Basic Components

Some basic components in uP & uC

1. An electronic circuit board can contain millions of transistors and many other tiny electronic parts. But what are these parts and what do they do? Take a close look at what goes inside electronics and learn the function of each component.

2. Transistors
Transistors come in several different types and amplify electric current. They can also turn electricity on or off. The electronic component on the next page has the opposite function.

3. Resistors
Resistors control the flow of electrical current, and are commonly used to control volume in electronic devices like TVs. If you aren't careful, the power in the next component might kill you if you handle it improperly.

4. Electrolytic Capacitors
Capacitors are like batteries, but they dump their entire charge in a tiny fraction of a second, where a battery would take minutes. They are commonly used for anything that requires a flash, such as a camera. They can also be used to even out voltage or block DC current. See other types of capacitors next.

5. Other Capacitors
While the electrolytic capacitor on the previous page is the most popular, other common capacitor types include ceramic, plastic film types and tantalum. They are often less expensive than electrolytic capacitors and better for electronics that don't require intensity. Protect your circuit with the next part.

6. Diodes
Diodes allow electricity to flow in one direction and are usually used as a form of protection. Above, the diodes are red with resistors on the left. Take a look at a LED next.

7. Light-emitting Diode (LED)
Basically, LEDs are just tiny light bulbs that fit easily into an electrical circuit. Some uses of LEDs include forming the numbers on digital clocks, transmiting information from remote controls, lighting up watches and telling you when your appliances are turned on. Collected together, they can illuminate a traffic light. Learn what inductors do next.

8. Inductors
An inductor is about as simple as an electronic component can get -- it is simply a coil of wire. It is used in traffic light sensors and if you team up an inductor with a capacitor you create an oscillator. Learn everyday things that use oscillators next.

9. Oscillator
Oscillators move energy back and forth between two forms. A quartz watch uses a quartz oscillator to keep track of what time it is. An AM radio transmitter uses an oscillator to create the carrier wave for the station and there are also oscillators in computers, metal detectors and stun guns. Next, see the component that made computing possible.

10. Semiconductor Chip/Integrated Circuit
An integrated circuit, also called a chip, may contain millions of transistors and other components surrounded by a plastic or ceramic case. It connects to a circuit board via the metal pins seen above. Chips are often used in cars, computers, calculators and more. Next, learn about microcontrollers.

11. Microcontrollers
Most modern electronic devices -- TVs, VCRs, microwaves and so on -- contain an embedded microcontroller It's basically a dedicated computer. Next, see a microprocessor, which is a key component in computers.

12. Microprocessors
A microprocessor -- also known as a CPU or central processing unit -- is a complete computation engine that is fabricated on a single chip. Pictured above is the back side of the Core i7 chip with Nehalem microarchitecture. You can also fire up your electronics engine with the next component.

13. Brushless Electric Motor
In a brushless DC motor (BLDC), you put the permanent magnets on the rotor and you move the electromagnets to the stator. Then you use a computer (connected to high-power transistors) to charge up the electromagnets as the shaft turns. You'll likely need the next part to even get your motor started.

14. Relays
A relay is a simple electromechanical switch made up of an electromagnet and a set of contacts. Relays are quite common in home appliances where there is an electronic control turning on something like a motor or a light. See what device is used to get electricity to your gadgets next.

15. Chip on top with a transistor and LED below. Pictured above is another LED surrounded by resistors and diodes.

16. Power-cube Transformer
The purpose of a transformer is to convert one AC voltage to another AC voltage. A typical home probably has five to 10 of these little transformers plugged into the wall at any given time, and they are used with printers, speakers, cell phone chargers, electric drills and more.