Basic Electronics

Definition: The type of filters that are designed to block or highly attenuate a specific band of frequencies is known band stop filter. It is sometimes known as band reject or band eliminate filter. A more common name for these filters is Notch Filter. It is a second-order filter that has two cut-off frequencies. Band reject filters are formed by utilizing the characteristics of high pass and low pass filters. What are Filters in Electronics? Filters serve as crucial components of the … [Read more...] about Band Stop Filter

Phase Difference is defined as the delay between two or more alternating quantities while attaining the maxima or zero-crossings giving rise to the difference in their phases. This difference in two waves is measured in degrees or radians and is also known as phase shift. It is sometimes defined as the difference between two or more sinusoidal waveforms in consideration with a reference axis. It is denoted by φ and corresponds to the shift in the waveform along the horizontal axis from a … [Read more...] about Phase Difference in AC Circuits

Solid State Relay also known as Solid State Switch is an electronic device used for switching the load on and off when the external supply voltage is provided across the input terminals of the device. It is abbreviated as SSR. These are basically semiconductor devices used to control the load thus these devices use electrical properties of solid-state semiconductors like transistors, MOSFET, TRIAC, etc. to execute input and output switching operations. What are Relays? Relay is basically a … [Read more...] about Solid State Relay (SSR)

Definition: Freewheeling diode is used to protect the circuit from unusual damage caused due to abrupt reduction in the current flowing through the circuit. It is also known as Flyback diode and forms connection across the inductor to remove Flyback voltage generated across it. Freewheeling diodes are also known as kickback diode, clamp diodes, commutating diodes, suppression diodes, or snubber diode etc. Here in this article, we will discuss the factors responsible for the need of such … [Read more...] about Freewheeling (Flyback) Diode

Definition: Phase-locked loops are the circuits used to maintain synchronization between input and output frequency of oscillator circuits by comparing the difference in phase of the two signals. With the evolution of IC, it has emerged as the basic building block of electronic circuits. Phase-locked loops are abbreviated as PLL and are basically a feedback circuit comprising of a phase detector (or comparator), a low pass filter and voltage-controlled oscillator along with an … [Read more...] about Phase-Locked Loops (PLL)

Definition: Beat Frequency Oscillator or BFO is an oscillator that produces a sinusoidal signal of the variable audio frequency range. It provides such a frequency that can be varied over a very large range. BFO was invented in 1901 by Reginald Fessenden. It is among the most common type of oscillator that can generate a signal of variable frequency at its output. Block Diagram and Working of Beat Frequency Oscillator The figure below represents the block diagram of a BFO:Here as we can see … [Read more...] about Beat Frequency Oscillator (BFO)

Definition: Phase shift oscillators are the oscillators that generate a stable sinusoidal signal at the output. Basically, the circuit has, an amplifier unit like transistor or op-amp along with a feedback network comprising of resistors and capacitors. Thus, is also known as RC phase shift oscillator. The RC network is present in the feedback path is connected in ladder fashion thus also known as ladder RC phase shift oscillator. We know for an RC circuit; the output voltage leads the input … [Read more...] about Phase Shift Oscillator

Definition: An op-amp detector that has the ability to detect the change from positive to negative or negative to a positive level of a sinusoidal waveform is known as a zero crossing detector. More specifically, we can say that it detects the zero crossing of the applied ac signal. It is basically a voltage comparator whose output changes when the input signal crosses the zero of the reference voltage level. Thus it is named so. It is also known to be a square wave generator as the … [Read more...] about Zero Crossing Detector

Definition: A relaxation oscillator is basically a non-linear oscillator that has the ability to generate a non-sinusoidal periodic waveform at its output. Such as triangular wave, square wave etc. These are also known as non-sinusoidal waveform generators. A relaxation oscillator operates in such a way that it generates oscillations by charging the capacitor and quickly discharging it after attaining a pre-determined threshold voltage. The figure below will help you to understand the … [Read more...] about Relaxation Oscillator

Definition: A special type of amplifier that is used to amplify signals of extremely low-level is known as Instrumentation Amplifier. It is basically a differential amplifier, that performs amplification of difference of input signal. It has high CMMR, offers high input impedance and consumes less power. CMMR stands for common mode rejection ratio, it is the ability to reject unwanted signals. It is also known as data amplifier. Nowadays, it has become an elemental part of modern testing … [Read more...] about Instrumentation Amplifier