Archive for : January, 2020

Active Components

An active component is a crucial device that functions to produce power gain or amplify a signal both of which are made possible by the analogue electronic filter that is contained in the device. The two significant types of active components are solid state devices and electron tubes and semiconductors. However, a typical active component would be a transistor, an integrated circuit or even an oscillator.

The major function of an active component is operating as an alternating-current circuit in any given device. An alternating-current circuit functions to increasing the current, active power or voltage of that given device. Additionally, an active component can effectively function because it is powered by an electricity source that is powered from t a separate from the electric signal.

A significant percentage of electronic devices are semiconductors and the most common of these devices is the transistor. A transistor is basically used as an amplifier that functions to increase the active current I/O signal utilising a DC power supply to provide the power needed.

Furthermore, active device can control the flow of electrons while either allowing the voltage to take control of the current or alternatively allowing another current to take over the control. Devices that are controlled by a current like bipolar junction transistors often allow a single current to have control over the other while a device controlled by the voltage like vacuum tubes easily control their own signal.

It is important to note that all active components need an energy source, which originates from a DC circuit. Additionally, it can also infuse power into any circuit including the triode vacuum tube, transistor or a tunnel diode. Any component that is inactive is referred to a passive component and it only consumes energy without the ability to boost power. Some examples of passive component include inductors, capacitors and resistors among others.

What is a Transistor?

A transistor is like a switch. This is because the semiconductor device has all the features of a traditional switch, including blocking and allowing the electrons to flow around the circuit. There are three terminals in the device. One is for the power input, and the other terminal is for the output while the last one controls the switching. It is the basic component in the design of electronic devices. It is also used in circuit boards as a standalone part or embedded into an integrated circuit.

There is one semiconductive material in the transistor, mostly silicon, along with three or more terminals that connect to an external circuit. John Bardeen, Walter Brattain and William Shockley invented the transistor in 1974. They were later jointly awarded a Physics Nobel Prize for their effort in technological advancement. This technology has been the foundation of modern appliances such as smartphones, widescreen TVs, electronic computing devices and tablets.

How the Transistor Works

A transistor works as an electronic switch where electrons flow from the collector terminal to the emitter terminal. The middle or the base is usually the base of the switch control where silicon or similar material changes between an insulator and a conductor with and without electron simulation, respectively. In the Conductive state, it allows the flow of electricity.

The chemical process by which transistor is made is called doping. In the process, the semi-conductive materials get either an extra positive charge (P-type) or a negative charge (N-type). Transistors are made in either of the two configurations NPN or PNP, where the material at the middle is the flow control or the base.

A voltage or current change in the base material leads to high voltage or current passing through the integrated circuit. This way, it works like a power amplifier.