RFEssential Electronic Terminology: A Quick Reference Guide
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This page describes terms related to the Electronics domain, covering components and concepts like BJT, FET, Diac, Triac, JUGFET, MOSFET, electrolytic capacitor, inductor, capacitor, transducer, microphone, thermistor, relay, reed switch, OP-AMP, transformer, battery, SCR, variable resistor, and variable capacitor.
| Electronic Terms | Basic description | RF Wireless World Reference |
|---|---|---|
| BJT | Stands for Bipolar Junction Transistor. A current-controlled device with three terminals: emitter, base, and collector. | BJT |
| FET | Stands for Field Effect Transistor. A voltage-controlled device with three terminals: Source, Gate, and Drain. | FET |
| Diac | Made of 2 zener diodes interconnected back to back. | Diac |
| Triac | Made of two SCRs connected in parallel and in opposite direction. | Triac |
| JUGFET | Full form is Junction Gate FET. | JUGFET |
| MOSFET | Full form is Metal Oxide Semiconductor FET. | MOSFET |
| Electrolytic capacitor | The device used to store charge in its metal body with polarity. | Electrolytic Capacitor |
| Capacitor | The device used to store charge. There are many types of capacitors depending upon the application. | Capacitor basics |
| Inductor | A coil of wire with or without a core. When current is passed through it, a magnetic field is generated. It has reactance which equals 2pif*L. At higher frequencies, impedance will be higher, blocking those frequencies. DC or low frequencies will pass easily due to lower impedance. | Inductor basics |
| Transducer | The device which converts one form of signal to another. Examples: microphone, speaker, sensors, etc. | Transducer |
| Microphone | A type of transducer that converts an acoustic signal into an electrical signal. | Microphone types and basics |
| Thermistor | The device whose resistance changes with temperature. | Thermistor |
| Relay | A type of switch operated by a magnet. It can be turned on or off by passing current through it. | Relay |
| Reed Switch | Also a type of switch used for fast switching applications, often in telephone line exchanges. | Reed Switch |
| Battery | The device used to provide DC power. Commonly used to power mobile phones, tablets, laptops, etc. | Battery |
| SCR | Stands for Silicon Controlled Rectifier. | SCR |
| Op-Amp | Operational amplifier (OP-AMP) is used in many applications due to its high gain, high input, and low output impedances. | OP-AMP |
| Transformer | Converts AC voltage from one value to another. This is achieved with two coils having different numbers of turns, referred to as primary and secondary coils. | Transformer basics and types |
| Resistor | The device which dissipates power when current is passed through it. It provides resistance to the flow of current and hence limits the current. | Resistor basics |
| Variable resistor | A resistor whose resistance value can be changed manually or through software. | Variable resistor |
| Variable capacitor | A capacitor whose capacitance value can be changed. | Variable capacitor |
