Electronics

The light hidden inside the rectifier diode 

Electronics, Microelectronics / By

Anyone studying electronics knows that semiconductor diodes can be divided into several categories: classic rectifier diodes, light-emitting LEDs, fast Schottky diodes, and Zener diodes. Although each of these components is based on the same phenomenon occurring in the simplest structure of a semiconductor PN junction, a closer look reveals that there are quite a few differences. Thanks to these differences—which are numerous enough to warrant a separate article—each type of diode is used in a slightly different application. When designing a power supply, it would be an aberration to use LEDs as a rectifier bridge (though it would be an interesting experiment), and similarly, when building a device requiring color indicators, no one would use rectifier diodes for that purpose—but are we really sure?

Miniature clock with retro integrated circuit

Electronics / By

Rumor has it that the only silicon structures that Polish engineers interfered with were clock circuits. It is difficult to confirm this, however, as it is known that factories in communist Poland produced silicon from ready-made designs, but not much is known about our native designs. At that time, technologies of this type were quite well protected, but who knows, there is a grain of truth in every rumor. Miniature clock with a retro integrated circuit

Dark current and transistors without a case

Electronics / By

If one Internet trivia site is to be believed, the most manufactured thing in the world is a transistor. This may be true, but the authors of this information must have also taken into account those placed inside silicon cores, although they are not single elements. After all, in discrete circuits there are at least two resistors per single transistor, also the Internet fact can be questioned quite easily. However, whatever one may say, transistors in one form or another are quite common in electronics. It is thanks to them that a whole branch of digital and logic circuits was created, which, along with increasing computerization, have become the building blocks of the modern world.

What’s hidden inside a smart socket?

Electronics / By

In today’s world, the importance of various types of devices from the “smart home” category is growing day by day. There is nothing surprising in this, after all, thanks to these, sometimes very simple equipment, we can remotely control home lighting, heating or ventilation. Besides, thanks to all kinds of sensors, reading temperature, humidity and light intensity has become much simpler. The data collected by the system can be used to intelligently manage actuators such as relays. In other words, today’s technology allows us to build really complex structures at a low cost, which we can call a smart home.

Miniaturization of big ideas – how integrated circuits came to be

Electronics / By

In today’s dynamic world of electronics, we are constantly using advanced technologies that enable us to perform tasks faster, more efficiently and more conveniently. One of the most remarkable developments that has affected our daily reality is the invention of the integrated circuit. These small but powerful electronic components, typically containing hundreds, thousands or even millions of elements on a single silicon wafer. Chips have revolutionized our world in ways we could not even imagine before. But in order to explore the history of integrated circuits, we need to go all the way back to the 1920s, to the days of tube designs.

What do you need to know about voltage converters?

Electronics / By

Any electronic equipment must be powered in some way, without the right voltage it will not work at all or will work, but only for a fraction of a second. There are quite a few solutions and designs whose task is to bring energy to the designed circuit. Some of the most commonly used are linear stabilizers and voltage converters. We will leave stabilizers for another material, while today I would like to tell you a little about the operation and design of inverters. In addition, we will also look at their problems and try to solve them.

Compendium of knowledge about Nixie

Electronics / By

On a cold December morning in the Czech village of Březolupy, a man stops his truck in front of a 17th century castle. He puts on thick gloves, gets out of the truck and opens the tailgate. Then, very carefully, he unloads more crates of heavy equipment and glass.

Simple diode controller WS2812B

Electronics / By

Recently, I have been trying my hand at a bit more professional electronics photography. When taking pictures, I tried to force a particular type of lighting with several panels of WS2812B LEDs, controlled by Arduino. However, constantly changing the code is quite tiresome, so I built a simple device to control this type of LEDs.

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