| Active electronic components |
Active electronic components are devices that require an external voltage or current to function. They are the key building blocks that allow electronics to process and amplify signals and provide functionality. These components lie at the heart of all modern electronic devices and circuits.
Classification of Active Components
Active electronic components can be broadly classified into two main categories:
Semiconductor Devices
Semiconductor devices make use of the unique electrical properties of semiconductor materials like silicon and germanium. Some of the most important semiconductor devices include diodes, transistors and integrated circuits (ICs).
Diodes: Diodes allow current to flow in only one direction. They are used as rectifiers in power supplies and light emitting diodes (LEDs).
Transistors: Transistors act as basic electronic switches and amplifiers. Bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) and field-effect transistors (FETs) like MOSFETs are widely used transistors.
Integrated Circuits: ICs contain numerous tiny transistors, resistors and other components on a single semiconductor chip. Microprocessors, memory chips and other logic ICs are at the heart of modern electronics.
Vacuum Tubes
Though obsolete nowadays, vacuum tubes were among the earliest active components in electronics. They make use of thermionic emission and electric fields in an evacuated glass enclosure. Some important vacuum tubes include triodes, tetrodes and pentodes which are used in electronics and communication equipment in early 20th century.
Working Principle of Semiconductor Devices
Semiconductor devices derive their unique properties from materials like silicon which have an electrical conductivity between a conductor and an insulator. The conductivity can be controlled by doping - introducing impurities into the semiconductor crystal structure.
In a diode, a p-n junction is formed by joining a p-type and an n-type semiconductor material. Current flows easily in the forward direction but is blocked in the reverse direction.
A transistor has three terminals - emitter, base and collector. It works by using a small electric current at the base to control the much larger currents flowing between the emitter and collector. BJTs have npn or pnp structures whereas FETs have a metal-oxide-semiconductor structure with source, gate and drain terminals.
In an IC, millions of MOSFETs along with resistors and wiring are miniaturized onto a single silicon chip using photolithography. This allows integrating whole digital and analog systems into tiny packages with immense computation power.
Applications of Active Components
Some major applications of active electronic components across industries include:
Computing: ICs form the backbone of all modern computers from microprocessors to memory chips and graphics cards. Advancements in IC technology have driven rapid growth in computing power.
Communications: Transistors and ICs enable telecommunication systems from cellular networks and WiFi to satellites. Radio frequency ICs play a key role.
Consumer Electronics: Consumer goods like smartphones, TVs, washing machines extensively use active components for control, display, audio and computation functions.
Automotive: Engine control units, advanced driver assistance systems, infotainment systems require automotive grade ICs suited for harsh environments.
Industrial: Programmable logic controllers, variable speed motor drives, industrial sensors extensively use active components for automation applications across industries.
Medical Devices: ICs, power components and sensors enable advanced life-saving medical technologies from MRI machines to patient monitoring devices.
Military & Aerospace: Harsh environment active components enable mission critical functions on fighter jets, satellites and weapons systems subject to extreme operating conditions.
Hence active electronic components form the foundation of modern digital electronics revolution enabling advances across industries. Continued improvements in IC technology provide more capabilities in smaller chips.
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