gauss meter
• Humidity
• Hygrometer
  Hygrometer
  
  Hygrometers are instruments used for measuring relative humidity. A simple form of a hygrometer is specifically known as a psychrometer and consists of two thermometers, one of which includes a dry bulb and the other of which includes a bulb that is kept wet to measure wet-bulb temperature....
  
• Electromagnetic, light
• Photo resistor - Light dependent resistor (LDR)

Solid State components

Solid state (electronics)

Solid-state electronic components, devices, and systems are based entirely on the semiconductor, such as transistors, microprocessor chips, and the bubble memory....
, Semiconductor

Semiconductor

A semiconductor is a material that has electrical conductivity between those of a Electrical conductor and an electrical insulation; it can vary over that wide range either permanently or dynamically....
s

Diode

Diode

In electronics, a diode is a two-terminal device .Diodes have two active electrodes between which the signal of interest may flow, and most are used for their unidirectional electric current property....
s

• Standard Diode
  Diode
  
  In electronics, a diode is a two-terminal device .Diodes have two active electrodes between which the signal of interest may flow, and most are used for their unidirectional electric current property....
  , Rectifier
  Rectifier
  
  A rectifier is an electrical device that converts alternating current to direct current , a process known as rectification. Rectifiers have many uses including as components of power supply and as detector s of radio signals....
  , Bridge Rectifier
• Schottky Diode, Hot Carrier Diode
  Schottky diode
  
  The Schottky diode is a semiconductor diode with a low forward voltage drop and a very fast switching action.The cat's-whisker detectors used in the early days of wireless#History can be considered as primitive Schottky diodes....
   - super fast diode with low forward voltage drop
• Zener Diode
  Zener diode
  
  A Zener diode is a type of diode that permits electric current in the forward direction like a normal diode, but also in the reverse direction if the voltage is larger than the breakdown voltage known as "Zener knee voltage" or "Zener voltage"....
   - lets electricity flow "backwards" if it is suitably high in voltage
• Transient Voltage Suppression Diode
  Transient voltage suppression diode
  
  A transient voltage suppression diode is an electronic component used to protect sensitive electronics from voltage spikes induced on connected wires....
   (TVS), Unipolar or Bipolar - used to block high-voltage spikes
• Varactor, Tuning diode, Varicap, Variable Capacitance Diode
  Varicap
  
  In electronics, a varicap diode, varactor diode, variable capacitance diode or tuning diode is a type of diode which has a variable capacitance that is a function of the voltage impressed on its terminals....
   - A diode come capacitor
• Light Emitting Diode
  Light-emitting diode
  
  A light-emitting diode , is an electronic light source. The LED was discovered in the early 20th century, and introduced as a practical electronic component in 1962....
   (LED) - A diode which gives out light
• LASER Diode
  Laser diode
  
  A laser diode is a laser where the active medium is a semiconductor similar to that found in a light-emitting diode. The most common and practical type of laser diode is formed from a p-n junction and powered by injected electric current....
   - A laser LED
• Photodiode
  Photodiode
  
  A photodiode is a type of photodetector capable of converting light into either electric current or voltage, depending upon the mode of operation....
   - Only passes power when in light
• Solar Cell, photovoltaic cell, PV array
  Solar cell
  
  A solar cell or photovoltaic cell is a device that converts sunlight directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect. Sometimes the term solar cell is reserved for devices intended specifically to capture energy from sunlight, while the term photovoltaic cell is used when the source is unspecified....
   or panel
• Avalanche Photodiode
  Avalanche photodiode
  
  Avalanche photodiodes are photodetectors that can be regarded as the semiconductor analog to photomultipliers. By applying a high reverse bias voltage , APDs show an internal current gain effect due to impact ionization ....
  
• Diode for Alternating Current
  DIAC
  
  The DIAC, or diode for alternating current, is a bidirectional trigger diode that conducts Electrical current only after its breakdown voltage has been exceeded momentarily....
   (DIAC, Trigger Diode, SIDAC)
• Current source
  Current source
  
  A current source is an electrical or electronic device that delivers or absorbs electric current. A current source is the Duality of a voltage source....
   Diode
• Peltier cooler

Transistor

Transistor

In electronics, a transistor is a semiconductor device commonly used to Electronic amplifier or switch Electronics signals. A transistor is made of a solid piece of a semiconductor material, with at least three terminals for connection to an external circuit....
s

• Bipolar transistors
• Bipolar Junction Transistor
  Bipolar junction transistor
  
  A bipolar transistor is a type of transistor. It is a three-terminal device constructed of Doping semiconductor material and may be used in Electronic amplifier or switching applications....
   (BJT, "transistor") - NPN or PNP
• Photo transistor
• Darlington transistor
  Darlington transistor
  
  In electronics, the Darlington transistor is a compound structure consisting of two bipolar transistors connected in such a way that the current amplified by the first transistor is amplified further by the second one....
   - NPN or PNP
• Photo Darlington
• Sziklai pair
  Sziklai pair
  
  In electronics, the Sziklai pair is a configuration of two bipolar transistors, similar to a Darlington pair. In contrast to the Darlington arrangement, the Sziklai pair has one NPN transistor and one PNP transistor transistor, and so it is sometimes called the "complementary Darlington." Current gain is similar to that of a Darlington pai...
   (Compound transistor, complementary Darlington)
• Field effect transistor
  Field effect transistor
  
  The field-effect transistor is a type of transistor that relies on an electric field to control the shape and hence the electrical conductivity of a channel of one type of charge carrier in a semiconductor material....
   (FET)
• Junction Field Effect Transistor
  JFET
  
  The junction gate field-effect transistor is the simplest type of field effect transistor. It can be used as an electronics-controlled switch or as a voltage-controlled Electrical resistance....
   (JFET) - N-CHANNEL or P-CHANNEL
• Metal Oxide Semiconductor FET
  MOSFET
  
  The metal?oxide?semiconductor field-effect transistor is a device used to amplify or switch electronic signals. The basic principle of the device was first proposed by Julius Edgar Lilienfeld in 1925....
   (MOSFET) - N-CHANNEL or P-CHANNEL
• MEtal Semiconductor FET
  MESFET
  
  MESFET stands for MEtal Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor. It is quite similar to a JFET in construction and terminology. The difference is that instead of using a p-n junction for a gate, a Schottky barrier junction is used....
   (MESFET)
• High Electron Mobility Transistor
  HEMT
  
  HEMT stands for High Electron Mobility Transistor, and is also called heterostructure FET or modulation-doped FET . A HEMT is a field effect transistor incorporating a junction between two materials with different band gaps as the channel instead of a doped region, as is generally the case for MOSFETs....
   (HEMT)
• Thyristor
  Thyristor
  
  The thyristor is a Solid state semiconductor device with four layers of alternating N-type semiconductor and P-type semiconductor material. They act as bistable switches, conducting when their gate receives a current pulse, and continue to conduct for as long as they are forward biased ....
  s
• UniJunction Transistor
  Unijunction transistor
  
  A unijunction transistor is an Electronics semiconductor device that has only one junction. The UJT has three terminals: an emitter and two bases ....
   (UJT)
• Programmable UniJunction Transistor
  Unijunction transistor
  
  A unijunction transistor is an Electronics semiconductor device that has only one junction. The UJT has three terminals: an emitter and two bases ....
   (PUT)
• Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR)
• Static Induction Transistor/Thyristor
  SIT/SITh (Static Induction Transistor/Thyristor)
  
  The static induction thyristor is a thyristor with a buried gate structure in which the gate electrodes are placed in n-base region. Since they are normally on-state, gate electrodes must be negatively biased to hold off-state....
   (SIT, SITh)
• TRIode for Alternating Current
  TRIAC
  
  A TRIAC, or TRIode for Alternating Current is an Electronics component approximately equivalent to two silicon-controlled rectifiers joined in Antiparallel_ and with their gates connected together....
   (TRIAC)
• Composite transistors
• Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT)--

Integrated circuit

Integrated circuit

In electronics, an integrated circuit is a miniaturized electronic circuit that has been manufactured in the surface of a thin Wafer of semiconductor material....
s

• Digital
  Digital
  
  A digital system uses discrete values, usually but not always symbolized numerically to represent information for input, processing, transmission, storage, etc....
  
• Analog
• Hall effect sensor
  Hall effect sensor
  
  A Hall effect sensor is a transducer that varies its output voltage in response to changes in magnetic field. Hall sensors are used for proximity switching, positioning, speed detection, and current sensing applications....
   - Senses a magnetic field
• Current sensor
  Current sensor
  
  A current sensor is a device that detects electrical current in a wire, and generates a signal proportional to it.The sensed current and the output signal can be:...
   - Senses a current through it

Hybrid Circuits

Hybrid circuit

A hybrid integrated circuit, HIC, hybrid microcircuit, or simply hybrid is a miniaturized electronic circuit constructed of individual devices, such as semiconductor devices and passive components , bonded to a substrate or printed circuit board ....
 

• Optoelectronics
  Optoelectronics
  
  Optoelectronics is the study and application of electronics devices that source, detect and control light, usually considered a sub-field of photonics....
  
• Opto-Isolator, Opto-Coupler, Photo-Coupler
  Opto-isolator
  
  In electronics, an opto-isolator is a device that uses a short optical transmission path to transfer a signal between elements of a electrical network, typically a transmitter and a receiver, while keeping them electrically isolated ? since the signal goes from an electrical signal to an optical signal back to an electrical signal, elect...
   - Photodiode, BJT, JFET, SCR, TRIAC, Zero-crossing TRIAC, Open collector IC, CMOS IC, Solid State Relay (SSR)
  Solid state relay
  
  A solid state relay is an electronic switch, which, unlike an electromechanical relay, contains no moving parts. The types of SSR are photo-coupled SSR, transformer-coupled SSR, and hybrid SSR....
  
• Opto Switch, Opto Interrupter, Optical Switch, Optical Interrupter, Photo switch, Photo Interrupter
• LED Display
  LED display
  
  File:Armin only background.jpgAn LED display is a video display which uses light-emitting diodes. An LED panel is a small display, or a component of a larger display....
   - Seven-segment display
  Seven-segment display
  
  A seven-segment display , less commonly known as a seven-segment indicator, is a form of electronic display device for displaying decimal numeral system that is an alternative to the more complex dot-matrix displays....
  , Sixteen-segment display
  Sixteen-segment display
  
  A sixteen-segment display, sometimes called a "Union Flag" display or a "British Flag" display, is a type of display based on 16 segments that can be turned on or off according to the graphic pattern to be produced....
  , Dot matrix display
  Dot matrix display
  
  A dot matrix display is a display device used to display information on machines, clocks, railway departure indicators and many and other devices requiring a simple display device of limited resolution....
  

Display technologies

• Filament lamp (indicator lamp)
• Vacuum fluorescent display
  Vacuum fluorescent display
  
  A vacuum fluorescent display is a display device used commonly on consumer-electronics equipment such as video cassette recorders, car radios, and microwave ovens....
   (VFD) (preformed characters, 7 segment, starburst)
• Cathode ray tube
  Cathode ray tube
  
  The cathode ray tube is a vacuum tube containing an electron gun and a fluorescent screen, with internal or external means to accelerate and deflect the electron beam, used to create images in the form of light emitted from the fluorescent screen....
   (CRT) (dot matrix
  Dot matrix
  
  A dot matrix is a 2-dimensional array of dots used to generate characters, symbols and images.Typically the dot matrix is used in older computer printers and many digital display devices....
   scan (eg computer monitor), radial scan (eg radar
  Radar
  
  Radar is a system that uses electromagnetic radiation waves to identify the range, altitude, direction, or speed of both moving and fixed objects such as aircraft, ships, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain....
  ), arbitrary scan (eg oscilloscope
  Oscilloscope
  
  An oscilloscope is a type of electronic test instrument that allows signal voltages to be viewed, usually as a two-dimensional graph of one or more electrical potential differences plotted as a function of time or of some other voltage ....
  )) (monochrome
  Monochrome
  
  Monochrome comes from the Greek language ?????????? , meaning ?of one color?, which is a combination of ????? , meaning ?alone? or ?solitary?, and ????a , meaning ?color?....
   & colour)
• LCD (preformed characters, dot matrix) (passive, TFT
  TFT
  
  TFT may refer to:...
  ) (monochrome, colour)
• Neon
  Neon
  
  Neon is the chemical element that has the symbol Ne and atomic number 10. Although a very common element in the universe, it is rare on Earth....
   (individual, 7 segment display)
• LED (individual, 7 segment display, starburst display, dot matrix)
• Flap indicator (numeric
  Numeric
  
  Numeric may refer to:* of, or relating to, numbers* NumPy or Numerical Python* floating point data type...
  , preprinted messages)
• Plasma display
  Plasma display
  
  A plasma display panel is a type of flat panel display common to large television displays . Many tiny cells between two panels of glass hold an inert mixture of noble gases....
   (dot matrix)

• Filament lamp 7 segment display (aka 'minitron')
• Nixie Tube
  Nixie tube
  
  A nixie tube is an electronics device for display device. The glass tube contains a wire-mesh anode and multiple cathodes. In most tubes, the cathodes are shaped like Hindu-Arabic numeral system....
  
• Dekatron
  Dekatron
  
  In electronics, a Dekatron is a gas-filled counter tube. Dekatrons were used in computers, calculators and other counting-related devices during the 1940s to 1970s....
   (aka glow transfer tube)
• Magic eye indicator
• Penetron
  Penetron
  
  The penetron, short for penetration tube, is a type of limited-color television used in some military applications. Unlike a conventional color television, the penetron produces a limited gamut, typically two colors and their combination....
   (a 2 colour see-through CRT)

Thermionic Valve, Vacuum Tube

• Diode
• Triode
  Triode
  
  A triode is an electronic amplifier device having three active electrodes. The term most commonly applies to a vacuum tube with three elements: the Electrical filament or cathode, the control grid, and the Plate electrode or anode....
  
• Tetrode
  Tetrode
  
  A tetrode is an electronic device having four active electrodes. The term most commonly applies to a two-grid vacuum tube. It has the three electrodes of a triode and an additional screen grid which significantly changes its behaviour....
  
• Pentode
  Pentode
  
  A pentode is an electronic device having five active electrodes. The term most commonly applies to a three-grid vacuum tube, which was invented by the Dutchman Bernard Tellegen in 1926....
  
• Hexode
• Pentagrid
  Pentagrid converter
  
  The pentagrid converter was a radio receiving valve with five grids used as the frequency mixer stage of a superheterodyne radio receiver.The pentagrid was part of a line of development of valves that were able to take an incoming RF signal and change its frequency to a fixed intermediate frequency which was then amplified, and detected in...
  
• Octode
• Barretter
• Nuvistor
  Nuvistor
  
  The nuvistor is a type of vacuum tube announced by RCA in 1959. Most nuvistors are basically thimble-shaped, but somewhat smaller than a thimble....
  
• Compactron
  Compactron
  
  The Compactron is a 12-pin vacuum tube family introduced in 1961 by General Electric in Owensboro, Kentucky with the express purpose of keeping tubes in the market for a few more years during the Solid state revolution....
  

• Klystron
  Klystron
  
  A klystron is a specialized Linear particle accelerator vacuum tube . Klystrons are used as amplifiers at microwave and radio frequencies to produce both low-power reference signals for superheterodyne radar receivers and to produce high-power carrier waves for communications and the driving force for modern particle accelerators....
  
• Magnetron

• Photodiode
  Photodiode
  
  A photodiode is a type of photodetector capable of converting light into either electric current or voltage, depending upon the mode of operation....
  
• Cathode ray tube
  Cathode ray tube
  
  The cathode ray tube is a vacuum tube containing an electron gun and a fluorescent screen, with internal or external means to accelerate and deflect the electron beam, used to create images in the form of light emitted from the fluorescent screen....
   (CRT)
• Vacuum fluorescent display
  Vacuum fluorescent display
  
  A vacuum fluorescent display is a display device used commonly on consumer-electronics equipment such as video cassette recorders, car radios, and microwave ovens....
   (VFD)
• Photomultiplier
  Photomultiplier
  
  Photomultiplier tubes , members of the class of vacuum tubes, and more specifically phototubes, are extremely sensitive detectors of light in the ultraviolet, visible light, and near-infrared ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum....
   tube
• X-ray tube
  X-ray tube
  
  An X-ray tube is a vacuum tube that produces X-rays. They are part of X-ray machines. X-rays are part of the electromagnetic spectrum, an ionizing radiation with wavelength just shorter than ultraviolet light....
  

Discharge devices

• Gas discharge tube

• Mercury arc rectifier
• Voltage regulator tube
• Nixie tube
  Nixie tube
  
  A nixie tube is an electronics device for display device. The glass tube contains a wire-mesh anode and multiple cathodes. In most tubes, the cathodes are shaped like Hindu-Arabic numeral system....
  
• Thyratron
  Thyratron
  
  A thyratron is a type of gas filled tube used as a high energy electrical switch and controlled rectifier. Triode, tetrode and pentode variations of the thyratron have been manufactured in the past, though most are of the triode design....
  
• Ignitron
  Ignitron
  
  An ignitron is a type of controlled rectifier dating from the 1930s. Invented by Joseph Slepian while employed by Westinghouse, Westinghouse was the original manufacturer and owned trademark rights to the name "Ignitron"....
  

Assemblies, modules

• Oscillator
• Display devices
• Liquid crystal display
  Liquid crystal display
  
  A liquid crystal display is an Electro-optic modulator shaped into a thin, flat panel made up of any number of color or monochrome pixels filled with liquid crystals and arrayed in front of a Light#Light sources or reflector....
   (LCD)
• Filter
  Electronic filter
  
  Electronic filters are electronic circuits which perform signal processing functions, specifically to remove unwanted frequency components from the signal and/or to enhance wanted ones....
  
• Antennas
• Elemental dipole
  Dipole antenna
  
  A dipole antenna, developed by Heinrich Rudolph Hertz around 1886, is an Antenna that can be made by a simple wire, with a center-Input driven element for transmitting or receiving radio frequency energy....
  
• Biconical
  Biconical antenna
  
  A biconical antenna consists of an arrangement of two cone Conductor s, which is driven by potential, electric charge, or an alternating magnetic field at the vertex ....
  
• Yagi
  Yagi antenna
  
  A Yagi-Uda Antenna, commonly known simply as a Yagi antenna or Yagi, is a directional antenna system consisting of an array of a dipole antenna and additional closely coupled parasitic elements ....
  
• Phased array
  Phased array
  
  This article is about general theory and electromagnetic phased array.'For the ultrasonic and medical imaging application, see phased array ultrasonics....
  
• Magnetic dipole
  Magnetic loop
  
  Magnetic loop Antenna are small compared to other antennas for the same wavelength. A magnetic loop is one in which the current amplitude is constant round the circumference, and it is therefore small enough to avoid a significant standing wave in the current distribution....
   (loop)
• Parabolic dish
• Feedhorn, Waveguide
  Waveguide
  
  A waveguide is a structure which guides waves, such as electromagnetic waves or sound waves. There are different types of waveguide for each type of wave....
  

Prototyping aids

• Wire-wrap
• Breadboard
  Breadboard
  
  A breadboard is a reusable sometimes solderless device used to build a prototype of an electronic circuit and for experimenting with circuit designs....
  

Mechanical accessories

• Enclosure
  Enclosure
  
  Enclosure or inclosure is the process by which common land is taken into fully private ownership and use. Common land is land which is owned by one person, but over which other people have certain traditional rights, such as arable farming, mowing meadows for hay, or grazing livestock....
  
• Heat sink
  Heat sink
  
  A heat sink is an environment or object that absorbs and dissipates heat from another object using thermal contact . Heat sinks are used in a wide range of applications wherever efficient heat dissipation is required; major examples include refrigeration, heat engines, Thermal management of electronic devices and systems and lasers....
  
• Heat sink paste & pads
• Fan
  Fan (mechanical)
  
  A mechanical fan is an electricity powered device used to produce an airflow for the purpose of creature comfort , Ventilation , exhaust, or any other gaseous transport....
  

Other

• Printed circuit board
  Printed circuit board
  
  A printed circuit board, or PCB, is used to mechanically support and electrically connect electronic components using Conductor pathways, or signal traces, industrial etchinged from copper sheets laminated onto a non-conductive substrate....
  s
• Lamp
  Lamp (electrical component)
  
  A lamp is a replaceable component such as an incandescent light bulb, which is designed to produce light from electricity. These components usually have a base of ceramic, metal, glass or plastic, which makes an electrical connection in the socket of a light fixture....
  
• Memristor
  Memristor
  
  Memristors are a class of Passive circuit element two-terminal circuit elements that maintain a function al relationship between the time integrals of electric current and voltage....
  

• Carbon amplifier (see Carbon microphones used as amplifiers
  Carbon microphone
  
  The carbon microphone, also known as a carbon button microphone or a carbon transmitter, is a sound-to-electrical signal transducer consisting of two metal plates separated by granules of carbon....
  )
• Carbon arc (negative resistance device)
• Dynamo (historic rf generator)

Standard abbreviations

See also

• Circuit Design
  Circuit design
  
  The process of circuit design can cover systems ranging from complex electronic systems all the way down to the individual transistors within an integrated circuit....
  
• Circuit diagram
  Circuit diagram
  
  A circuit diagram is a simplified conventional pictorial representation of an electrical circuit. It shows the components of the circuit as simplified standard symbols, and the electric power and signal connections between the devices....
  
• Electrical element
  Electrical element
  
  The concept of electrical elements is used in the circuit analysis of electrical networks. Any electrical network can be modeled by decomposing it down to multiple, interconnected electrical elements in a Schematic diagram#Electronic industry or circuit diagram....
  
• Electronic components' Datasheet
  Datasheet
  
  A datasheet is a document summarizing the performance and other characteristics of a component , a sub-system or software in sufficient detail to be used by a design engineer to design the component into a system....
  s
• Memristor
  Memristor
  
  Memristors are a class of Passive circuit element two-terminal circuit elements that maintain a function al relationship between the time integrals of electric current and voltage....