Passive electronic components are an integral part of any electronic circuit. They come in many varieties but have an important role in shaping signals and directing current flow in a circuit.
Resistors
Resistors are one of the simplest and most basic passive components used in electronics. They have a resistance value measured in ohms that impedes the flow of current through a circuit. There are many different types of resistors used for various applications:
- Fixed Resistors: These resistors have a set resistance value that cannot be changed. They come in various form factors like carbon composition, film, and metal film resistors and are used when a stable, unchanging resistance is needed.
- Variable Resistors: Also called potentiometers, variable resistors allow their resistance to be adjusted within a range. They are commonly used to control volume, brightness, or any other value that needs to be tuned. Common variable resistors include trimmer pots, rheostats and tapered potentiometers.
- Photo Resistors: Also called LDRs (light dependent resistors), photo resistors change their resistance depending on the amount of light falling on them. They are used to make light sensors and simple light detection circuits.
- Thermistors: Thermistors change their resistance as their temperature changes. Negative temperature coefficient thermistors decrease resistance with increasing temperature while positive temperature coefficient thermistors increase resistance. They are used for temperature sensing and compensation.
Capacitors
Capacitors are able to store an electric charge and release it when needed. They "smooth out" signals by filtering out variations and maintaining steady voltage levels in a circuit. The main types of capacitors are:
- Electrolytic Capacitors: Commonly used for bulk capacitance needs, these polarized capacitors can hold a large amount of charge due to their chemical composition. They are found in power supply circuits.
- Ceramic Capacitors: Made from ceramic dielectric materials, these stable and rugged capacitors are commonly used for bypassing and decoupling high frequency signals.
- Tantalum Capacitors: Similar to electrolytic capacitors but with a conductive polymer or solid electrolyte, tantalum caps provide faster discharge and have longer shelf life but require careful polarity placement.
- Film Capacitors: Metalized plastic film dielectric provides a stable valued capacitor suitable for timing, filtering and resonant circuits. Polyester and polypropylene film capacitors are popular choices.
Inductors
Inductors introduce inertia to a circuit through their ability to store magnetic energy when current passes through the coiled conductor. Common applications of inductors include:
- RF Chokes: Inductors placed in line with leads block higher radio frequencies from entering or exiting a circuit. This prevents interference.
- Power Inductors: Used in power supply circuits like buck converters and filter circuits, wire-wound inductors handle heavy currents needed for power applications.
- Transformers: Consisting of two or more inductors wound around a common core, transformers change voltage levels through magnetic induction. They isolate circuits and adapt signal levels.
- Filters: Passive and active filters use inductors along with capacitors to filter out undesirable frequencies from signals for noise removal and separation of bands.
Other Components
Beyond the basics of resistors, capacitors and inductors, there are some other important Passive Electronic Components:
- Diodes: Allow current to pass in one direction but block it in the other. Commonly used as rectifiers in power supplies and for protective clamping.
- Transistors: Though commonly thought of as active devices, some transistor configurations like the LED and photoresist can function as passive components.
- Piezoelectric Crystals: Materials like quartz generate voltage when physically deformed for uses in timing and frequency control applications.
- Magnetic Components: Components utilizing magnetic fields like Hall effect sensors, magnetoresistors and transformers round out the types of passive devices.
- Connectors, Sockets and Switches: Real world interfaces enable connections and control of circuits. These mechanical interface devices complete passive component families.
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