Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
Definition: Electronics |
ElectronicsNoun1. The branch of physics that deals with the emission and effects of electrons and with the use of electronic devices. Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "electronics" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1985. (references) |
| Domain | Definition |
Aerospace | That branch of physics that treats of the emission, transmission, behavior, and effects of electrons. See electronic. (references) |
Mining | The utilization based on the phenomena of conduction of electricity in a vacuum (thermionic valves), in a gas (thyratrons), and in semiconductors(transistors). (references) |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
Electronics is the study and use of electrical devices that operate by controlling the flow of electrons or other electrically charged particles in devices such as thermionic valves and semiconductors. The pure study of such devices is considered as a branch of physics, while the design and construction of electronic circuits to solve practical problems is called electronic engineering.
The main uses of electronic circuits are the controlling, processing and distribution of information, and the conversion and distribution of electrical power. Both of these uses involve the creation or detection of electromagnetic fields and electric currents.
While electricity had been used for some time to transmit data over telegraphs and telephones, the development of electronics truly began in earnest with the advent of radio. Today, electronic devices perform a much wider variety of tasks.
One way of looking at an electronic system is to divide it into the following parts:
Take as an example a television. Its input is a broadcast signal received by an antenna or fed in through a cable. Signal processing circuits inside the television extract the brightness, colour and sound information from this signal. The output devices are a cathode ray tube that converts electronic signals into a visible image on a screen and magnet driven audio speakers.
- Inputs - Electrical or mechanical sensors (or transducers), which take signals (in the form of temperature, pressure, etc.) from the physical world and convert them into current/voltage signals.
- Signal processing circuits - These consist of electronic components connected together to manipulate, interpret and transform the signals.
- Outputs - Actuators or other devices (also transducers) that transform current/voltage signals back into useful physical form.
See also: computer engineering, electrical engineering, integrated circuit, list of electronics topics, microelectronics, optoelectronics, point-to-point construction, printed circuit board, semiconductor, transducer, wire wrap
Electronic Test Equipment
- Ammeter, e.g. Galvanometer (Measure current)
- Ohmmeter, e.g. Wheatstone bridge (Measure resistance)
- Voltmeter (Measures voltage)
- Multimeter (Measures all of the above)
- Logic analyzer (Tests digital circuits)
- Oscilloscope (Measures all of the above as they change over time)
- Electrometer (Measures charge)
Interconnecting Electronic Components
- electrical connectors, plugs and sockets etc.
- printed circuit boards
- integrated circuit
- point-to-point construction
- wire-wrap
- breadboard
Passive Components
- resistor
- capacitor
- inductor
- transformer
- piezoelectric crystal
- magnetic amplifier (toroid)
Active Components (solid-state)
- diode
- light emitting diode
- photodiode
- laser diode
- Zener diode
- Schottky diode
- transient voltage suppression diode
- variable capacitance diode
- transistor
- field effect transistor
- bipolar transistor
- IGBT transistor
- Darlington transistor
- photo transistor
- other active components
- triac
- thyristor
- unijunction transistor
- varistor
- Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR)
Active Components (thermionic)
- thermionic valve
- cathode ray tube
- klystron
- magnetron
Electromechanical Sensors and Actuators
- microphone
- loudspeaker
- strain gauge
- switch
Thermoelectric devices
- thermistor
- thermocouple
- thermopile
- Peltier cooler
Photoelectric devices
- light-dependent resistor
- photodiode
- photovoltaic cell (solar cell)
Antennae etc.
- radio antenna
Analog circuits
Most analog electronic appliances, such as radio receivers, are constructed from arrays of a few types of circuits.
- Analog computer
- Analog multipliers
- electronic amplifiers
- electronic filters
- electronic oscillators
- electronic mixers
- electronic power supply
- impedance matchers
- operational amplifiers
Digital circuits
Computers, electronic clockss, and programmable logic controllers (used to control industrial processes) are constructed of digital circuits. Digital Signal Processors are another example.
- logic gates
- flip-flops
- counters
- registers
- multiplexers
- microprocessors
- microcontrollers
- DSP
Mixed-signal circuits
Mixed-signal circuits, also known as hybrid circuits, are becoming increasingly common. Mixed circuits contain both analog and digital components. analog to digital converterss and digital to analog converterss are the primary examples. Other examples are transmission gates and buffers.
Noise
Associated with all electronic circuits is noise. Types of noise include
- Shot noise in resistors.
- Thermal noise in resistors.
- White noise
- Coloured noise
Electronics Theory
- Mathamatical Methods of Electronics
- Digital Electronics
- Analog Electronics
See also
- Datasheet and external links
- Mechatronics
External links
Tutorials and Projects
Some other good sites
- IEEE: http://www.ieee.org/
- IEEE spectrum: http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/
- Electronix Express: http://www.elexp.com/links.htm
- Electronics Club: http://www.cc.iitk.ac.in/infocell/student/electronicsweb
Online courses
- Electronics Club in IIT Kanpur,India
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Electronics."
| The following table is compiled from various sources, across various languages. When English abbreviations or acronyms come from a non-English source, this is noted. | |||
| Entry | Source | Expression | Field |
| ELINT | English | Electronics intelligence | Telecom |
Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |||
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Mart | Tobacco shop, tobacco store, tobacconists, cigar store, hardware store, jewelry shop, bookstore, liquor store, gun shop, rod and reel shop, furniture store, drugstore, chemist's, florist, flower shop, shoe store, stationer, stationer's, electronics shop, telephone store, music store, record shop, fur store, sporting goods store, video store, video rental store; lumber store, lumber yard, home improvements store, home improvement center; gas station, auto repair shop, auto dealer, used car dealer. |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
| Domain | Usage | |
Screenplays | If you've seen one Computer Electronics Show, you've seen them all. (Tron; writing credit: Steven Lisberger.) All these fancy electronics, they're all right in their place, but not for anything practical (Procès, Le; writing credit: Orson Welles) An electronics engineer, a radar officer, a mathematician and systems analyst, a radar operator, a couple of plotters (The Giant Claw; writing credit: Paul Gangelin; Samuel Newman) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | ||
| Domain | Title | ||
References |
| ||
Books | |||
Periodicals |
| ||
Theater & Movies | |||
Music |
| ||
High Tech |
| ||
Consumer Goods |
| ||
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Thumbnail | Description & Credit | Thumbnail | Description & Credit |
 | Edwin J. Brown Electronics whiz; geodesist; geophysicist 1899-1935 Died in auto accident. Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection. |  | Clarence Burmister Electronics whiz - helped develop Shoran and EPI for survey use. Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection. |
 | Inspecting the electronics package of a sono-radio-buoy RAR work on the OCEANOGRAPHER. Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection. |  | Chief Electronics Technician Slim Tittle hooking up batteries Power source for microwave navigation system Party off of WHITING. Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection. |
 | C. William Hayes' first command Just kidding - checking batteries and electronics package. Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection. |  | Almon M. Vincent Chief Electronics Technician on the GUIDE Invented radio sono-buoy. Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection. |
 | Jim Barr working in electronics workshop. Credit: Flying With NOAA. |  | Lead Electronics Technician Bob Blackburn, Assistant Survey Tech Maureen Goff, and Assistant Survey Tech Scot Warrender at work setting up a GPS station atop Sawyer Island. Credit: Sailing for Science - the NOAA Fleet Then and Now. |
 | Figure 43. A Plessey current meter and recorder. Built by Plessey Electronics circa 1969. This instrument was conceived by the Christian Michelson Institute of Bergen, Norway, under the auspices of the undersea oceanographic committee of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Credit: Sailing for Science - the NOAA Fleet Then and Now. |  | An engineer checking some of the electronics associated with satellite data reception and processing. Credit: NOAA in Space. |
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits. | |||
 |
| "Electronics Equipment" by Tyniuz C. Commentary: "4 in 1 Electronics Equipment." |
Source: photographs selected by the editor, with permission from the photographers. |
| Play | Caption |
 | Safety; security; electronics; automobile; car; lock; alarm; key; key chain; beep beep; secure; securing; locking. |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Health | Technical advances, especially in electronics, have resulted in many devices that seem to be accurate, useful, and safe. Others are of questionable value. (references) | |
Scientists and engineers have developed many useful devices to help people with severe visual impairment in both eyes. These devices, called low vision aids, use special lenses or electronics to create enlarged visual images. (references) | ||
Business | Marine electronics are also in high demand. (references) | |
The importance of electronics and electro-technical features has grown. (references) | ||
Taiwan is becoming one of the world's leading electronics product suppliers. (references) | ||
Economic History | Mexico | Baja California's most important industry is electronics. (references) |
Mexico | Xerox and Texas Instruments represent the electronics sector. (references) | |
Taiwan | Exports to the U.S. are mainly electronics and consumer goods. (references) | |
Political Economy | Netherlands | Key industries include chemicals, oil refining, natural gas, machinery, and electronics. (references) |
Malaysia | Principal manufactured products include semiconductors, consumer electronics, electrical products, textiles, and apparel. (references) | |
ARGENTINA | In 1999, Argentina instituted new rules under which imported electronics would have to carry a local safety certification. (references) | |
Trade | Moldova | Gasoline and diesel oil, home electronics and automobiles are subject to excise taxes as well. (references) |
Peru | Some industry standards are being developed in the private electronics and construction industries. (references) | |
France | Most of the complaints have involved electronics, telecommunications equipment, and agriculture phyto-sanitary standards. (references) | |
Travel | Azerbaijan | Imported electronics are readily obtainable. (references) |
Burma | The counters run by FEC exchange license holders in Rangoon's main tourist market, Bogyoke Aung San or "Scott" market and Kyaw Electronics on Pansodan Street, were closed in June 2001. Although moneychangers sometimes approach travelers to offer to change dollars into Burmese kyat at the market rate, it is illegal to exchange currency except at authorized locations. (references) | |
Women | Bangladesh | Women also are found in the electronics, food processing, beverage, and handicraft industries. (references) |
Worker Rights | Algeria | Members of unions in the petrochemical, steel, tobacco, industrial vehicles, electronics, and utilities sectors participated. (references) |
Bangladesh | Approximately 93,000 persons are employed in EPZ's, primarily in the textile and apparel, electronics component, and leather industries. (references) | |
Belarus | In September 2000, FTUB members reportedly were pressured by the management of Dzerzhinsky, a subsidiary of the state-owned electronics manufacturer Integral, to break with their union and join a management-established and -run union. (references) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| Speaker | Phrase(s) |
Dennis Miller | When buying home electronics, I always get the optional warranty. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| "Electronics" is generally used as a noun (singular) -- approximately 99.46% of the time. "Electronics" is used about 1,489 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Noun (singular) | 99.46% | 1,481 | 5,481 |
| Noun (plural) | 0.4% | 6 | 143,867 |
| Noun (proper) | 0.07% | 1 | 339,140 |
| Noun (common) | 0.07% | 1 | 339,140 |
| Total | 100.00% | 1,489 | N/A |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
| Country | Name | Country | Name |
| Canada | Primetech Electronics Inc | China | Nanjing Panda Electronics Company Limited |
| Finland | Wecan Electronics OY | Germany | LPKF Laser & Electronics AG |
| India | Mirc Electronics Limited | Indonesia | Metrodata Electronics Tbk. Pt. |
| Japan | Alpine Electronics Inc. | Netherlands | Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. |
| Norway | Otrum Electronics ASA | Singapore | Eltech Electronics Limited |
| (more examples...) |
Source: compiled by the editor from Icon Group International, Inc.
Expressions using "electronics": Electronics Arts ♦ electronics company ♦ electronics industries association ♦ electronics industry ♦ electronics Industry Association ♦ electronics intelligence ♦ electronics store ♦ enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics ♦ integrated Drive Electronics ♦ intrusion Countermeasure Electronics ♦ mit Research Laboratory for Electronics ♦ radio electronics ♦ video Electronics Standards Association. Additional references. | |
| Hyphenated Usage | |
Beginning with "electronics": electronics-related, electronics-to-fruit. | |
Ending with "electronics": consumer-electronics, micro-electronics, opto-electronics. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Expression | Frequency per Day | Expression | Frequency per Day |
electronics | 16,532 | marine electronics | 320 |
frys electronics | 3,272 | home electronics | 311 |
newark electronics | 1,030 | fry electronics | 303 |
electronics boutique | 956 | tyco electronics | 269 |
pioneer electronics | 883 | philips electronics | 267 |
sharp electronics | 840 | future electronics | 263 |
lg electronics | 810 | emerson electronics | 247 |
allied electronics | 582 | mitsubishi electronics | 222 |
consumer electronics | 475 | apex electronics | 214 |
ultimate electronics | 431 | 6th avenue electronics | 197 |
6th ave electronics | 427 | samsung electronics | 192 |
sony electronics | 417 | free electronics | 180 |
wholesale electronics | 390 | refurbished electronics | 177 |
abt electronics | 382 | phillips electronics | 172 |
arrow electronics | 369 | j r electronics | 170 |
fryes electronics | 357 | alpine electronics | 161 |
best buy electronics | 356 | mouser electronics | 158 |
electronics store | 352 | electronics rex | 156 |
discount electronics | 338 | cheap electronics | 152 |
mcm electronics | 327 | electronics job | 148 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Language | Translations for "electronics"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | |
Albanian | elektronikë, aparaturë elektronike. (various references) | |
Arabic | مهندس إلكتروني, الإلكترونيات. (various references) | |
Bulgarian | електроника (radionics). (various references) | |
Chinese | 电子 (Electrical, Electrically, electron, Electronic, electronically). (various references) | |
Czech | elektronika. (various references) | |
Danish | elektronik. (various references) | |
Dutch | elektronica. (various references) | |
Esperanto | elektroniko. (various references) | |
Finnish | elektroniikka. (various references) | |
French | électroniques, électronique (electronic), électronicien. (various references) | |
German | elektronik (electronic). (various references) | |
Greek | ηλεκτρονική, επιστήμη των ηλεκτρονίων. (various references) | |
Hebrew | אלקטרוניקה. (various references) | |
Hungarian | elektronika (radionics). (various references) | |
Indonesian | elektronika. (various references) | |
Italian | elettronica (circuitry). (various references) | |
Japanese Kanji | 電子工学 (electronic engineering), エルピー盤 (aerogram, angel, elbow, Electone, Electra complex, electric, electric guitar, electricity, electroluminescence, electron, electronic, electronic banking, electronic cooking, electronic cottage, electronic file, electronic mail, electronic money, electronic music, electronic office, electronic sound, elegance, elegant, elegy, element, elementary, elevation, elevator, elf, elm, elocution, elven, encapsulation, enclosure, encode, encoder, encoding, encounter, encyclopedia, engage, engagement, engagement ring, engine, engine brake, engineer, engineering, engineering plastics, enjoy, erect, erection, erogenous zone, Eroica, Eros, erotic, erotic and grotesque, erotic and grotesque nonsense, erotic production, erotica, eroticism, erotism, erotomania, Herman, Hermes, ignition key, long-playing record, LP). (various references) | |
Japanese Katakana | でんしこうがく (electronic engineering), エレクトロニクス . (various references) | |
Korean | 전자공학. (various references) | |
Pig Latin | electronicsay.(various references) | |
Portuguese | eletrônica. (various references) | |
Romanian | electronicã. (various references) | |
Russian | электроника. (various references) | |
Serbo-Croatian | elektronika. (various references) | |
Spanish | electrónica (electronic). (various references) | |
Swedish | elektroniska komponenter, elektronik. (various references) | |
Turkish | elektronik bilimi, elektronik (electronic). (various references) | |
Ukrainian | електроніка, електронна апаратура. (various references) | |
Vietnamese | quang điện tử học (photo electronics). (various references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references. | ||
Derivations | |
Words ending with "electronics": microelectronics, nonelectronics, optoelectronics. (additional references) | |
| |
"Electronics" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: electronc, Electronica, electronik, elektronik, Elektronika, eletronic, Plantronics, Selectronic. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
| # of Phoneme Matches | Pronunciation | Word(s) rhyming with "electronics" (pronounced ule'ktrÄ"niks) |
| 8 | -k t r Ä" n i k s | microelectronics. |
| 5 | -Ä" n i k s | avionics, conics, harmonics, histrionics, ionics, mnemonics, Nucleonics, onyx, phonics, sonics, tectonics, tonics. |
| 4 | -n i k s | beatniks, calisthenics, clinics, cynics, ethnics, eugenics, kibbutzniks, mechanics, panics, Phenix, Phoenix, pyrotechnics, refuseniks, sputniks, Technics. |
| 3 | -i k s | academics, acoustics, acrobatics, acrylics, aerobatics, aerobics, aerodynamics, aeronautics, aesthetics, affix, alcoholics, analgesics, analytics, anesthetics, anorexics, antibiotics, antics, apparatchiks, appendix, asthmatics, astronautics, astrophysics, athletics, atmospherics, attics, automatics, ballistics, basics, batiks, bioethics, biologics, biophysics, bishoprics, Calix, calyx, catholics, ceramics, cervix, characteristics, charismatics, civics, classics, clerics, comics, cosmetics, Criminalistics, critics, demographics, diabetics, diagnostics, diuretics, domestics, dynamics, eccentrics, econometrics, economics, electrics, electrodynamics, epics, epidemics, ergonomics, ethics, exotics, fabrics, fanatics, forensics, generics, genetics, geometrics, geopolitics, geriatrics, gimmicks, graphics, gymnastics, helix, hemodynamics, heroics, hieroglyphics, hydraulics, hypnotics, hysterics, informatics, italics, kinetics, limericks, linguistics, logistics, lyrics, macroeconomics, Magnetics, mathematics, matrix, mavericks, medics, metaphysics, metrics, microeconomics, micrographics, mimics, mosaics, mystics, narcotics, numismatics, obstetrics, onomastics, optics, orthodontics, oryx, paramedics, Pediatrics, phonetics, photovoltaics, physics, plastics, polemics, prefix, prosthetics, psychics, publics, relics, reprographics, republics, robotics, romantics, semantics, semiotics, skeptics, specifics, statistics, stoics, suffix, synthetics, systematics, tactics, theatrics, therapeutics, thermoplastics, topics, toxics, tropics, workaholics. |
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits. | ||
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
| Words within the letters "c-c-e-e-i-l-n-o-r-s-t" | |
-1 letter: centrioles, cornetcies, electronic, reconciles. | |
-2 letters: centriole, cicerones, concretes, cornicles, croceines, elections, electrics, electrons, encircles, erections, licencers, neoterics, reconcile, resection, sclerotic, sclerotin, scolecite, secretion, selection, stenciler. | |
-3 letters: centiles, cicerone, cicorees, cineoles, circlets, cloister, coerects, cointers, coistrel, conceits, concerti, concerts, conciser, concrete, cornices, cornicle, corniest, corselet, cortices, costlier, coteries, creolise, crescent, croceine, croceins, election, electors. | |
| Words containing the letters "c-c-e-e-i-l-n-o-r-s-t" | |
+1 letter: nonelectrics, telocentrics. | |
+2 letters: accelerations, conventiclers, isoelectronic, recollections, selenocentric. | |
+3 letters: electrocutions, nonelectronics, reconcilements. | |
+4 letters: concelebrations, conceptualizers, electrodynamics, electrokinetics, misrecollection, optoelectronics, reconstructible. | |
+5 letters: counterclockwise, counterviolences, electrifications, microelectronics, microencapsulate, misrecollections, oxytetracyclines, precancellations, reconceptualizes. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
| 1. Definition 2. Crosswords 3. Usage: Modern 4. Usage: Commercial | 5. Images: Slideshow 6. Images: Photo Album 7. Images: Digital Art 8. Sounds | 9. Quotations: Non-fiction 10. Quotations: Spoken 11. Usage Frequency 12. Names: Company Usage | 13. Expressions 14. Expressions: Internet 15. Translations: Modern 16. Abbreviations | 17. Acronyms 18. Derivations 19. Rhymes 20. Anagrams | 21. Bibliography |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
