TYPES OF ELECTRONICS COMPONENTS

Electronics components are typically classified into various types based on their functions. Here’s a
breakdown of the main categories and examples of components within each type:

1. Passive Components:-

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Resistors: Control current and voltage in circuits (e.g., fixed resistors, variable resistors, thermistors).

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The resistor is a passive electrical component whose function is to introduce resistance to the flow of
electric current in an Electrical circuit to limit the current. The magnitude of the opposition to the flow
of current is called the resistance of the resistor. A larger resistance value indicates a greater opposition
to current flow. The resistance is measured in ohms (Q), and its equation is as follows.

R=V/I

The voltage (V), current (I), and resistance (R) are related by Ohms law. i.e. V = IR. The higher the
resistance R, the lower is the current | for a given voltage V across it. It is a linear device.

Resistors dissipate electrical energy given by P=I2 R Watts or Joules/sec.

Resistors are made using different materials such as carbon film, metal film, etc. However, we will
concentrate on the most common varieties and their attributes.

Resistors’ values vary from milliohms to mega ohms and the tolerance of typical resistors varies from 1%
to 5%. However, for precision resistor tolerance varies below 1% from 0.1% to 0.001% and hence they
are more expensive and are used in analog circuits where precise/reference voltage is needed.
Commonly used Resistor are available with maximum power rating of 1/8(0.125W), 1/4W (0.25W),
1/2W (0.5W), 1W, 5W. Based on the values and power ratings, SMD resistors are made in different sizes
codes 1210, 1206, 0805, 0603, 0402, 0201. This also includes R-packs resistor network used for pull
up /pull down for circuits interfaces.

Different types of resistors by size and form

 Through-hole resistors
 Surface-mount resistors SMD/SMT

Different types of resistors by application

 Common resistor: used in current limiter, setting biases, voltage dividers, pull up, filtering,
termination resistors, load resistors, etc.
 Precision resistor for voltage feedback circuits, voltage references.
 Current sense resistors
 Power resistors

Resistor selection parameters

While selecting any resistor in the circuit, the designer needs to consider the following parameters
based on the application and real-estate available on the printed circuit board.

 Resistance value(R),
 Power (Wattages) dissipated across it,
 Tolerance (+/- %)
 Size based on available space on PCB.

Resistor manufacturers: AVX, Rohm, Kemet, Vishay, Samsung, Panasonic TDK, Murata, etc.

Capacitor

The Capacitor is a passive electrical component, whose function is to store electrical energy and deliver
it to the circuit when needed. The capacity of a capacitor to store electrical charge is known as the
capacitance of that capacitor. It is denoted by (C). The unit of capacitance is Farad (F) and can range
from, micro Farad (µF) 1x 10-6 F, Kilo pico Farad (KpF), or nano Farad (nF) 1x 10-9 F to pico Farad (pF) 1x
10-12 F. Typical values range from 1pF to 1000uF.

The various uses of capacitors are:

 It blocks the flow of DC voltage and permits the flow of AC hence used for coupling of the
circuits.
 It bypasses the unwanted signal frequencies to ground.
 It is used for phase shifting and for creating time delays.
 It is also used for filtration, especially in removing ripples from the rectified waveform.
 It is used to get the tuned frequency.
  It is used as a motor starter.

Capacitor equation is given as follows;

C=Q/V

Where Q denotes charge and V denotes voltage across the capacitor and C denotes the capacitance.

Since current i=dq/dt i.e. rate of change of charge,

Hence, I = C dV/dt

Therefore, if the voltage across a capacitor is constant, there will be no current flow through the
capacitor; and current will only flow across the capacitor if the voltage across it changing with time for
example an AC voltage. That is why a capacitor blocks DC signals and allows only AC signals to pass
through it when used in the series of the path of the signal.

The energy stored in a capacitor C which has been charged to voltage V is given by

E= 1/2 CV²; where V is in Volts and C in capacitance.

Though the ideal capacitor doesn’t offer resistance and inductance, however in a real capacitor it has a
small amount of effective series resistance due to capacitor plates, dielectric material, and terminal
leads. Higher ESR increases noise across the capacitor, decreasing filtering effectiveness hence ESR
needs to be of smaller value.
A capacitor consists of two parallel plates (conductors) separated by a non-conductive region such as
dielectric form a capacitor.

C= ε A/d

Where A is an area of the plate, d is spacing between two plates and ε is dielectric permittivity. The
dielectric media can be of air, paper, ceramic, plastic, mica, glass, etc.

Different types of capacitors

Capacitors fall into two categories – polarized and non-polarized.

Polarized capacitors can be given positive voltage in only one direction and placed on board in only one
direction. Polarized capacitors are electrolytic and tantalum capacitors

Non-polarized is the ceramic capacitor, polyester capacitor, paper capacitor which does not have
polarity and can be placed in any direction.

Capacitor selection parameters

While selecting a capacitor in any circuit users need to take care of the following parameters apart from
the application/usage.

 Capacitance value
 Maximum operating voltage of the capacitor.
 Tolerance
 Breakdown voltage
 Frequency range
 Equivalent series resistance (ESR)
 Size

Manufacturers: AVX, Kemet, Vishay, Samsung, Panasonic TDK, Murata, etc.

Inductors

The inductors (also called as a coil or choke) is a passive two-terminal electrical component that stores
magnetic energy when an electric current is passed through it. It’s an insulated wire wound into a coil
around a core of some material (air, iron, powdered iron, or ferrite material) in a spiral form.

The inductor is denoted by inductance ‘L’ and the measuring unit is Henry (H). Inductors have values
that typically range from 1 µH to 2000 mH.

inductor-symbols.jpg

Inductor symbols

When the time-varying current flows through an inductor, the magnetic field is created which induces
an electromotive force (e.m.f.) (voltage) in the inductor. Voltage V, across an inductor of inductance L, is
given by:

V = L di/dt

That is, there is a voltage across the inductor only if the current through it is changing; DC produces no
voltage through an inductor. In general, inductor blocks the AC and passes the DC.

The energy stored in an inductor with value ‘L’ Henries is given by;

E = 1/2 Li² energy E is in Joules, and I is in ampere.

An ideal inductor has zero resistance and zero capacitance. However, real inductors have a small value
resistance associated with the winding of the coil and whenever current flows through it, energy is lost
in the form of heat.

Application of inductors

In buck/boost power regulators

In filter circuits in DC power supplies

Isolating signals

In transformer to step up/down the AC voltage level

In oscillator and tuning circuits

For generating voltage surges in fluorescent lamp sets

Types of inductors

Inductors are mainly classified depending on the core material used and operating frequency. The
following are the different types of inductors and available in through-hole as well as SMD package
based on the construction.

Iron cored inductors

Air cored inductors

Powdered iron cored inductors

Ferrite cored inductors

Variable inductors

Audio frequency inductors

Radio frequency inductors

Inductor-types.jpg

Inductor types

Inductor selection parameters

While selecting an inductor in any circuit user needs to take care of the following parameter apart from
the application/usage.

Inductance value

Tolerance

Maximum current rating

Shielded and non-shielded

Size

Q ratings

Frequency range

The resistance of the inductor

Type of core used

Manufacturers: Murata, TDK, Bourns Inc., Abracon Electronics, AVX corporation, Schaffner, Signal
Transformer, etc.

Diodes

The diode is two terminal semiconductor devices that allow an electric current to pass in one direction
while blocking it in the reverse direction. The diode is made up of a semiconductor device with P-type
material and N-type material. Typical material used in a diode is silicon and germanium. They conduct
when a minimum forward voltage (~ 0.7V for Silicon) is applied across it and remain off during reverse
bias condition.

The diode symbol is represented as below and their physical packages.

types-of-diodes.jpg

Types of diode

Applications of diode:

Power conversion (AC to DC)/ rectification

Clamping the voltage

Zener diode as a voltage regulator

Overvoltage protection

ESD protection

Demodulation of signals

Type of diodes:

Rectifier diode

Switching diode

Light-emitting diode

Zener diode

Schottky diode

ESD diode

Tunnel diode

Varicap diode

Photodiode

The laser diode in optical communication

Size of diode packages

Diodes are available in through-hole (DIP) and SMD versions.

E.g. DIP: DO214, SMA, TO- 220 with heatsink SMD 1206, 1210, SOD323, SOT23, TO-252, D2PAK,

Diode selection parameters

While selecting a diode in any circuit users need to take care of the following parameters apart from the
application/usage.

Forward bias voltage

Maximum forward current

Average forward current

Power dissipation

Reverse breakdown voltage/peak inverse voltage

Max reverse current

Operating junction temperature

Reverse recovery time

Size

Manufacturers: Rohm Semiconductor, Diodes Incorporated, On Semi, Vishay, etc.

Crystals

The quartz crystal is made from a thin piece of quartz wafer. This wafer is made from silicon material.
The wafer is tightly fitted and controlled between two parallel metalized surfaces which make an
electrical connection. When an external voltage is applied to the plates, the crystal vibrates with a
certain fundamental frequency which creates alternating waveform which swings between high and low
levels. This phenomenon is known as the piezoelectric effect. Due to this property, they are used in
electronic circuits along with active components to create stable clock input to the processor.

quartz-crystal-oscillator.jpg

Quartz crystal oscillator

Crystal application

Used in oscillator circuit to provide a clock input to the processor device

Source of reference signals for RF

Crystal selection parameter

Load capacitance

Fundamental frequency

Frequency tolerance

Frequency stability

ESR

Operating voltage

Manufacturers: NDK, Murata, Epson, ECS, CTS, Kyocera, etc.

Relays

A relay is an electromagnetic switch that opens and closes potential-free contacts. An electromechanical
relay consists of an armature, coil, spring, and contacts. When the voltage is applied to a coil, it
generates a magnetic field. This attracts the armature and causes a change in the open/closed state of
the circuit. It is mainly used to control a high-powered circuit using a low power signal.

There are mainly two types of relays based on constructions – electromechanical (EMR) and solid-state
(SSR) relays.

A solid-state relay has a photodiode at its input side and a switching device such as transistor/FET at its
output side. When a specific voltage is applied at its input, photodiode conducts and triggers the base of
the transistor to cause the switching. Due to its fast switching, miniaturized form factor, low voltage
requirement, and eliminating the mechanical arching, electrical noise, and contact bounce, it’s widely
used in applications compared to mechanical relay.

types-of-relay.jpg

Types of relay

Different types of relay form

Relays are categorized based on the poles and throws such as SPDT, SPST, DPST, DPDT.

Application

Controlling the high power circuit with isolated low power. E.g. Controlling 230V a.c. circuits with a +5V
signal.

Switching voltage ON/OFF

Electrical MCB

Driving diac/triac circuits

Selection parameter for relay:

Output load type – AC/DC

Input coil voltage for a mechanical relay

Photodiode voltage for SSR

Output switching voltage

Output current

On-State resistance

Number of clicks/switching

Number of poles and contacts

Type of output contacts NC/NO

Packages

Active devices

The basic electronic components that depend on an external power source for their operation are called
active components. They can amplify signals and/or process signals. Some of the active components are
transistor, integrated circuits ICs.

Transistor

The transistor is a non-linear semiconductor three-terminal device. The transistor is considered to be

one of the most important devices in the field of electronics. The transistor has transformed many
aspects of man’s life. There are two main functions of transistors, to amplify input signals and to acts as
solid-state switches. The transistor acts as a switch when operated either in saturation or cut-off region.
Whereas it amplifies signals when used in the active region. It offers very high input resistance and very
low output resistance.

Transistors are categorized into bipolar junction transistor and field effect transistor based on their
construction.

Type of transistor:

BJT: NPN and PNP,

FET: JFET, P-MOSFET,N-MOSFET

Transistor symbol is represented as below.

transistor-symbol.jpg

Transistor symbol
The most popular and commonly used transistors are BC547, 2N2222. Given below are a few common
transistor packages:

transistor-packages.jpg

Transistor packages

MOSFET

The MOSFET (metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor) transistor is a semiconductor device
that is different than bipolar junction transistor in terms of construction though the applications remain
the same as switching and amplifying. It has four terminals such as drain, gate, source, and body. The
body is shorted with a source terminal. The gate is insulated from the channel near an extremely thin
layer of metal oxide. Due to which it offers very high resistance compared to BJT.

By controlling the gate voltage (VGS +ve/-ve) width of a channel along which charge carriers flow
(electrons or holes) from source to drain can be controlled. The P-Channel MOSFET has a P-Channel
region between the source and drain and for N-channel MOSFET has an N-channel region.

Advantages of MOSFET over BJT:

Very high input resistance

Low on-state resistance

Low power loss

High frequency of operations

transistor-operation.jpg

Transistor operation

Application of transistors (BJT/FET)

Amplification of analog signals

Used as switching devices in SMPS, microcontrollers, etc.

Oscillators

Over/under voltage protection

Modulation circuits & demodulation of signals

Power control in invertors and chargers (high-current power transistors)

Types of transistor packages

In terms of packaging BJT and MOSFET, transistors are available in through-hole (DIP) and SMD versions.
e.g. DIP: TO-92, TO- 220 and SMD: SOT23, SOT223, TO-252, D2PAK.

Transistor selection parameters

While selecting a transistor in any circuit, the user needs to take care of the following parameters:

Maximum collector current (Ic)

Max collector voltage (Vce)

VBE voltage

Saturation Vce (sat) voltage

Current gain, hfe/ß

Input resistance

Output resistance

Reverse breakdown voltage

Max reverse current

Power dissipation

Operating junction temperature

Size

Switching time/frequency

Manufacturers: Analog Devices, Rohm Semiconductor, Diodes Incorporated, On Semi, Texas Instrument,
Panasonic, Infineon, Honeywell, etc.

Integrated circuits

An integrated circuit (IC) is an electronic circuit built on a semiconductor wafer, usually made of silicon.
On this wafer, there are millions of miniaturized transistors, resistors, and capacitors, which are
connected by metal traces. The ICs are powered by an external power supply for their operations. ICs
perform specific functions such as data processing and signal processing. The entire physical size of the
IC wafer is extremely small compared to that of discrete circuits hence it is called a microchip or simply
chips. Because of their small size, ICs have low power consumption.

Types of ICs

ICs are categorized as digital, analog, and mixed-signal ICs based on their circuit functionality.

Digital ICs

Digital ICs can be divided into further two categories for the sake of simplicity:

Simple ICs: Timer, counter, register, switches, digital logic gates, adder, etc.

Complex ICs: Microprocessor, memories, switching ICs, ethernet MAC/PHY.

A microprocessor/microcontroller is an integrated circuit, which can process the digital data. For
example, temperature sensor data can be read by a microprocessor and using its internal logic to
perform control functions such as switching an air-conditioner ON or OFF. The ability to program a
microprocessor gives it the flexibility to be used in a wide range of applications. Some of the applications
are consumer electronics (microwave, washing machine, TV), industrial applications (motor control,
process control), communication applications (wireless communication, telephony, satellite
communication).

A microprocessor is a complex IC having an inbuilt central processing unit (CPU) consisting of an

arithmetic logic unit (ALU), registers, buffer memory, clock. The processor does not have inbuilt memory
and needs to interface RAM and ROM externally. Applications: computers, laptops, servers, basically for
high-end processing.

A microcontroller is an integrated circuit that has CPU, inbuilt memory, general-purpose IO’s,
communication interface such as SPI, I2C, UART, ADC, DAC, PWM. Depending on the size of memory and
interface microcontrollers are targeted for specific applications. Applications: Embedded devices such as
washing machines, weighing scales, CNC machines, etc.

Digital signal processing (DSP) controllers are a type of processor which are used in high-computing
applications such as image processing, speech processing, video compression, etc.
Analog ICs

Operational amplifiers, differential amplifiers, instrumentation amplifiers, RF devices, ADCs, DACs.

Interfacing ICs – RS232 driver, ethernet, CAN bus drivers, buffers, and level converters.

Power ICs – Voltage regulators such as linear regulators, LDOs, switching regulators

Field programmable gate array – FPGA, mixed-signal FPGA

IC packages

IC’s are available in different packages and pin counts such as DIP and SMD. Below are some of the
popular and widely used packages.

Package Package name and pin count

Small outline package SOIC-8,12,14,16, 24 TSSOP

Through-hole package DIP-8,12,14,16,24,

Ball grid array BGA 44, 48… 1000, etc.

Flat package QFN , DFM 44 etc.

Typical selection parameters

While selecting an IC in any circuit user need to consider about following parameters apart from the
application/usage.

Digital ICs

Operating voltage (Vcc): +2.5V, +3.3V, +1.8V, +5V, +12V/-12V

Maximum operating frequency

Switching time and maximum data rates

IO voltage level (TTL5V, CMOS), max tolerance, VIH, VIL, VOH, VOL

IO setup time, hold time, data valid time

Type of IO: Digital or analog pin

Open collector or totem pole output

Total number of IOs required for application

Type of communication interfaces such as SPI or I2C and speed

Power dissipation.

Commercial 0° C to 60° C, mil-grade -55° C to 125° C, industrial -40° C to 85° C

Size

Analog ICs

Operating voltage (Vcc): +2.5V, +3.3V, +1.8V, +5V, +12V/-12V

Ref voltages

Maximum and minimum output voltage

Offset voltages and current

CMRR, PSRR

Input signal magnitude range

Type of digital communication interface and speed

Power dissipation

Commercial 0° C to 60° C, mil-grade -55° C to 125° C, industrial -40° C to 85° C

Size

SMT device sizes

The component sizes of the selected SMT components are important while manufacturing the electronic
product. The assembler should have the capability to assemble the small size components on the PCBs.
The passive components such as resistors, capacitors, and inductors which have two leads are found in
standard sizes as shown in the table below. The SMT component sizes are given in inches as well as
metric systems. The most common sizes are in inches such as 0402, 0603,0805 1210, etc.
The table below gives the packages of SMT two lead components and their sizes.

COMMON PASSIVE SMT PACKAGE CODE

SMD PACKAGE TYPE

IPC Standard DIMENSIONS DIMENSIONS

MM

Metric Standard INCHES

2920 7.4 x 5.1(7451) 0.29 x 0.20

2725 6.9 x 6.3(6936) 0.27 x 0.25

2512 6.3 x 3.2(6332) 0.25 x 0.125

2010 5.0 x 2.5(5025) 0.20 x 0.10

1825 4.5 x 6.4(4564) 0.18 x 0.25

1812 4.5 x 3.2(4532) 0.18 x 0.125

1806 4.5 x 1.5(4516) 0.18 x 0.06

1210 3.2 x 2.5(3225) 0.125 x 0.10

1206 3.0 x 1.5(3216) 0.12 x 0.06

1008 2.5 x 2.0(2520) 0.10 x 0.08

805 2.0 x 1.2(2012) 0.08 x 0.05

603 1.6 x 10( (1608) 0.06 x 0.03

402 1.0 x 0.5(1005) 0.04 x 0.02

201 0.6 x 0.3(0603) 0.02 x 0.01

Basic electronic component part numbers and datasheets

Basic electronic components are identified with their respective manufacturer part numbers (MPN).
They are also identified by distributor/vendor part number (VPN).

Each basic electronic component has its datasheet which explains its performance, features, and
specifications. For example, for a 100-ohm resistor:
component-part-numbers.jpg

Component part numbers. Image credit: Digikey

Component distributors

Electronic component distributors are a key resource for supply chain management. They are a single-
window source of components from where a designer can buy components directly rather than buying
from an individual manufacturer. Distributors stock components from different manufacturers and
provide a simple and efficient web portal interface for selecting and purchasing components.

Most widely known component distributor in the world are as follows:

Digi-key

Mouser

Arrow

Avnet

Future Electronics

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