Difference between revisions of "Components"

Revision as of 18:33, 11 November 2014

Components are the basic building blocks of circuits. An individual component can be thought of as a single physical device in a circuit. We used to think of them as the resistors, capacitors, diodes, and other discrete components that make up our electronics, but as technology has advanced more and more devices have been added to this category. Components can be categorized in a variety of ways. Sometimes this might be by their electrical characteristics, like resistors and capacitors, while other devices, like sensors, are categorized by their use. In some cases this can result in a component that is listed twice. For example, a temperature sensing resistor is both a resistor and a sensor.

Compound components known as modules have steadily increased in popularity, making it easier than ever to add specific functionality to a circuit, whether it be in the form of a power supply, wireless radio, or one of the many other types of modules. Microcontroller Boards are but one example. Integrated circuits are another form of compound components, and there are hundreds of kinds available for a wide range of applications.

In this listing Integrated Circuits, Modules, Microcontroller Boards are listed as one item, but note that they come in a huge number of flavors with a huge number of purposes.

Active Components

These are components capable of producing or amplifying energy in a circuit.

Batteries

Power Up.

demo board

Lots of people put a microprocessor and most of the other essential stuff on a tiny little demo board, easy to plug into your solderless breadboard (or your custom PCB) that has just a few more things that make your project special.

Integrated Circuits

Op Amps, Voltage Regulators, Drivers, Digitally Programmable Potentiometers, 555 Timers ... For motor drivers see Motors below. Lots of parts in a package to do something useful.

Optoelectronics

LEDs, photodiodes, optoisolators, LCDs, IR proximity detectors,...

Microcontrollers and Microcontroller Boards or Modules

Little Computers for your entertainment.

Transistors, Diodes, etc.

Diodes, Transistors are described here. These guys are the basic semiconductors or solid state electronics. ( But not Light Emitting Diodes = LED or Photo Diodes which are listed under Optoelectronics. )

Sensors

Accelerometers, Gyroscopes, Temperature Sensors, Pressure Sensors, ... Find out what is going on.

Passive Components

These components can use and manipulate energy in a circuit, however they cannot add or amplify.

Resistors

and Potentiometers Resistance is not futile. In there simplest form passive components, but now some are IC using forming variable resistors and potentiometers.

Capacitors

Store charge and energy, block dc, filter. In their simplest form passive components, but now some are IC using switched capacitors to synthesize other and variable values.

Other Passives

including Inductors and Transformers

Electromechanical Components

These can carry out electrical processes by using mechanical processes or electrical connections, or have mechanical processes that are driven by electricity.

Connectors

Join parts.

Oscillator

Crystals, Ceramic Resonators, oscillators, ... Vibrate with excitement.

Motors

Make thing move. We include some circuits/chips for driving motors. Servos, steppers, and others.

Switches and Relays

Turn things on and off.

Other Components

Modules

GPS, Mobile Phone, RF Transceiver, Bluetooth Modules, ...

Enclosures

Cover up.

Popular Parts

So many parts to pick, but which ones? Why not pick a popular part, or a group of parts for areas of interest?

Fakes

Beware!

Counterfeit Index

Component and Parts Storage

Proper storage is the key to minimizing damage to parts and ensuring that they will work properly when you need to use them.

Data Sheets

You will want data sheets for you parts. Do not leave home, or start a project without them.

Check:

Links

Electronic component From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Basic Components Quite a few components and some info on use.
Electronic Components

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 In this listing  [[Integrated Circuits]], [[Modules]], [[Microcontroller Boards]] are listed as one item, but note that they come in a huge number of flavors with a huge number of purposes.
-== Types ==
+== Active Components ==
+These are components capable of producing or amplifying energy in a circuit.
 === [[Battery | Batteries]] ===
 Power Up.
-=== [[Capacitors]] ===
-Store charge and energy, block dc, filter.  In their simplest form passive components, but now some are IC using switched capacitors to synthesize other and variable values.
-=== [[Connectors]] ===
-Join parts.
 === [[demo board]] ===
 Lots of people put a microprocessor and most of the other essential stuff on a tiny little demo board, easy to plug into your solderless breadboard (or your custom PCB) that has just a few more things that make your project special.
-=== [[Enclosures]] ===
-Cover up.
 === [[Integrated Circuits]] ===
@@ Line 27: / Line 20: @@
 LEDs, photodiodes, optoisolators, LCDs, IR proximity detectors,...
-=== [[Oscillator]] ===
+=== [[Microcontrollers]] and [[Microcontroller Boards]] or Modules ===
-Crystals, Ceramic Resonators, oscillators, ... Vibrate with excitement.
+Little Computers for your entertainment.
-=== [[Other Passives]] ===
+=== [[Transistors, Diodes, etc.]] ===
-including Inductors and Transformers
+Diodes, Transistors are described here.  These guys are the basic semiconductors or solid state electronics. ( But not Light Emitting Diodes = LED or Photo Diodes which are listed under Optoelectronics. )
-=== [[Microcontrollers]] and [[Microcontroller Boards]] or Modules ===
+=== [[Sensors]] ===
-Little Computers for your entertainment.
+Accelerometers, Gyroscopes, Temperature Sensors, Pressure Sensors, ...  Find out what is going on.
-=== [[Motors]] ===
-Make thing move.  We include some circuits/chips for driving motors.  Servos, steppers, and others.
-=== [[Modules]] ===
+== Passive Components ==
-GPS, Mobile Phone, RF Transceiver, Bluetooth Modules, ...
+These components can use and manipulate energy in a circuit, however they cannot add or amplify.
 === [[Resistors]] ===
 and Potentiometers  Resistance is not futile.  In there simplest form passive components, but now some are IC using forming variable resistors and potentiometers.
-=== [[Transistors, Diodes, etc.]] ===
+=== [[Capacitors]] ===
-Diodes, Transistors are described here.  These guys are the basic semiconductors or solid state electronics. ( But not Light Emitting Diodes = LED or Photo Diodes which are listed under Optoelectronics. )
+Store charge and energy, block dc, filter.  In their simplest form passive components, but now some are IC using switched capacitors to synthesize other and variable values.
+=== [[Other Passives]] ===
+including Inductors and Transformers
+== Electromechanical Components ==
+These can carry out electrical processes by using mechanical processes or electrical connections, or have mechanical processes that are driven by electricity.
+=== [[Connectors]] ===
+Join parts.
+=== [[Oscillator]] ===
+Crystals, Ceramic Resonators, oscillators, ... Vibrate with excitement.
-=== [[Sensors]] ===
+=== [[Motors]] ===
-Accelerometers, Gyroscopes, Temperature Sensors, Pressure Sensors, ...  Find out what is going on.
+Make thing move.  We include some circuits/chips for driving motors.  Servos, steppers, and others.
 === [[Switches|Switches and Relays]] ===
 Turn things on and off.
+== Other Components ==
+=== [[Modules]] ===
+GPS, Mobile Phone, RF Transceiver, Bluetooth Modules, ...
+=== [[Enclosures]] ===
+Cover up.
 == [[Popular Parts]] ==