Visualizing Electric Fields An electric field surrounds any electric charge or collection of charges. This field exerts an electric force on other charges placed inside it, causing them to accelerate. Visualizing and understanding electric fields is key to grasping many electromagnetism concepts. The electric field at any point is defined as the electric force per…
What is Voltage? Voltage is defined as the difference in electric potential between two points in a circuit. It measures the “push” or pressure driving electrons through a circuit. Voltage plays a vital role in electronics by powering components and overcoming resistance in circuits. More specifically, voltage refers to the potential energy per unit charge…
Purpose of Decoupling Capacitors Decoupling capacitors are used in electronic circuits to suppress noise, filter voltage spikes, and improve stability in power supply lines. Proper selection of decoupling capacitors is critical to ensure the capacitors can effectively perform these functions over the necessary frequency ranges in an application. This article compares key parameters that affect…
What are Decoupling Capacitors and Why are They Important? Decoupling capacitors, also known as bypass capacitors, are capacitors used to stabilize power supply voltages and reduce unwanted noise in integrated circuits (ICs). They act as local energy reservoirs that can supply currents rapidly when needed, smoothing out fluctuations in power delivery caused by changing logic…
Understanding Parasitic Inductance All conductors exhibit self-inductance, which opposes changes in current flow. In decoupling capacitors, the traces, vias, and plates inside the capacitor package contribute parasitic inductance. This parasitic inductance appears in series with the capacitance, forming an unwanted LC circuit. Parasitic inductance originates from the magnetic fields created by current flowing through metal…
Capacitive and inductive reactance are important concepts in electrical engineering for analyzing the behavior of capacitors and inductors in alternating current (AC) circuits. Capacitive reactance represents how capacitors “react” to changes in voltage and current flow in AC circuits. It limits and determines current flows. Inductive reactance represents how inductors “react” to changes in voltage…
Locating the Crystal Oscillator on the Circuit Board The crystal oscillator is a critical component in many electronic devices that provides a clock signal for timing and synchronization. However, crystal oscillators can sometimes fail to start up properly, preventing the system from booting or operating correctly. The first step in diagnosing a crystal oscillator failure…
Understanding Capacitor Voltage Ratings Capacitors have a maximum voltage, called the working voltage or rated voltage, which specifies the maximum potential difference that can be applied safely across the terminals. Exceeding the rated voltage causes the dielectric material between the capacitor plates to break down, resulting in permanent damage to the capacitor. The rated voltage…
Thermal Challenges of Voltage Divider Circuits Voltage divider circuits utilizing resistors often face thermal management challenges due to resistive heating effects. As electric current passes through the resistors, the kinetic energy of the electrons is converted into heat based on the resistor’s material properties. Managing this generated heat is critical to prevent thermal damage and…
What are Capacitors and How Do They Work? A capacitor is a passive electronic component that stores electrical energy in an electric field. It consists of two plates or electrodes separated by an insulating dielectric material such as air, paper, mica, plastic film, ceramic, or glass. When voltage is applied across the plates of a…
