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Choosing components is one of the most important considerations when developing a new electronic circuit. Designs vary depending on the application and guessing what parts to use often leads to complications. When deciding what components go into a specific schematic, having access to a comprehensive library of components and a knowledgeable partner will help guide… Read more »

The disposal of e-waste, or electronic waste, is an issue with which the modern world has slowly come to terms. The Global E-waste Statistics Partnership (GESP) – an organization that collects and collates worldwide statistics on e-waste – calculated that in 2019 the United States generated about 6.92 million metric tons (approximately 7.63 million standard… Read more »

Electronic components can be classified as passive or active, depending on their function. Electronic components that inject power into circuits, controlling and amplifying the electrical current as it flows through them, are considered active, while those that do not are passive. Further, passive electronic components neither store nor consume energy, while active components do. One simple… Read more »

Though there is no one integrated circuit inventor, the idea for this technology occurred concurrently among several different scientists and engineers involved in developing computing technology since the early 1900s. In the first half of the 20th century, vacuum tubes dominated electronic devices. The first giant computers commissioned by the US government in the 1940s… Read more »

A diode is a two-terminal electronic component that has high electrical resistance on one end and low electrical resistance on the other end. As a result, this widely used electronic component conducts electricity in one direction.  Early diodes have two electrodes: cathode and anode. The cathode is a negatively charged electrode, while the anode is… Read more »

This blog is Part Two of our two-part series highlighting integrated circuit design types, functions, and advantages. [Follow the links for Part One here.] Although each type of integrated circuit functions in specific ways that perform specialized tasks, innumerable modern electronic devices depend upon them and would not work without them. Below, we highlight some… Read more »

This blog is Part One of our two-part series highlighting integrated circuit types, functions, and advantages. Arguably the most important invention of the 20th century, an integrated circuit functions as a timer, microprocessor, amplifier, oscillator, or even as computer memory. It’s essential to modern computers, and the basis for the vast majority of electronic equipment… Read more »

A rectifier is a device that converts currents, specifically an alternating current into a direct one, by allowing the current to flow through it in one direction. This allows electronic devices to function properly – in fact, without a rectifier, most electronics simply wouldn’t work. Rectifiers are used across a wide variety of devices and… Read more »

Thyristors are solid-state semiconductor devices that share certain similarities with diodes, resistors and transistors. Despite being a small device, a thyristor can reliably conduct a lot of electricity and tolerate extremely high power levels. If you’re not familiar with thyristors or are wondering how to tell the difference between thyristors and other semiconductor devices, Solid… Read more »

Transistors are semiconductor devices that allow for the existence of electronics that you use regularly, such as cell phones, radios, calculators and computers. There are several types of transistors to consider for different applications, so it’s crucial to understand the basic principles of how a transistor operates.