An electronic component is any basic discrete device or physical entity in an electronic system used to affect

electrons The electron (, or in nuclear reactions) is a subatomic particle with a negative one elementary electric charge. Electrons belong to the first generation of the lepton particle family, and are generally thought to be elementary partic ...

or their associated fields. Electronic components are mostly industrial products, available in a singular form and are not to be confused with electrical elements, which are conceptual abstractions representing idealized electronic components and elements. Electronic components have a number of electrical terminals or

lead Lead is a chemical element with the Symbol (chemistry), symbol Pb (from the Latin ) and atomic number 82. It is a heavy metals, heavy metal that is density, denser than most common materials. Lead is Mohs scale of mineral hardness#Intermediate ...

s. These leads connect to other electrical components, often over wire, to create an

electronic circuit An electronic circuit is composed of individual electronic components, such as resistors, transistors, capacitors, inductors and diodes, connected by conductive wires or traces through which electric current can flow. It is a type of electri ...

with a particular function (for example an

amplifier An amplifier, electronic amplifier or (informally) amp is an electronic device that can increase the magnitude of a signal (a time-varying voltage or current). It may increase the power significantly, or its main effect may be to boost th ...

radio receiver In radio communications, a radio receiver, also known as a receiver, a wireless, or simply a radio, is an electronic device that receives radio waves and converts the information carried by them to a usable form. It is used with an antenna. T ...

, or oscillator). Basic electronic components may be packaged discretely, as arrays or networks of like components, or integrated inside of packages such as

semiconductor A semiconductor is a material which has an electrical conductivity value falling between that of a conductor, such as copper, and an insulator, such as glass. Its resistivity falls as its temperature rises; metals behave in the opposite way. ...

integrated circuits, hybrid integrated circuits, or thick film devices. The following list of electronic components focuses on the discrete version of these components, treating such packages as components in their own right.

Classification

Components can be classified as passive, active, or electromechanic. The strict physics definition treats passive components as ones that cannot supply energy themselves, whereas a battery would be seen as an active component since it truly acts as a source of energy. However, electronic engineers who perform circuit analysis use a more restrictive definition of passivity. When only concerned with the energy of

signal In signal processing, a signal is a function that conveys information about a phenomenon. Any quantity that can vary over space or time can be used as a signal to share messages between observers. The '' IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing' ...

s, it is convenient to ignore the so-called DC circuit and pretend that the power supplying components such as

transistor upright=1.4, gate (G), body (B), source (S) and drain (D) terminals. The gate is separated from the body by an insulating layer (pink). A transistor is a semiconductor device used to Electronic amplifier, amplify or electronic switch, switch ...

s or integrated circuits is absent (as if each such component had its own battery built in), though it may in reality be supplied by the DC circuit. Then, the analysis only concerns the AC circuit, an abstraction that ignores DC voltages and currents (and the power associated with them) present in the real-life circuit. This fiction, for instance, lets us view an oscillator as "producing energy" even though in reality the oscillator consumes even more energy from a DC power supply, which we have chosen to ignore. Under that restriction, we define the terms as used in circuit analysis as: * Active components rely on a source of energy (usually from the DC circuit, which we have chosen to ignore) and usually can inject power into a circuit, though this is not part of the definition. Active components include amplifying components such as

s, triode

vacuum tube A vacuum tube, electron tube, valve (British usage), or tube (North America), is a device that controls electric current flow in a high vacuum between electrodes to which an electric voltage, potential difference has been applied. The type kn ...

s (valves), and

tunnel diode A tunnel diode or Esaki diode is a type of semiconductor diode that has effectively " negative resistance" due to the quantum mechanical effect called tunneling. It was invented in August 1957 by Leo Esaki, Yuriko Kurose, and Takashi Su ...

s. * Passive components cannot introduce net energy into the circuit. They also cannot rely on a source of power, except for what is available from the (AC) circuit they are connected to. As a consequence, they cannot amplify (increase the power of a signal), although they may increase a voltage or current (such as is done by a transformer or resonant circuit). Passive components include two-terminal components such as resistors, capacitors, inductors, and transformers. * Electromechanical components can carry out electrical operations by using moving parts or by using electrical connections Most passive components with more than two terminals can be described in terms of two-port parameters that satisfy the principle of

reciprocity Reciprocity may refer to: Law and trade * Reciprocity (Canadian politics), free trade with the United States of America ** Reciprocal trade agreement, entered into in order to reduce (or eliminate) tariffs, quotas and other trade restrictions on ...

—though there are rare exceptions. In contrast, active components (with more than two terminals) generally lack that property.

Active components

Semiconductors

Transistors

Transistor upright=1.4, gate (G), body (B), source (S) and drain (D) terminals. The gate is separated from the body by an insulating layer (pink). A transistor is a semiconductor device used to Electronic amplifier, amplify or electronic switch, switch ...

s were considered the invention of the twentieth century that changed electronic circuits forever. A transistor is a semiconductor device used to amplify and switch electronic signals and electrical power. *

Field-effect transistor The field-effect transistor (FET) is a type of transistor that uses an electric field to control the flow of current in a semiconductor. FETs ( JFETs or MOSFETs) are devices with three terminals: ''source'', ''gate'', and ''drain''. FETs con ...

s (FET) ** MOSFET (metal-oxide-semiconductor FET) – by far the most widely manufactured electronic component (also known as MOS transistor) *** PMOS ( p-type MOS) *** NMOS ( n-type MOS) *** CMOS (complementary MOS) ***

Power MOSFET A power MOSFET is a specific type of metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) designed to handle significant power levels. Compared to the other power semiconductor devices, such as an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (I ...

**** LDMOS (lateral diffused MOSFET) *** MuGFET (multi-gate field-effect transistor) ****

FinFET A fin field-effect transistor (FinFET) is a multigate device, a MOSFET (metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor) built on a substrate where the gate is placed on two, three, or four sides of the channel or wrapped around the channel, ...

(fin field-effect transistor) ***TFT (

thin-film transistor A thin-film transistor (TFT) is a special type of field-effect transistor (FET) where the transistor is thin relative to the plane of the device. TFTs are grown on a supporting (but non-conducting) substrate. A common substrate is glass, becaus ...

) **

FeFET A ferroelectric field-effect transistor (Fe FET) is a type of field-effect transistor that includes a ferroelectric material sandwiched between the gate electrode and source-drain conduction region of the device (the channel). Permanent electric ...

(ferroelectric field-effect transistor) **

CNTFET A carbon nanotube field-effect transistor (CNTFET) is a field-effect transistor that utilizes a single carbon nanotube or an array of carbon nanotubes as the channel material instead of bulk silicon in the traditional MOSFET structure. First demons ...

(carbon nanotube field-effect transistor) ** JFET (junction field-effect transistor) – N-channel or P-channel ***SIT ( static induction transistor) ** MESFET (metal semiconductor FET) **HEMT ( high-electron-mobility transistor) *Composite transistors ** BiCMOS (bipolar CMOS) **IGBT (

Insulated-gate bipolar transistor An insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) is a three-terminal power semiconductor device primarily used as an electronic switch, which, as it was developed, came to combine high efficiency and fast switching. It consists of four alternating la ...

) *Other transistors **

Bipolar junction transistor A bipolar junction transistor (BJT) is a type of transistor that uses both electrons and electron holes as charge carriers. In contrast, a unipolar transistor, such as a field-effect transistor, uses only one kind of charge carrier. A bipola ...

(BJT, or simply "transistor") – NPN or PNP *** Photo transistor – amplified photodetector ** Darlington transistor – NPN or PNP ***Photo Darlington – amplified photodetector ** Sziklai pair (compound transistor, complementary Darlington) * Thyristors ** Silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) – passes current only after triggered by a sufficient control voltage on its gate ** TRIAC (TRIode for Alternating Current) – bidirectional SCR ** Unijunction transistor (UJT) **Programmable Unijunction transistor (PUT) **SITh ( static induction thyristor)

Diodes

Conduct electricity easily in one direction, among more specific behaviors. * Diode, rectifier, diode bridge * Schottky diode (hot carrier diode) – super fast diode with lower forward voltage drop * Zener diode – allows current to flow "backwards" when a specific set voltage is reached. * Transient voltage suppression diode (TVS), unipolar or bipolar – used to absorb high-voltage spikes * Varicap, tuning diode, varactor, variable capacitance diode – a diode whose AC capacitance varies according to the DC voltage applied. Verschiedene LEDs

Laser diode The laser diode chip removed and placed on the eye of a needle for scale A laser diode (LD, also injection laser diode or ILD, or diode laser) is a semiconductor device similar to a light-emitting diode in which a diode pumped directly with e ...

Light-emitting diode A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits light when current flows through it. Electrons in the semiconductor recombine with electron holes, releasing energy in the form of photons. The color of the light ( ...

(LED) – a diode that emits light * Photodiode – passes current in proportion to incident light **

Avalanche photodiode An avalanche photodiode (APD) is a highly sensitive semiconductor photodiode detector that exploits the photoelectric effect to convert light into electricity. From a functional standpoint, they can be regarded as the semiconductor analog of ...

– photodiode with internal gain ** Solar Cell, photovoltaic cell, PV array or panel – produces power from light * DIAC (diode for alternating current), Trigger Diode, SIDAC) – often used to trigger an SCR *

Constant-current diode A constant-current diode is an electronic device that limits current to a maximal specified value for the device. It is known as a current-limiting diode (CLD) or current-regulating diode (CRD). It consists of an n-channel JFET with the gate sho ...

* Step recovery diode *

Tunnel diode A tunnel diode or Esaki diode is a type of semiconductor diode that has effectively " negative resistance" due to the quantum mechanical effect called tunneling. It was invented in August 1957 by Leo Esaki, Yuriko Kurose, and Takashi Su ...

- very fast diode based on quantum mechanical tunneling

Integrated circuits

Integrated Circuits can serve a variety of purposes, including acting as a timer, performing digital to analog conversion, performing amplification, or being used for logical operations. * Integrated circuit (IC) ** MOS integrated circuit (MOS IC) ** Hybrid integrated circuit (hybrid IC) ** Mixed-signal integrated circuit ** Three-dimensional integrated circuit (3D IC) *

Digital electronics Digital electronics is a field of electronics involving the study of digital signals and the engineering of devices that use or produce them. This is in contrast to analog electronics and analog signals. Digital electronic circuits are usual ...

Logic gate A logic gate is an idealized or physical device implementing a Boolean function, a logical operation performed on one or more binary inputs that produces a single binary output. Depending on the context, the term may refer to an ideal logic ga ...

Microcontroller A microcontroller (MCU for ''microcontroller unit'', often also MC, UC, or μC) is a small computer on a single VLSI integrated circuit (IC) chip. A microcontroller contains one or more CPUs ( processor cores) along with memory and programma ...

* Analog circuit ** Hall-effect sensor – senses a magnetic field ** Current sensor – senses a current through it

Programmable devices

Programmable logic device A programmable logic device (PLD) is an electronic component used to build reconfigurable digital circuits. Unlike digital logic constructed using discrete logic gates with fixed functions, a PLD has an undefined function at the time of man ...

Field-programmable gate array A field-programmable gate array (FPGA) is an integrated circuit designed to be configured by a customer or a designer after manufacturinghence the term '' field-programmable''. The FPGA configuration is generally specified using a hardware ...

(FPGA) ** Complex programmable logic device (CPLD) * Field-programmable analog array (FPAA)

Optoelectronic devices

* Opto-electronics ** Opto-isolator, opto-coupler, photo-coupler – photodiode, BJT, JFET, SCR, TRIAC, zero-crossing TRIAC, open collector IC, CMOS IC, solid state relay (SSR) ** Slotted optical switch, opto switch, optical switch **

LED display A LED display is a flat panel display that uses an array of light-emitting diodes as pixels for a video display. Their brightness allows them to be used outdoors where they are visible in the sun for store signs and billboards. In recent ...

–

seven-segment display A seven-segment display is a form of electronic display device for displaying decimal numerals that is an alternative to the more complex dot matrix displays. Seven-segment displays are widely used in digital clocks, electronic meters, basic ...

, sixteen-segment display, dot-matrix display

Display technologies

Current: *

Filament lamp An incandescent light bulb, incandescent lamp or incandescent light globe is an electric light with a wire filament heated until it glows. The filament is enclosed in a glass bulb with a vacuum or inert gas to protect the filament from oxidat ...

(indicator lamp) * Vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) (preformed characters, 7 segment, starburst) * Cathode ray tube (CRT) ( dot matrix scan, radial scan (e.g.

radar Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the distance ('' ranging''), angle, and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, w ...

), arbitrary scan (e.g. oscilloscope)) (

monochrome A monochrome or monochromatic image, object or palette is composed of one color (or values of one color). Images using only shades of grey are called grayscale (typically digital) or black-and-white (typically analog). In physics, monochr ...

colour Color (American English) or colour (British English) is the visual perceptual property deriving from the spectrum of light interacting with the photoreceptor cells of the eyes. Color categories and physical specifications of color are associ ...

) *

LCD A liquid-crystal display (LCD) is a flat-panel display or other electronically modulated optical device that uses the light-modulating properties of liquid crystals combined with polarizers. Liquid crystals do not emit light directly but in ...

(preformed characters, dot matrix) (passive, TFT) (monochrome, colour) *

Neon Neon is a chemical element with the symbol Ne and atomic number 10. It is a noble gas. Neon is a colorless, odorless, inert monatomic gas under standard conditions, with about two-thirds the density of air. It was discovered (along with krypt ...

(individual, 7 segment display) * LED (individual, 7 segment display, starburst display, dot matrix) * Split-flap display (numeric, preprinted messages) *

Plasma display A plasma display panel (PDP) is a type of flat panel display that uses small cells containing Plasma (physics), plasma: ionized gas that responds to electric fields. Plasma televisions were the first large (over 32 inches diagonal) flat panel displ ...

(dot matrix) *

OLED An organic light-emitting diode (OLED or organic LED), also known as organic electroluminescent (organic EL) diode, is a light-emitting diode (LED) in which the emissive electroluminescent layer is a film of organic compound that emits light ...

(similar to an LCD, but each pixel generates its own light, can be made flexible or transparent) *

Micro-LED microLED, also known as micro-LED, mLED or µLED, first invented in 2000 by the research group of Hongxing Jiang and Jingyu Lin of Texas Tech University while they were at Kansas State University, is an emerging flat-panel display technology. mi ...

(similar to OLED, but uses inorganic LEDs instead of organic ones, does not suffer from

screen burn-in Screen burn-in, image burn-in, or ghost image, is a permanent discoloration of areas on an electronic display such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) in an old computer monitor or television set. It is caused by cumulative non-uniform use of the scr ...

, however it cannot be made flexible or transparent) Obsolete: * Incandescent filament 7 segment display (aka '

Numitron A seven-segment display is a form of electronic display device for displaying decimal numerals that is an alternative to the more complex dot matrix displays. Seven-segment displays are widely used in digital clocks, electronic meters, basic ...

') * Nixie tube * Dekatron (aka glow transfer tube) * Magic eye tube indicator * Penetron (a 2 colour see-through CRT)

Vacuum tubes (valves)

A vacuum tube is based on current conduction through a vacuum (see

Vacuum tube A vacuum tube, electron tube, valve (British usage), or tube (North America), is a device that controls electric current flow in a high vacuum between electrodes to which an electric voltage, potential difference has been applied. The type kn ...

). * Diode or rectifier tube * Amplification ** Triode **

Tetrode A tetrode is a vacuum tube (called ''valve'' in British English) having four active electrodes. The four electrodes in order from the centre are: a thermionic cathode, first and second grids and a plate (called ''anode'' in British English). ...

** Pentode ** Hexode ** Pentagrid (Heptode) ** Octode ** Traveling-wave tube ** Klystron * Oscillation ** Magnetron ** Reflex Klystron (obsolete) **

Carcinotron A backward wave oscillator (BWO), also called carcinotron or backward wave tube, is a vacuum tube that is used to generate microwaves up to the terahertz range. Belonging to the traveling-wave tube family, it is an oscillator with a wide elect ...

Optical detectors or emitters * Phototube or photodiode – tube equivalent of semiconductor photodiode *

Photomultiplier A photomultiplier is a device that converts incident photons into an electrical signal. Kinds of photomultiplier include: * Photomultiplier tube, a vacuum tube converting incident photons into an electric signal. Photomultiplier tubes (PMTs for s ...

tube – phototube with internal gain * Cathode ray tube (CRT) or television picture tube (obsolete) * Vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) – modern non-raster sort of small CRT display * Magic eye tube – small CRT display used as a tuning meter (obsolete) *

X-ray tube An X-ray tube is a vacuum tube that converts electrical input power into X-rays. The availability of this controllable source of X-rays created the field of radiography, the imaging of partly opaque objects with penetrating radiation. In contrast ...

– generates x-rays

Discharge devices

* Gas discharge tube * Ignitron * Thyratron Obsolete: * Mercury arc rectifier * Voltage regulator tube * Nixie tube

Power sources

Sources of electrical power: * Battery – acid- or alkali-based power supply. *

Fuel cell A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel (often hydrogen fuel, hydrogen) and an oxidizing agent (often oxygen) into electricity through a pair of redox reactions. Fuel cells are different from most bat ...

– an electrochemical generator *

Power supply A power supply is an electrical device that supplies electric power to an electrical load. The main purpose of a power supply is to convert electric current from a source to the correct voltage, current, and frequency to power the load. As a ...

– usually a main hook-up *

Photovoltaic Photovoltaics (PV) is the conversion of light into electricity using semiconducting materials that exhibit the photovoltaic effect, a phenomenon studied in physics, photochemistry, and electrochemistry. The photovoltaic effect is commercially ...

device – generates electricity from light * Thermoelectric generator – generates electricity from temperature gradients *

Electrical generator In electricity generation, a generator is a device that converts motive power (mechanical energy) or fuel-based power (chemical energy) into electric power for use in an external electrical circuit, circuit. Sources of mechanical energy include s ...

– an electromechanical power source * Piezoelectric generator - generates electricity from mechanical strain *

Van de Graaff generator A Van de Graaff generator is an electrostatic generator which uses a moving belt to accumulate electric charge on a hollow metal globe on the top of an insulated column, creating very high electric potentials. It produces very high voltage dire ...

- generates electricity from friction

Passive components

Components incapable of controlling current by means of another electrical signal are called ''passive'' devices. Resistors, capacitors, inductors, and transformers are all considered passive devices.

Resistors

Pass current in proportion to voltage (

Ohm's law Ohm's law states that the current through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the voltage across the two points. Introducing the constant of proportionality, the resistance, one arrives at the usual mathematical equatio ...

) and oppose current. *

Resistor A resistor is a passive two-terminal electrical component that implements electrical resistance as a circuit element. In electronic circuits, resistors are used to reduce current flow, adjust signal levels, to divide voltages, bias activ ...

– fixed value ** Power

resistor A resistor is a passive two-terminal electrical component that implements electrical resistance as a circuit element. In electronic circuits, resistors are used to reduce current flow, adjust signal levels, to divide voltages, bias activ ...

– larger to safely dissipate heat generated ** SIP or DIP resistor network – array of resistors in one package * Variable resistor ** Rheostat – two-terminal variable resistor (often for high power) **

Potentiometer A potentiometer is a three- terminal resistor with a sliding or rotating contact that forms an adjustable voltage divider. If only two terminals are used, one end and the wiper, it acts as a variable resistor or rheostat. The measuring instrum ...

– three-terminal variable resistor (variable voltage divider) ** Trim pot – small potentiometer, usually for internal adjustments ** Thermistor – thermally sensitive resistor whose prime function is to exhibit a large, predictable and precise change in electrical resistance when subjected to a corresponding change in body temperature.What is a Thermistor
U.S. Sensor Corp. ** Humistor – humidity-varied resistor ** Photoresistor ** Memristor ** Varistor, Voltage-dependent resistor, MOV – Passes current when excessive voltage is present * Resistance wire, Nichrome wire – wire of high-resistance material, often used as a heating element * Heater –

heating element A heating element converts electrical energy into heat through the process of Joule heating. Electric current through the element encounters resistance, resulting in heating of the element. Unlike the Peltier effect, this process is independe ...

Capacitors

Capacitors store and release electrical charge. They are used for filtering power supply lines, tuning resonant circuits, and for blocking DC voltages while passing AC signals, among numerous other uses. *

Capacitor A capacitor is a device that stores electrical energy in an electric field by virtue of accumulating electric charges on two close surfaces insulated from each other. It is a passive electronic component with two terminals. The effect of a ...

** Integrated capacitors *** MIS capacitor ***

Trench capacitor A trench is a type of excavation or in the ground that is generally deeper than it is wide (as opposed to a wider gully, or ditch), and narrow compared with its length (as opposed to a simple hole or pit). In geology, trenches result from eros ...

** Fixed capacitors *** Ceramic capacitor *** Film capacitor *** Electrolytic capacitor **** Aluminum electrolytic capacitor **** Tantalum electrolytic capacitor **** Niobium electrolytic capacitor ( Columbium capacitor) **** Polymer capacitor, OS-CON ***

Supercapacitor A supercapacitor (SC), also called an ultracapacitor, is a high-capacity capacitor, with a capacitance value much higher than other capacitors but with lower voltage limits. It bridges the gap between electrolytic capacitors and rechargeable ...

(Electric double-layer capacitor) **** Nanoionic supercapacitor **** Lithium-ion capacitor *** Mica capacitor *** Vacuum capacitor ** Variable capacitor – adjustable capacitance *** Tuning capacitor – variable capacitor for tuning a radio, oscillator, or tuned circuit *** Trimmer capacitor – small variable capacitor for seldom or rare adjustments of LC-circuits *** Vacuum variable capacitor ** Capacitors for special applications *** Power capacitor *** Safety capacitor *** Filter capacitor *** Light-emitting capacitor (LEC) ***

Motor capacitor A motor capacitor, such as a start capacitor or run capacitor (including a dual run capacitor) is an electrical capacitor that alters the current to one or more windings of a single-phase alternating-current induction motor to create a rotating m ...

*** Photoflash capacitor ***

Reservoir capacitor A rectifier is an electrical device that converts alternating current (AC), which periodically reverses direction, to direct current (DC), which flows in only one direction. The reverse operation (converting DC to AC) is performed by an in ...

/ Bulk capacitor *** Coupling capacitor *** Decoupling capacitor / Buffer capacitor *** Bypass capacitor *** Pull capacitor /

Padding capacitor A crystal oscillator is an electronic oscillator circuit that uses a piezoelectric crystal as a frequency-selective element. The oscillator frequency is often used to keep track of time, as in quartz wristwatches, to provide a stable clock ...

*** Backup capacitor *** Switched capacitor *** Feedthrough capacitor ** Capacitor network (array) * Varicap diode – AC capacitance varies according to the DC voltage applied

Integrated passive devices

Integrated passive devices are passive devices integrated within one distinct package. They take up less space than equivalent combinations of discrete components.

Magnetic (inductive) devices

Electrical components that use magnetism in the storage and release of electrical charge through current: *

Inductor An inductor, also called a coil, choke, or reactor, is a passive two-terminal electrical component that stores energy in a magnetic field when electric current flows through it. An inductor typically consists of an insulated wire wound into a ...

, coil, choke * Variable inductor * Saturable inductor *

Transformer A transformer is a passive component that transfers electrical energy from one electrical circuit to another circuit, or multiple circuits. A varying current in any coil of the transformer produces a varying magnetic flux in the transformer' ...

Magnetic amplifier The magnetic amplifier (colloquially known as a "mag amp") is an electromagnetic 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 wh ...

( toroid) * ferrite impedances, beads * Motor / Generator * Solenoid *

Loudspeaker A loudspeaker (commonly referred to as a speaker or speaker driver) is an electroacoustic transducer that converts an electrical audio signal into a corresponding sound. A ''speaker system'', also often simply referred to as a "speaker" or ...

and

microphone A microphone, colloquially called a mic or mike (), is a transducer that converts sound into an electrical signal. Microphones are used in many applications such as telephones, hearing aids, public address systems for concert halls and pub ...

Memristor

Electrical components that pass charge in proportion to magnetism or magnetic flux, and have the ability to retain a previous resistive state, hence the name of Memory plus Resistor. * Memristor

Networks

Components that use more than one type of passive component: * RC network – forms an

RC circuit A resistor–capacitor circuit (RC circuit), or RC filter or RC network, is an electric circuit composed of resistors and capacitors. It may be driven by a voltage or current source and these will produce different responses. A first order RC ...

, used in snubbers * LC Network – forms an LC circuit, used in tunable transformers and RFI filters.

Transducers, sensors, detectors

Transducer A transducer is a device that converts energy from one form to another. Usually a transducer converts a signal in one form of energy to a signal in another. Transducers are often employed at the boundaries of automation, measurement, and cont ...

s generate physical effects when driven by an electrical signal, or vice versa. # Sensors (detectors) are transducers that react to environmental conditions by changing their electrical properties or generating an electrical signal. # The transducers listed here are single electronic components (as opposed to complete assemblies), and are passive (see Semiconductors and Tubes for active ones). Only the most common ones are listed here. * Audio **

– Electromagnetic or

piezoelectric Piezoelectricity (, ) is the electric charge that accumulates in certain solid materials—such as crystals, certain ceramics, and biological matter such as bone, DNA, and various proteins—in response to applied mechanical stress. The word ' ...

device to generate full audio ** Buzzer – Electromagnetic or piezoelectric sounder to generate tones * Position, motion **

Linear variable differential transformer The linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) (also called linear variable displacement transformer, linear variable displacement transducer, or simply differential transformer) is a type of electrical transformer used for measuring linear d ...

(LVDT) – Magnetic – detects linear position ** Rotary encoder, Shaft Encoder – Optical, magnetic, resistive or switches – detects absolute or relative angle or rotational speed ** Inclinometer – Capacitive – detects angle with respect to gravity ** Motion sensor, Vibration sensor ** Flow meter – detects flow in liquid or gas * Force, torque ** Strain gauge – Piezoelectric or resistive – detects squeezing, stretching, twisting **

Accelerometer An accelerometer is a tool that measures proper acceleration. Proper acceleration is the acceleration (the rate of change of velocity) of a body in its own instantaneous rest frame; this is different from coordinate acceleration, which is acce ...

– Piezoelectric – detects acceleration, gravity * Thermal **

Thermocouple A thermocouple, also known as a "thermoelectrical thermometer", is an electrical device consisting of two dissimilar electrical conductors forming an electrical junction. A thermocouple produces a temperature-dependent voltage as a result of th ...

, thermopile – Wires that generate a voltage proportional to delta temperature ** Thermistor – Resistor whose resistance changes with temperature, up PTC or down NTC ** Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD) – Wire whose resistance changes with temperature **

Bolometer A bolometer is a device for measuring radiant heat by means of a material having a temperature-dependent electrical resistance. It was invented in 1878 by the American astronomer Samuel Pierpont Langley. Principle of operation A bolometer ...

– Device for measuring the power of incident

electromagnetic radiation In physics, electromagnetic radiation (EMR) consists of waves of the electromagnetic (EM) field, which propagate through space and carry momentum and electromagnetic radiant energy. It includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared, (visible ...

Thermal cutoff A thermal cutoff is an electrical safety device (either a thermal fuse or thermal switch) that interrupts electric current when heated to a specific temperature. These devices may be for one-time use (a thermal fuse), or may be reset manually ...

– Switch that is opened or closed when a set temperature is exceeded * Magnetic field (see also Hall Effect in semiconductors) **

Magnetometer A magnetometer is a device that measures magnetic field or magnetic dipole moment. Different types of magnetometers measure the direction, strength, or relative change of a magnetic field at a particular location. A compass is one such device, o ...

, Gauss meter * Humidity **

Hygrometer A hair tension dial hygrometer with a nonlinear scale. A hygrometer is an instrument used to measure the amount of water vapor in air, in soil, or in confined spaces. Humidity measurement instruments usually rely on measurements of some other qu ...

* Electromagnetic, light ** Photo resistor – Light dependent resistor (LDR)

Antennas

Antennas transmit or receive radio waves * Elemental dipole * Yagi *

Phased array In antenna theory, a phased array usually means an electronically scanned array, a computer-controlled array of antennas which creates a beam of radio waves that can be electronically steered to point in different directions without moving t ...

Loop antenna A loop antenna is a radio antenna consisting of a loop or coil of wire, tubing, or other electrical conductor, that is usually fed by a balanced source or feeding a balanced load. Within this physical description there are two (possibly three) ...

* Parabolic dish * Log-periodic dipole array * Biconical * Feedhorn

Assemblies, modules

Multiple electronic components assembled in a device that is in itself used as a component * Oscillator * Display devices **

Liquid crystal display A liquid-crystal display (LCD) is a flat-panel display or other electronically modulated optical device that uses the light-modulating properties of liquid crystals combined with polarizers. Liquid crystals do not emit light directly but ...

(LCD) ** Digital voltmeters * Filter

Prototyping aids

* Wire-wrap * Breadboard

Electromechanical

Piezoelectric devices, crystals, resonators

Passive components that use

effect: * Components that use the effect to generate or filter high frequencies **

Crystal A crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material whose constituents (such as atoms, molecules, or ions) are arranged in a highly ordered microscopic structure, forming a crystal lattice that extends in all directions. In addition, macr ...

– a ceramic crystal used to generate precise frequencies (See the Modules class below for complete oscillators) **

Ceramic resonator A Ceramic Resonator is an electronic component consisting of a piece of a piezoelectric ceramic material with two or more metal electrodes attached. When connected in an electronic oscillator circuit, resonant mechanical vibrations in the device ge ...

– 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

s ** surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters * Components that use the effect as mechanical

transducer A transducer is a device that converts energy from one form to another. Usually a transducer converts a signal in one form of energy to a signal in another. Transducers are often employed at the boundaries of automation, measurement, and cont ...

s. **

Ultrasonic motor An ultrasonic motor is a type of piezoelectric motor powered by the ultrasonic vibration of a component, the stator, placed against another component, the rotor or slider depending on the scheme of operation (rotation or linear translation). Ultras ...

– Electric motor that uses the

effects ** For piezo buzzers and microphones, see the Transducer class below

Microelectromechanical systems

Microelectromechanical systems Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), also written as micro-electro-mechanical systems (or microelectronic and microelectromechanical systems) and the related micromechatronics and microsystems constitute the technology of microscopic devices, ...

** Digital micromirror device

Terminals and connectors

Devices to make electrical connection * Terminal *

Connector Connector may refer to: Hardware *Plumbing * Electrical connector, a device for joining electrical circuits together (sometimes known as ports, plugs, or interfaces) ** Gender of connectors and fasteners ** AC power plugs and sockets, devices tha ...

** Socket ** Screw terminal, Terminal Blocks ** Pin header

Cable assemblies

Electrical cables with connectors or terminals at their ends *

Power cord A power cord, line cord, or mains cable is an electrical cable that temporarily connects an electrical appliance, appliance to the mains electricity supply via a wall socket or extension cord. The terms are generally used for cables using a AC ...

* Patch cord * Test lead Micro switch

Switches

Components that can pass current ("closed") or break the current ("open"): *

Switch In electrical engineering, a switch is an electrical component that can disconnect or connect the conducting path in an electrical circuit, interrupting the electric current or diverting it from one conductor to another. The most common type ...

– Manually operated switch ** Electrical description: SPST, SPDT, DPST, DPDT, NPNT (general) ** Technology: slide switches, toggle switches, rocker switches, rotary switches, pushbutton switches * Keypad – Array of pushbutton switches *

DIP switch A DIP switch is a manual electric switch that is packaged with others in a group in a standard dual in-line package (DIP). The term may refer to each individual switch, or to the unit as a whole. This type of switch is designed to be used on a p ...

– Small array of switches for internal configuration settings * Footswitch – Foot-operated switch * Knife switch – Switch with unenclosed conductors * Micro switch – Mechanically activated switch with snap action * Limit switch – Mechanically activated switch to sense limit of motion * Mercury switch – Switch sensing tilt * Centrifugal switch – Switch sensing centrifugal force due to rate of rotation *

Relay A relay Electromechanical relay schematic showing a control coil, four pairs of normally open and one pair of normally closed contacts An automotive-style miniature relay with the dust cover taken off A relay is an electrically operated swit ...

or contactor – Electro-mechanically operated switch (see also solid state relay above) * Reed switch – Magnetically activated switch *

Thermostat A thermostat is a regulating device component which senses the temperature of a physical system and performs actions so that the system's temperature is maintained near a desired setpoint. Thermostats are used in any device or system tha ...

– Thermally activated switch * Humidistat – Humidity activated switch *

Circuit breaker A circuit breaker is an electrical safety device designed to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by an overcurrent or short circuit. Its basic function is to interrupt current flow to protect equipment and to prevent the risk ...

– Switch opened in response to excessive current: a resettable fuse * Disconnector – Switch used in high- and medium-voltage applications for maintenance of other devices or isolation of circuits * Transfer switch – Switch that toggles a load between two sources

Protection devices

Passive components that protect circuits from excessive currents or voltages: * Fuse – over-current protection, one time use *

– resettable fuse in the form of a mechanical switch * Resettable fuse or PolySwitch – circuit breaker action using solid state device * Ground-fault protection or residual-current device – circuit breaker sensitive to mains currents passing to ground * Metal oxide varistor (MOV), surge absorber,

TVS TVS may refer to: Mathematics * Topological vector space Television * Television Sydney, TV channel in Sydney, Australia * Television South, ITV franchise holder in the South of England between 1982 and 1992 * TVS Television Network, US dis ...

– Over-voltage protection *

Inrush current limiter An inrush current limiter is a component used to limit inrush current to avoid gradual damage to components and avoid blowing fuses or tripping circuit breakers. Negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistors and fixed resistors are often ...

– protection against initial Inrush current * Gas discharge tube – protection against high voltage surges * Spark gap – electrodes with a gap to arc over at a high voltage * Lightning arrester – spark gap used to protect against lightning strikes * Recloser – automatic switch that opens on an overcurrent (fault) condition, then closes to check if the fault is cleared, and repeats this process a specified number of times before maintaining the open position until it is manually closed * Arc-fault circuit interrupter – circuit breaker that protects against arcs * Network protector – protective device that disconnects a distribution transformer when energy flow reverses direction * Magnetic starter – electromechanical switch used in motors

Mechanical accessories

* Enclosure (electrical) *

Heat sink A heat sink (also commonly spelled heatsink) is a passive heat exchanger that transfers the heat generated by an electronic or a mechanical device to a fluid medium, often air or a liquid coolant, where it is dissipated away from the device, t ...

* Fan

Other

Printed circuit board A printed circuit board (PCB; also printed wiring board or PWB) is a medium used in electrical and electronic engineering to connect electronic components to one another in a controlled manner. It takes the form of a laminated sandwich str ...

s * Lamp *

Waveguide A waveguide is a structure that guides waves, such as electromagnetic waves or sound, with minimal loss of energy by restricting the transmission of energy to one direction. Without the physical constraint of a waveguide, wave intensities de ...

Obsolete

* Carbon amplifier (see Carbon microphones used as amplifiers) * Carbon arc (negative resistance device) * Dynamo (historic rf generator) * Coherer

Standard symbols

On a circuit diagram, electronic devices are represented by conventional symbols. Reference designators are applied to the symbols to identify the components.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Electronic Component Components