Circuit components used in
Arduino
Active Passive Semiconductor
devices
Voltage source
Current source Diodes Transistors
Resistors Capacitors Inductors
ACTIVE
VOLTAGE SOURCE AND CURRENT SOURCE
• A Voltage Source and a Current Source are two
fundamental types of electrical sources, each with distinct
characteristics
VOLTAGE SOURCE
• A voltage source maintains a constant voltage across its terminals regardless of the current
flowing through the circuit.
• It provides whatever current is needed to maintain the specified voltage.
• Ideal Model: Has zero internal resistance.
• Real Model: Has a small internal resistance, meaning voltage may drop under high current loads.
• Examples:
• Batteries (e.g., 12V battery)
• Power supplies (e.g., a 5V USB charger)
• Voltage regulators
CELLS
➢Primary cells ➢Secondary cells
• Can be reused by charging
➢ can be use only once
➢ Zinc–carbon battery
• Lead acid
➢ Alkaline battery • Lithium ion
• Lithium polymer
CURRENT SOURCE
• A current source maintains a constant current through a circuit, regardless of the voltage
across it.
• It provides whatever voltage is necessary to maintain the specified current.
• Ideal Model: Has infinite internal resistance.
• Real Model: Has a very high internal resistance.
• Examples:
• Current mirrors in electronic circuits
• LED drivers
• Constant current power supplies
KEY DIFFERENCES
Feature Voltage Source Current Source
Output Control Maintains constant voltage Maintains constant current
Internal Resistance Ideally zero (low in real-world) Ideally infinite (high in real-world)
Response to Load Change Adjusts current to keep voltage steady Adjusts voltage to keep current steady
PASSIVE
RESISTORS, CAPACITORS AND INDUCTORS
• Passive components are electronic components that do not generate or
amplify electrical signals but instead store, dissipate, or manage electrical
energy in a circuit.
• The three fundamental passive components are resistors, capacitors, and
inductors.
RESISTORS
• Function: Resist the flow of electrical current, causing a voltage drop and dissipating
energy as heat.
• Unit: Ohm (Ω)
• Formula: Ohm’s Law → V=IRV = IRV=IR (Voltage = Current × Resistance)
Example Uses:
• Limiting current to protect components (e.g., LEDs)
• Voltage division in circuits
• Signal conditioning
How to Read a 4-Band Resistor
• First Band → First digit
• Second Band → Second digit
• Third Band → Multiplier (power of ten)
• Fourth Band → Tolerance
Resistance = 47 × 100 = 4700Ω (4.7kΩ, ±5%)
HOW TO READ A 5-BAND RESISTOR (HIGHER
PRECISION)
• First Band → First digit
• Second Band → Second digit
• Third Band → Third digit
• Fourth Band → Multiplier
• Fifth Band → Tolerance
TRY THIS (Brown-Black-Black-Red-Brown)
→ Resistance = 100 × 100 = 10,000Ω (10kΩ, ±1%)
VARIABLE RESISTORS
Used in two configurations
• As variable resistor
• As potentiometer
OTHER TYPES OF RESISTORS
Thermistors ➢ Equation of operation
• PTC
• Resistance increases with
temperature
• NTC
• Resistance decreases with
temperature
OTHER TYPES OF RESISTORS
LDR
•Light Dependent resistor
•Made of CdS,CdSe,PbS
•Uses
•On off light relay
•As a light meter to measure
intensity of light
CAPACITORS
How Capacitors Work
•When a voltage is applied, one plate gains electrons (negative charge), and the other loses electrons
(positive charge).
•This creates an electric field between the plates, storing energy.
•When the circuit requires energy, the capacitor discharges, releasing the stored energy.
Capacitance & Units
Capacitance (C) measures how much charge a capacitor can store.
Unit: Farad (F)1 Farad is very large, so most capacitors are in microfarads (µF), nanofarads (nF), or
picofarads (pF).
Common Conversions:1 µF = 1,000 nF = 1,000,000 pF
CAPACITORS
• Electrolytic Capacitors
• High capacitance values (µF range)
• Polarized (must be connected correctly: + to +, - to -)
• Used for: Power supply filtering, energy storage
• Ceramic Capacitors
• Small capacitance values (pF to nF)
• Non-polarized (can be connected in any direction)
• Used for: High-frequency applications, noise filtering
• Film Capacitors
• Stable and reliable
• Non-polarized
• Used for: Audio circuits, signal coupling
• Supercapacitors
• Very high capacitance (F range)
• Used for: Energy storage, backup power
CAPACITORS
Measuring
The code consists of three digits:
• First Digit = 1 (First significant digit)
• Second Digit = 0 (Second significant
digit)
• Third Digit = 2 (Multiplier: 10² = 100)
INDUCTORS
• When current flows through the inductor, it creates a magnetic field around it.
• If the current changes, the inductor opposes this change by inducing a voltage
(according to Faraday’s Law).
• This property is called inductance, which is measured in Henries (H).
SWITCHES
• The number
of poles defines the number
of separate contacts for a
switch position (inputs)
• The number of throws is
the number of switch
positions available(output)
DPDT
• Construction of DPDT
switches
• Uses of DPDT switches
•For reversal of polarity
•Single switch to control 3
different outputs
WORKING OF DPDT SWITCHES
RELAY
• Mechanically controlled electrically activated
switch
• Uses
• To switch from low current to high
current
WORKING OF RELAY WITH A SIMPLE CIRCUIT
• Diodes are semiconductor devices that allow current to flow in one direction
only, acting as a one-way valve for electrical current. They are crucial
components in a wide variety of electronic circuits, from rectifiers to protection
devices. Here are some key points about diodes:
[Link] Function: A diode conducts current when forward-biased (positive
voltage on the anode and negative on the cathode) and blocks current when
reverse-biased.
TYPES OF DIODES
Standard Diode: The most common type, used for general-purpose
rectification.
Zener Diode: Allows current to flow in the reverse direction when a
specific reverse voltage is reached, often used for voltage regulation.
Light Emitting Diode (LED): Emits light when current flows through it in
the forward direction.
Schottky Diode: Known for its low forward voltage drop and fast
switching speed, often used in high-frequency applications.
Photodiode: A diode that generates current when exposed to light, used
in optical applications.
Tunnel Diode: Exhibits quantum mechanical tunneling effects, used in
high-speed and microwave applications.
JUNCTION DIODE AS A SWITCH
❑At the junction, free electrons from
the N-type material fill holes from the
P-type material.
LIGHT EMITTING DIODE-LED
• An LED is
a semiconductor light
source.
• Uses
• General lighting
• Displays
• Traffic and street
lights
• Decorative purposes
TRANSISTOR
A is a fundamental electronic component used to
amplify or switch electronic signals. It’s made up of
semiconductor materials (like silicon) and consists of
three main parts:
Key Functions:
•Switching: A transistor can act as a switch that turns on or off based on a small current applied to the base.
•Amplification: It can amplify weak electrical signals, which is essential in devices like radios, televisions, and
audio equipment.
TRANSISTOR
[Link]: The region where charge carriers (usually electrons) are
injected into the transistor.
[Link]: The thin, central region that controls the flow of charge
carriers between the emitter and the collector.
[Link]: The region that collects charge carriers.
Transistors come in two main types:
•NPN Transistors: The majority charge carriers are electrons, and
they flow from the emitter (negative) to the collector (positive).
•PNP Transistors: The majority charge carriers are holes (the
absence of electrons), and they flow from the emitter (positive) to
the collector (negative).
