Basic Electronics and Electrical Circuits Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering electrical symbols, components, switches, transistors, and logic gates from the Basic Electronics lecture.

SPST Toggle Switch

A Single Pole Single Throw switch used to connect or disconnect a single conduction path in a circuit.

SPDT Toggle Switch

A Single Pole Double Throw switch that can connect one input to one of two different outputs.

Push Button (N.O)

A normally open push button switch that completes the circuit only when pressed.

Push Button (N.C)

A normally closed push button switch that breaks the circuit when pressed.

DIP Switch

A Dual In-line Package switch consisting of a series of small switches in a single unit.

SPST Relay

A Single Pole Single Throw relay which is an electrically operated switch with one set of contacts.

SPDT Relay

A Single Pole Double Throw relay that can switch a single input between two separate output paths.

Earth Ground

A direct physical connection to the earth, used as a zero-potential reference point and for safety.

Chassis Ground

A connection to the metal enclosure or frame of an electronic device.

Digital Ground

The reference point for digital signals in a circuit to minimize noise interference with analog components.

Iron Core Inductor

An inductor that uses a magnetic core made of iron to increase inductance.

Variable Inductor

An inductor whose inductance can be adjusted or changed.

AC Transformer

A device used to transfer electrical energy between two or more circuits through electromagnetic induction, changing voltage levels.

Potentiometer

A three-terminal resistor with a sliding or rotating contact that forms an adjustable voltage divider.

Trimmer Resistor

A small variable resistor used for occasional adjustments within a circuit.

Thermistor

A type of resistor whose resistance greatly varies with changes in temperature.

Photoresistor

A light-dependent resistor whose resistance decreases with increasing incident light intensity.

Zener Diode

A diode that allows current to flow in the forward direction and also in the reverse direction if the voltage exceeds the breakdown voltage.

Schottky Diode

A semiconductor diode with a low forward voltage drop and very fast switching speed.

Varicap Diode

A diode that acts as a variable capacitor, where the capacitance changes based on the reverse voltage applied.

Photodiode

A semiconductor device that converts light into an electrical current.

Controlled Voltage Source

A voltage source whose output voltage is dependent on a voltage or current elsewhere in the circuit.

Ammeter

An instrument used to measure the electric current in a circuit.

Ohmmeter

A meter used to measure electrical resistance.

Wattmeter

An instrument for measuring the electric power in watts of any given circuit.

Operational Amplifier

A high-gain electronic voltage amplifier with differential inputs, commonly used in signal conditioning and mathematical operations.

Analog to Digital Converter

A system that converts an analog signal, such as sound or light, into a digital signal.

Digital to Analog Converter

A device that converts digital data into an analog signal.

NPN Bipolar Transistor

A type of bipolar junction transistor where a layer of p-doped semiconductor is between two n-doped layers.

Darlington Transistor

A compound structure consisting of two bipolar transistors connected such that the current amplified by the first is amplified further by the second.

JFET-N Transistor

An N-channel Junction Field-Effect Transistor.

NMOS Transistor

A type of MOSFET that uses n-type source and drain wells in a p-type substrate.

PMOS Transistor

A type of MOSFET that uses p-type source and drain wells in an n-type substrate.

NAND Gate

A logic gate that produces an output which is false only if all its inputs are true.

XOR Gate

An exclusive OR logic gate that outputs true only when the number of true inputs is odd.

DE Multiplexer

A device that takes a single input signal and selects one of many data-output lines, which is connected to the single input.

Optocoupler

An electronic component that transfers electrical signals between two isolated circuits by using light.