electronics circuits and systems
Common Electronics Vocabulary
As a beginning electronics hobbyist, you’re likely to come across a lot of terminology that you don’t understand yet. No matter if you are looking at components such as diodes, or projects like PCBs, or one of the various software programs out there, you will need to know these terms and know what they mean.
Below are terms every electronics hobbyist should know:
AC (Alternating Current)
A flow of electrical current that periodically reverses its direction
CAD Software (computer-Aided design)
To design the schematics for PCBs and other electronics, you should use CAD software. Learn how to use CAD software.
Capacitance
This is a measurement of the electrical charge that a conductor is able to store.
Capacitor
These are used to store electrical charges
Conductor
Materials with minimal resistance that allow electrical current to flow.
Digital Circuit
I/O of only two states: 0=low or 1=high. An analog system will have a continuously variable signal.
Diode
A commonly utilized component is the design of electronic devices that only allow currents to flow in 1 direction.
Direct Current (DC)
A single direction flow of electrical current
Electronics
The science and technology of applied electricity and electrical theory from small hobbyist projects to large-scale power production and transmission
Ground
To avoid any contact between the circuit and dangerous amounts of voltage, grounds are in place to connect the circuit to the earth (either theoretically or actually). In small electronic devices the “ground” is usually a large conductor that serves as a return path for excess voltage.
Insulator
A material of high resistance and poor conductivity that prevents the unwanted spread of current in an electrical system or circuit
IC (Integrated Circuits)
A small electronic device or computer chip made of transistors and resistors placed on semiconducting material that performs a given function within a larger system
Light Emitting Diode or LED
A specific diode that emits light when current passes through it
Ohm’s Law - This describes the relationship of resistance, voltage and current when an electric current goes through a conductor. By this law, the current should be directly proportional to the voltage and inversely proportional to the resistance.
Ohm - Resistance's measurement
PCBs (Printed Circuit Board)
PCBs are boards made up of components that are connected by a slim coat of conductive materials that are etched on the board in place of using wires. Printed circuit boards are commonly used as a place to mount your electrical components. Find some additional printed circuit board information.
Resistance
The electrical friction between an electric current and the material it is flowing through
Resistor
A component that is used to create resistance within a circuit.
Schematic
A road map of electrical circuitry that utilizes a series of standardized symbols
Semiconductor
A material of electrical resistance, often precious metals, used to construct the diodes, transistors, and resistors of an integrated circuit
Solder
A highly conductive alloy used to mount wires and components to a circuit
Switch
Switches have the job of connecting or disconnecting electrical flow to a circuit.
Transistor
These have the job of amplifying, oscillating, or switching the electrical current flow between two circuit terminals.
Voltage
Voltage is how we measure differences of electrical potential throughout a material or between 2 circuit points.
Volts
Amount of voltage
Designing energy-Efficient Integrated Circuits and Systems
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