Active Passive (electrical)

Basic Knowledge About Electronic Components

Contents

■ Capacitors

Here, There, and Everywhere —TDK Electronic Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

The basic function of a capacitor is to store electricity (an electric charge). The symbol for capacitors is C. The unit used to indicate the amount of electricity that can be stored (the capacitance) is the Farad (F). The basic structure of a capacitor is a dielectric material (insulator) sandwiched between two electrodes. Some capacitor types are ceramic capacitors, film capacitors, and electrolytic capacitors. The type depends on the type of dielectric used. TDK’s leading product is a multilayer ceramic chip capacitor mounted on a substrate surface. This capacitor is not only suitable for small electronic devices, it has a long lifespan and excellent reliability, and comes in a wide range of capacitances. Capacitors are available in a variety of sizes from relatively large to extremely small. When indicating the external dimensions, the notation “1005,” for example, means 1.0 mm long by 0.5 mm wide. ● Comparison of Multilayer Ceramic Chip Capacitor Sizes

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core made of ferrite. TDK manufactures SMD (surface mounted) type inductors with the coil wrapped in resin and chip types, which are formed by multilayer printing in a coil pattern. There are also inductors with lead wires. Choke coils and common mode filters, which are used as noise countermeasures are also types of inductors. ● The Manufacturing Process of SMD Inductors Winding and soldering

Washing and undercoating

Formation and machining

● The Manufacturing Process of Multilayer Ceramic Chip Capacitors Dielectric and electrode layering

Sintering

Terminal electrode formation

Inspection

Taping

■ Inductors The fundamental property of inductors, also known as coils, is the generation of a magnetic field when current passes through and the creation of electromotive force depending on changes in magnetic flux. The symbol for inductors is L, and the unit indicating the characteristics of inductors is the Henry (H). The basic structure of an inductor is wire wound in a spiral shape. Generally, the wire is wound around a

Notebook PCs Faster, Smaller, and Higher-Density: Meeting the Challenge of the Leading Edge . . . . . 3

ADSL Modem Packed with Technologies Supporting Broadband Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

PC Peripherals They’re All Around Us: A Diverse Lineup of PC Peripherals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Cell Phones Anytime, Anywhere: Technologies to Support Ever-Expanding Features . . . . . . . . . . . 7 TDK Materials and Process Technologies Support the Realization of a Global Ubiquitous Network Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Automobiles Reliable Support for Superior Driving Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Inspection

Automobiles Taping

■ EMC Components From the left: 5750, 4532, 3225, 3216, 2012, 1608, 1005, 0603, and 0402 sized capacitors (actual size).

applied is known as magnetorestriction. Elements that exhibit large magnetorestrictive effects are called giant magnetorestrictive elements. TDK believes that the properties of a large change in size or shape, rapid response, and high energy conversion can be put to use in actuators and sensors. TDK’s giant magnetorestrictive elements are being developed for use in electric motor assisted bicycles as sensors that detect the torque on the pedals. TDK is also considering their use for precisely adjusting the amount of fuel injected into automobile engines by injectors and board speakers that generate music by vibrating a flat board.

EMC is an abbreviation for electromagnetic compatibility. Generally speaking, EMC refers to the problems associated with noise generated by electronic devices and the measures taken to counteract that noise. The electronic components used to solve the problems of noise are EMC countermeasure components, also known as noise countermeasures. As IC clock speeds increase, there is a greater tendency for highfrequency noise to occur, and noise countermeasures become more difficult to implement. In addition, the enhanced functions and high degree of integration of electronic components has exacerbated the noise problem. Noise countermeasures include beads made of ferrite with excellent high-frequency noise absorbing properties, filters, magnetic shielding material, and radio wave absorbing material as well as capacitors, which are widely used as noise countermeasures. As an expert on noise countermeasures, TDK offers total solutions from the measurement and evaluation of noise to developing noise countermeasures, and has won considerable praise in the industry.

■ Giant Magnetorestrictive Elements The phenomenon of expansion, contraction, or a change in shape and a change in magnetic permeability (the ease with which a magnetic field passes through) when a magnetic field is

■ Thick Films and Thin Films There is no clear standard to distinguish between thick films and thin films, but generally a thickness of 1 μm (micron: 1 micron equals one thousandth of a millimeter) sorts between them. In the case of passive components, films formed by using certain printing techniques or sheet methods such as applying a thin layer of a magnetic material or dielectric material in paste form are generally referred to as thick films. Metallic or alloy films formed through vapor deposition or sputtering (colliding ions into a material and forming the film from the atoms that are thrown off) are usually called thin films. These films have a thickness of tens of nanometers to hundreds of nanometers (1 nanometer is one thousandth of a micron).

■ Active Components and Passive Components Active components are electronic components that input and output electric current or signals, generate or supply energy, or amplify or modify signals. ICs, transistors, and diodes are typical active components. In contrast, passive components are components that consume or store electric energy. Capacitors, coils, and resistors are the three elements of passive components. Electronic devices require both active and passive components to operate, and their functions are largely determined by the combination of these two types of components.

Safer and More Comfortable: Continuously Meeting the Needs of the Times. . . . . . . . 13

Car Navigation

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Now Offering Performance on a par with PCs and Home Audio and Video Equipment . . 15 ITS and Telematics: Changing the Driving Experience — Linking Automobiles to a Data Communications Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

LCD Televisions Sharp Resolution Becomes a Reality, Heralding the Age of Flat-Panel TVs . . . . . . . . . 19

DVD Recorders, HDDs A New Way to Enjoy Video: Built-in HDDs Allow Sophisticated Recording and Editing Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

DSC High-Resolution Equipment Made to Pro Specs: Create Beauty Effortlessly . . . . . . . . 23

DVC Make Your Own Movies with Ease: And Then Sit Back and Enjoy Them. . . . . . . . . . . 24 Digital Technology: Bringing About Evolution and Fusion in the World of Consumer Electronics — Now Household Users Can Build Their Own High-Capacity Digital Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Environmentally Conscious Products: Because TDK Wants to Stay on Good Terms with the Earth Forever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 TDK’s Manufacturing Network: Spreading Around the Globe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Basic Knowledge About Electronic Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

A Tour of TDK’s Electronics Products (TDK Detective Squad 2) Publication date: January 20, 2004 Published by: TDK Times Editorial Group, Corporate Communications Dept., TDK Corp. 1-13-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8272 Japan Telephone (+81) 3-5201-7102

This booklet is printed on recycled paper with soy ink.