Electronics - HL content

electronic system

operates with input, process, output and a feedback loop

input

provides the system with the data or information it needs to operate

process

manipulates the input to produce the desired output

aerial

device used to send or receive signals

amplifier

makes input signal stronger and bigger

battery

device supplying direct current

bell

a transducer operating a bell

buzzer

a transducer operating a buzzer

capacitor

component that stores electrical energy

electrical devices

use power to perform a function

electronic devices

manipulate the flow of electrons to process information and add meaning to signals

digital systems

made up of two basic conditions of being off and on

analogue systems

use continuous signals that are infinitely variable between an upper and lower limit and can include both positive and negative values

voltage

electric potential between two points

current

the rate of flow of electrical charge

direct current

provide a constant flow of electrons in a single direction from negative to positive

resistance

resists the flow of electrical current

resistors

components in an electrical circuit that resist the free flow of electrons

frequency

number of cycles of an alternating current wave per second

power

rate of which energy is used

capacitance

measure of a capacitors ability to store electrical energy

logic gates

digital switches in which an output of 0 or 1 is produced

passive components

control the flow and storage of energy within a circuit

fixed resistors

limit the flow of electrical current and to divide voltage in a resistance

variable resistors

provide a changeable resistance that can be adjusted manually

switches

make or break an electrical connection to control the flow of current manually

relays

an electrically operated switch that provide electrical isolation between the control signal and the high power load

active components

control the flow of current, introduce power gain and perform complex logic operations

diodes

allow electric current to flow effectively in only one direction

transistors

acts as an electronic switch or a signal amplifier

digital components

basic binary devices that create a closed or open circuit

analogue components

translate physical quantities into electrical signals

analogue processing

involves maintaining the continuous nature of a signal while modifying its characteristics like strength or quality

signal conditioning

process used to prepare a raw analogue input signal so its suitable for either direct use by an analogue output or for conversion by a digital component

digital systems

works with discrete values and is fundamental about decision making, logic and sequential operations

program control

ability of a digital circuit to execute a sequence of stored instructions to determine the output based on current and historical inputs

microcontroller

a small, self contained computer with its own integrated circuit or chip

software loading

designer or engineer loads software onto the microcontrollers memory

output devices

take the processed electrical signal and convert that energy back into a usable physical change

open loop system

the control action is independent of the output and of the environment

closed loop system

continuously monitors the output to ensure the desired result is achieved

embedded sytem

specialised computer system designed to perform one or a few dedicated functions. Its integrated into the product it controls

RC circuits

combined circuit of resistors and capacitors that control timing, filter signals and improve power management by stabilising voltage and smoothing out noise

flow diagrams

graphical representation of a process or algorithm

block diagrams

focus on components and relationships within a system