Electronics: Difference between revisions
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<b>Electronics</b> are devices which manipulate [[electricity]] and [[electromagnetic field]]s for one of two purposes |
<b>Electronics</b> are devices which manipulate [[electricity]] and [[electromagnetic field]]s for one of two purposes: the controlling or processing of [[information]], or the creation and distribution of [[power]]. The development of <b>electronics</b> started with the creation of [[radio electronics]] (which was mostly interested in [[vacuum tube]]s initially), but now electronic devices perform a variety of tasks. |
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Before radio, of course, [[electricity]] had been used to carry information over telephone and telegraph wires. But these systems are based on the conversion of mechanical energy into electricity and back again in a process not much different from the conversion of electrical energy to light or heat. Electronic devices are based on the intricate, small-scale processing of the electrical [[current]]/[[voltage]] itself, although they often do have visual or mechanical interfaces with the external world. |
Before radio, of course, [[electricity]] had been used to carry information over telephone and telegraph wires. But these systems are based on the conversion of mechanical energy into electricity and back again in a process not much different from the conversion of electrical energy to light or heat. Electronic devices are based on the intricate, small-scale processing of the electrical [[current]]/[[voltage]] itself, although they often do have visual or mechanical interfaces with the external world. |
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# Actuators - These are devices that transform current/voltage signals into physical form, where they can have some real use. |
# Actuators - These are devices that transform current/voltage signals into physical form, where they can have some real use. |
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Take as an example a [[television]]. It receive broadcasts though its sensor, the [[antenna]]. Circuits inside the television are designed to transform fluctuations in an [[electromagnetism|electromagnetic]] field so they control deflection and intensity of an electron beam to light up phosphorescent dots on the [[CRT|monitor screen]] which is the interface. |
Take as an example a [[television]]. It receive broadcasts though its sensor, the [[antenna]]. Circuits inside the television are designed to transform fluctuations in an [[electromagnetism|electromagnetic]] field so they control deflection and intensity of an electron beam (via the actuators) to light up phosphorescent dots on the [[CRT|monitor screen]] which is the interface. |
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#[[Mulitmeter|multimeter]] (Measures all of the above) |
#[[Mulitmeter|multimeter]] (Measures all of the above) |
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#[[Oscilloscope]] |
#[[Oscilloscope]] |
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# |
#[[logic analyzer]] |
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== Electronic Components == |
== Electronic Components == |
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# [[multiplexer]] (MUX, DEMUX) |
# [[multiplexer]] (MUX, DEMUX) |
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Also see [[Microprogramming]] |
Also see [[Microprogramming]], [[microprocessor|Microprocessors]] |
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[[microprocessor|Microprocessors]] |
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== [[Mixed-signal Circuit]]s == |
== [[Mixed-signal Circuit]]s == |
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Also see: |
Also see: |
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[[Electrical engineering]] |
[[Electrical engineering]], [[Computer engineering]] |
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Revision as of 14:39, 16 April 2002
Electronics are devices which manipulate electricity and electromagnetic fields for one of two purposes: the controlling or processing of information, or the creation and distribution of power. The development of electronics started with the creation of radio electronics (which was mostly interested in vacuum tubes initially), but now electronic devices perform a variety of tasks.
Before radio, of course, electricity had been used to carry information over telephone and telegraph wires. But these systems are based on the conversion of mechanical energy into electricity and back again in a process not much different from the conversion of electrical energy to light or heat. Electronic devices are based on the intricate, small-scale processing of the electrical current/voltage itself, although they often do have visual or mechanical interfaces with the external world.
Any electronic device has three basic blocks:
- Sensors or Transducers - These take signals (in the form of temperature, pressure, etc.) from physical world and convert them into current/voltage signals.
- Electronic Circuits - These are electronic components woven together to manipulate, interpret and transform the signals.
- Actuators - These are devices that transform current/voltage signals into physical form, where they can have some real use.
Take as an example a television. It receive broadcasts though its sensor, the antenna. Circuits inside the television are designed to transform fluctuations in an electromagnetic field so they control deflection and intensity of an electron beam (via the actuators) to light up phosphorescent dots on the monitor screen which is the interface.
Electronic test equipment
- electrometer (Measures charge)
- Ammeter (Measures electrical current)
- Galvanometer (Measures current)
- Ohmeter (Measures resistance)
- Voltmeter (Measures voltage)
- Wheatstone bridge
- multimeter (Measures all of the above)
- Oscilloscope
- logic analyzer
Electronic Components
- Resistor
- Capacitor
- Inductor
- transformer
- Diodes
- Transistors
- field effect transistor
- bipolar transistor
- hall effect device
- vacuum tube
- cathode ray tube
- photocell
- thermistor
- switch
- strain gauge
- microphone
- speaker
- cathode ray tube
- light emitting diode
- Opamp
- integrated circuits or ICs
Most analog electronic appliances, such as radio receivers, are constructed from arrays of a few types of circuits.
- impedance match
- electronic amplifier
- electronic filter
- electronic oscillator
- electronic mixer
- electronic detector
Associated with electronic circuits is noise. Basically, this takes us into a field of Signal Processing. Some forms of noise are:
- Shot noise in resistors.
- Thermal noise in resistors.
- White noise
- Coloured noise
Computers, electronic clocks, and programmable logic controllers (used to control industrial processes) are usually constructed of digital circuits.
- Logic Gates
- Flip Flops
- Counters
- Registers
- multiplexer (MUX, DEMUX)
Also see Microprogramming, Microprocessors
Mixed-signal Circuits are becoming increasingly common. "Mixed" means that it contains both analog and digital components. analog to digital converters and digital to analog converters are the primary examples. Digital Signal Processors are another prime example.
Other related fields of Electronics are:
Also see:
Electrical engineering, Computer engineering
External links
Datasheets
- AMD: http://www.amd.com
- Analog Devices: http://www.analog.com
- Intel: http://www.intel.com/intel/product/index.htm
- National Semiconductor: http://www.national.com
- Fairchild Semiconductor: http://www.fairchildsemi.com
- ST Microelectronics: http://eu.st.com
- Motorola: http://search.motorola.com
- Samsung Semiconductor: http://www.intl.samsungsemi.com
Datasheet Search Engines
- Electronic DatabookShelf: http://www.crhc.uiuc.edu/~dburke/databookshelf.html
- Global Electronic Datasheet Locator: http://www.datasheetlocator.com/
- World of Electronics-Datasheet search: http://www.woe.onlinehome.de
- The Giant Internet IC Masturbator: http://www.falstaff.demon.co.uk/GIICM.html
Tutorials and Projects
- http://www.electronics-tutorials.com
- http://www.williamson-labs.com
- http://my.integritynet.com.au/purdic
- http://members.nbci.com/jimas/tut.html
- http://www.iguanalabs.com/maintut.htm
Some other good sites
- IEEE: http://www.ieee.org
- IEEE spectrum: http://www.spectrum.ieee.org
- Electronix Express: http://www.elexp.com/links.htm
- Electronics Club: http://www.cc.iitk.ac.in/infocell/student/electronicsweb
Online courses
- ESC202 at IIT Kanpur,India
- [Electronics Club] in IIT Kanpur,India