Transistors

Scientists developed transistors in the early 1950s to replace vacuum tubes. They had the advantage that they were small, didn't need to warm up and didn't leak. One of the first applications was the…

The LM723 pass transistor circuit is a specialized circuit that is sometimes added to the LM723 voltage regulator for it to increase output current. A voltage regulator is a device that automatically…

Flexible polymer transistors are made of three or more transistor terminals from a polymer for conduction. The three terminals on the transistor include the emitter, the collector, and the base. The…

While it is not possible to remove all hiss from a transistor amp, you can troubleshoot the amp and find the most common reasons for hissing. By finding the cause, you can adjust and remove the…

A cathode ray tube, or CRT, is a type of television monitor that uses a large glass tube and electron gun to stimulate a screen of phosphors and reproduce an image. CRT monitors paint the phosphor…

Luxman produces high-end home audio amplifiers. Usually valve powered, these devices use a set of vacuum tubes to balance voltages between the different power stages of the amplifier. Tube amplifiers…

A stereo amplifier’s job is to increase the power of an incoming audio signal enough to drive a set of speakers. The amplifier is an electronic circuit having, among other parts, four…

A transistor is a semiconductor used in many modern electronics devices, from radios to computers. The primary function of a transistor is to amplify and switch electronics signals. International…

The very first transistor, developed by Bell Labs in 1947, had no case; it was a naked chunk of germanium with wires soldered to it. When electronics manufacturers made transistors commercially, an…

Integrated circuits -- also known as ICs -- are shrunken-down electronic circuits that fit inside a microchip package. Many electronic devices use ICs rather than discrete analog electronic components…

A transistor is a common component found in many different types of electronics. Each transistor functions as a switch, determining which path the current takes through an electronic device. The…

The Tone Bender name has a long and varied career in the history of guitar effects. The basic circuits are responsible for such devices as the Vox Tone Bender, the Arbiter Fuzz Face and the Rotosound…

Transistors are electronic components that amplify the current in a circuit, such as the signal from a radio's antenna. NPN and PNP are two types of transistors. The letters refer to the electrical…

RCA has been a popular name in household electronics since its early beginnings in 1919. RCA 32-inch color televisions are full of electronic components, including processor chips, LED's, capacitors…

Unlike PNP (Positive-Negative-Positive) transistors which typically handle switching chores in modern electronic circuits, the most common role of NPN (Negative-Positive-Negative) transistors is that…

Transistors are electronic devices that are absolutely crucial to the functioning of modern technology. Considered by many to be one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century, according to…

A transistor is an essential component of electronics that amplifies or switches electrical currents. PNP and NPN are types of transistors made with different materials that function slightly…

A transistor is a current-operated, solid state, electronic device. It has three connections, base, emitter and collector. A small current flowing between the base and emitter will produce a larger…

Photoresistors react to light and have a resistance that is inversely proportional to the amount of light they receive. In complete darkness, a photoresistor has a high resistance exceeding 1,000,000…

All metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) electronic components are sensitive to temperature changes, and transistors are no different. The temperature affects the electrical characteristics of the…

Before the advent of the microchip, transistors were the cornerstones of basic electronic circuitry. A transistor is en electrical component that amplifies, diverts and switches electronic signals…

A transistor is a miniature electronic component that essentially acts as an amplifier and a switch. Composed of semiconductor material, transistors are the key components of any digital circuit,…

Field effect transistors (FET) are similar to bipolar junction transistors with just a few minor differences. As such, they can be used almost interchangeably on any transistor design. FETs are,…

It's been estimated that 250,000 silicon wafers are used daily by the semiconductor industry for manufacturing computers, cellphones, TVs and countless more electronic products. Approximately 33…

The different ways of biasing a transistor largely depend on the function of the transistor. A properly biased transistor must be able to not only maintain the correct current and voltage, but also…

Transistors control the amount of current in a circuit. Generally, transistor packaging determines the transistor's frequency characteristics and power rating. Power transistors generally come with…

In the same way a small amount of force on the handle of a water faucet can regulate a large amount of water, the transistor is a device that allows a small amount of current into its base to control…

At the most basic level, transistors are very small amplifiers, boosting the level of current passing across the transistor or the level of voltage across the transistor if a resistor is used as part…

The 3SK51 transistor is a dual-gate, N-channel metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) that is used for various electronic switching applications. MOSFETS such as the 3SK51 are…

Power transistors such as the 2N3055 act as amplifiers that collect and emit currents through a metal base. These components serve as current-diverting switches in numerous electronic devices, from…

In the 1950s, audio surveillance devices involved pineapple-sized microphones connected by hundreds of yards of cable to large tape recorders. Performing a "black bag job," as it was known in the FBI,…

Field Effect Transistors (FETs) differ from Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJTs) because BJTs are current controlled, while FETs are voltage controlled. This must be taken into consideration during…

In order to calculate the gain of a transistor, it must be used as an amplifier in a circuit. The gain of a transistor is determined by its configuration. The Common Base Configuration results in a…

Personal listening devices include MP3 players, CD players, tape players and portable radios. Most are designed to favor portability and long battery life, rather than sound quality and power. A lack…

Bidirectional transistors are also known as BJTs, or bipolar junction transistors. They are primarily used in devices, such as radio receivers, that place heavy electrical loads on components. BJTs…

You're sitting back couch-potatoing and something goes wrong with your television. Quickly, you scour your files for the warranty receipt only to find it has lapsed. Rather than call a repair…

In many applications, including automotive, the voltage generated by an alternator or stator changes depending on engine speed. This spells trouble for sensitive electronics, like built-in computer…

Electricity, and hence its accompanying circuitry, represents one of the amenities of modern life. However, all electrical systems eventually wear out and fall apart. Knowing how to troubleshoot your…

A multimeter is a device that can measure the amount of voltage, current and temperature in a circuit. It can be used to test the horizontal output transistor of a monitor. The horizontal output…

Transistors are essential to today's electronics technology. The development of the transistor has changed the world dramatically, resulting in such things as radios, cell phones and computers. These…

Older style televisions with glass picture tubes required a high voltage supply to operate. A transformer known as a flyback transformer steps up the AC (alternating current) used in the horizontal…

Long before iPods, satellite radio or online streaming audio there were AM transistor radios. These radios were popular in the mid- to late 1970s. A variety of these radios are still available through…

When you make a phone call, whether you are using your cell phone or a landline, you have a general expectation that your call is private, just between you and the recipient of the call. However,…

When they first appeared in the United States in the mid-1950's, transistor radios were all the rage. No longer did one need to lug around a big, bulky tube radio. Every now and then, some of these…

Radios that are manufactured today use digital components to create sound through speakers. Older radios, manufactured in the first half of the 20th century and up until the 1980s, used what are known…

Professional listening devices, also known as hidden microphones or "bugs," are small microphones capable of being hidden from plain sight while still being able to pick up conversations. These hidden…

A metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) amplifies or switches electronic signals. Of course, if you want to be 100 percent accurate when diagnosing a faulty MOFSET, you could go…

Audio amplifiers convert small alternating current electrical signals to larger signals. These signals are then converted into mechanical sound waves. Quality audio amplifiers reproduce the signal…

Technicians use different types of electronic test equipment to check transistors. They use multimeters and leakage testers to see if the transistor works or not, and a gain meter and curve tracer to…

Flyback is a type of electronic hardware that is used to generate higher voltage levels in high-voltage plasma screens and other plasma-based technologies. Unlike a normal-power transformer that uses…

"IC" stands for "integrated circuits," which are essentially just computer chips. ICs exist everywhere and are used in a number of applications, including digital signal processing, timing, and signal…

Finding the ground, or in other words finding the ground pin on an integrated circuit (IC), is a straightforward process that you can apply to any make and manufacturer. The easiest way to do this is…

Wireless listening devices can be manufactured from simple household products such as batteries and wires. These items make them easy and inexpensive to manufacture. Due to this reason, many students…

"Amps" and "subs," also known as amplifiers and subwoofers, respectively, are audio equipment designed to enhance your listening experience. They are very similar, but serve slightly different…

When an electronic circuit fails, it is not always readily apparent which component is to blame. If there are no obvious signs -- such as a smoldering or burnt component -- you will have to test each…

A flyback transformer is a critical component in rear-projection televisions. The transformer provides the high-voltage output that is necessary to produce a clear, continuous image on the screen. A…

An amplifier circuit adds power to an AC signal. Some high-fidelity amplifiers --- such as a Class-A amplifier circuit --- waste as much as 75 percent of the energy that's input into the amplifier.…

Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are low-power, high-intensity, and extremely resilient electrical components. They produce virtually no heat, and almost all the power usage goes toward the production of…

Transistors are devices that are part of the foundation of modern electronics, according to Electronics-Radio.com. Transistors can be used as switches or current amplifiers. The creation of the…

Listening devices can vary from pocket recorders to mini dishes that let you listen to conversations from a distance. Many of these devices are legal to own but can easily be used illegally.…

MOSFET transistors are the most popular types of semiconductors today. MOSFETS have, in effect, replaced bipolar transistors particularly in harsh electrical environments that would destroy bipolar…

Technically, a listening device could be anything that helps someone listen to something. However, the term typically refers to a covert listening device, commonly known as a bug. This type of audio…

In 1958, Jack Kilby invented the integrated circuit while working at Texas Instruments. An integrated circuit, or IC, contains many transistors, resistors and diodes connected together to function as…

When studying a specimen with a light microscope, the eye peers into the top of the microscope. The specimen rests on a rectangular glass slide below. Lenses in the microscope magnify the specimen.…

When designing transistor circuits, the manufacturer's data sheet is an invaluable resource. The data sheet for the 2N303055 transistor indicates that this is an NPN transistor that can handle up to…

The transistor is perhaps the most ubiquitous component in electronic devices. Owing to their small size, high resistances to electricity and low cost, transistors are present in huge numbers in…

The transistor was perhaps the most important invention of the 20th century. This is because, though it is a relatively simple device, it led the way to a whole series of other inventions that have…

Transistors are solid-state (no moving parts and no empty spaces) devices that control the flow of electrons. They can be used for amplifiers (in radios) or fast-acting electronic switches (in…

Amplifiers are used to convert a low-voltage alternating current electrical signal into a high-voltage alternating current electrical signal. Some types of amplifiers, such as audio amplifiers,…

Power inverters convert direct current (or DC) electrical energy into alternating current (or AC) electrical energy. Power inverters can be useful when an electrical device must be used, but no wall…

In order for a transistor to function properly, it must be biased correctly. This means establishing and maintaining proper values for current and voltage between its junctions. In order to function…

Sonic compressors are used in home audio and sound production settings. They are primarily used to reduce volume peaks in audio recordings, providing the listener with a more pleasurable listening…

Audio amplifiers are used to replicate an alternating current (AC) audio signal and increase the voltage while maintaining the signal waveform. One simple type of audio amplifier is the Class A…

A silicone controlled rectifier, or SCR, is comprised of two transistors with the base from each transistor joined to the collector of the opposing transistor. Current flowing through electronic…

An electronic transistor is essentially two diodes. Diodes and transistors are either in service or not since neither are known to wear out gradually. Any component that goes bad in a circuit can…

Transistors fall into two basic designs--the PNP transistor or the NPN transistor--yet there are thousands of types. Each is made to affect a circuit in a certain capacity under a given load.…

In order for transistors to operate correctly, the right biasing voltage must be applied at the correct points. This voltage that is required to jump-start a transistor varies on the type of…

A flyback television uses a transformer also known as a line output transformer (LOPT). This is a simple transformer found in devices that use CRT, or cathode ray tube, technology for power.

While vintage vacuum tube radios had a charm all their own, the tubes inside were bulky and inefficient. Transistors, introduced in the 1950s, were smaller and had much lower power consumption. By the…

A rheostat circuit, a type of potentiometer, can be used to regulate the flow of electricity to a receiving device.

A NAND gate is an electrical logic component made of a configuration of transistors. A transistor is a device that amplifies a current if the transistor has a power source. NAND gates fall under the…

The transistor is considered by many historians to be the greatest invention of the 20th century. Not only did it miniaturize many electronic devices, it accelerated the development of semiconductors,…

In 1946, a group of Soviet schoolchildren presented then U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union Averell Harriman with a wooden 2-foot replica of the Great Seal of the United States.The artifact hung…

A transistor is a electronic conductor. Usually, a transistor has three connecting prongs attached to a conducting material. They are used to amplify a signal. Transistors are found in essentially…

In 1956, the Nobel Prize in Physics went to three American Physicists, Walter Houser Brattain, John Bardeen, and William Bradford Shockley. These physicists designed the first transistor in 1947,…

A transistor is made of at least three external terminals on a piece of semiconducting material. The three terminals are labeled as the base (b), collector (c) and emitter (e). The most important part…

Transistors are somewhat outdated electronic components that were most commonly used in radios. They mainly function as amplifiers of electric voltage.

A transistor is a semiconductor used for amplification or switching electrical signals. A transistor contains three terminals to connect with an external circuit. Biasing is the bias point on the…

This article will discuss one of the two main types of semiconductor transistor, the field effect Transistor or FET. The other type is the bipolar junction transistor or BJT. Active devices, vacuum…

Transistors are semiconductors that control the amount of current flowing through a circuit. The current is drawn from a voltage that is connected to it. You can use transistors for switching, signal…

The vacuum tube may be an almost unknown thing to many people born after the 1960s. With a history dating back to the turn of the century, vacuum tubes were once used prominently in home electronics…

A transistor is a device in electronics that is used to switch or amplify signals. Transistors are composed of semiconductor material, which is a type of material that is not fully a conductor or an…

There are several types of Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors, also known as MOSFETs. MOSFETs are devices used as transistors in analog or digital circuits. They can either switch or…

A variable frequency drive (VFD) is an electrical variable speed drive that is added to motor-driven systems to help save energy. Motor-driven systems are designed to handle peak loads. When these…

A transistor is made of at least three external terminals on a piece of semiconducting material. The three terminals are labeled as the base (b), collector (c) and emitter (e). The most important part…

Developed in the late 1940s, the transistor has literally transformed our world. The transistor's reliability, low price and size have made electronics common and available to everyone. These devices…

The age of digital electronics has come to be one of the most significant developments in the history of society. What were once manual and time-consuming tasks and processes have become automated to…