Electronic Components

By Author: Gareth Hoyle
Total Articles: 675
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Why do we need electronic components?

Introduction

Since the creation of electricity there has always been a need for electronic components although that have not always been generally thought about as such. In the early cars resistors and capacitors were present, but as so few people could afford cars, they were of no importance.

The point of time at which they began to enter most peoples’ lives was with the introduction of radio’s to homes. These contained a number of electronic components and the importance of resistors began to be understood. This was developed with the introduction of TV’s into people lives in the 1960’s. The football world cup in 1966 was the pivotal point in the world of TV as it created enormous demand, and the way in which TV’s worked and the move from black and white to colour, did not take too long. Then the advance in electronics allowed for remote control.

Kettles used to be placed on the stove and were taken off when the whistle blew. Now the kettle will turn itself off when the requisite temperature has been reached due to an electronic component called ...
... a heat sensor.

Applications of electronic components

The applications are many and varied but are present in our everyday lives even without us thinking. A vast majority of us will use a mobile telephone or a laptop computer, or if not then a cordless telephone. Each one of those items depend on electronic components.

These items are used for our everyday communication without us realising that if we removed the printed circuit boards from them, they would not function.

The programming of the washing machine and the dishwasher is all centred on PCBs and electrical switches.

The efficiency of motor vehicles is down to the advance in electrical components. If a car engine fails to perform to specifications then there will be a place in the engine compartment where a computer based diagnostic tool and be plugged in the fault will be traced.

Medical uses

Many uses for electrical components are to be found in hospitals ranging from MRI scanners through to electronic prostheses.

The advance in electronic component has improved our quality of life without us truly recognising it.