#Circuit Board Electronic Components

[dyethin14]

Understanding Circuit Board Electronic Components: A Comprehensive Guide

In today's digital world, electronic devices have become an essential part of our daily lives. But what makes these devices tick? At the heart of every electronic device lies a circuit board—a masterpiece of tiny electronic components working together to perform complex tasks. In this article, we’ll dive deep into the fascinating world of circuit board electronic components, exploring each element’s role and how they contribute to the overall functionality of the device.

What is a Circuit Board?

A circuit board, often referred to as a PCB (Printed Circuit Board), is a flat board used to mechanically support and electrically connect various electronic components. These components work in unison to perform a specific task. Think of the circuit board as the skeleton and nervous system of an electronic device—it holds everything together and allows communication between parts.

Types of Circuit Boards

Single-sided PCB: Has one layer of conducting material.

Double-sided PCB: Contains two layers for components and connections.

Multi-layer PCB: Complex boards with multiple layers for advanced applications.

The Role of Electronic Components on a Circuit Board

Every electronic device you interact with is powered by a carefully designed circuit board filled with various components. These components might be tiny, but each one has a critical role in the operation of the device. Here's a breakdown of the most important electronic components you’ll find on a typical circuit board.

1. Resistors

Resistors are fundamental components that control the flow of electrical current. They resist the flow of electrons, hence the name "resistor." Their primary function is to reduce current flow, adjust signal levels, and divide voltages in a circuit. Without resistors, circuits would allow too much current to flow, potentially damaging other components.

Types of Resistors

Fixed resistors: Have a set resistance value.

Variable resistors: Allow adjustment of the resistance.

2. Capacitors

Capacitors store and release electrical energy in a circuit. They are often compared to small rechargeable batteries that quickly charge and discharge. Capacitors help smooth out fluctuations in voltage, filter noise, and store energy for future use.

Common Uses of Capacitors

Energy storage

Signal filtering

Voltage stabilization

3. Inductors

Inductors are components that store energy in a magnetic field when electrical current flows through them. They resist changes in current and are typically used in circuits to filter signals, manage power, and store energy.

Applications of Inductors

Power supplies

Radio frequency circuits

Noise suppression in circuits

4. Diodes

A diode is like a one-way valve for electricity, allowing current to flow in only one direction. They are vital in circuits to prevent reverse currents, which can damage components.

Types of Diodes

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs): Produce light when current flows through.

Zener diodes: Regulate voltage within a circuit.

5. Transistors

The transistor is a versatile component used to amplify or switch electronic signals. In essence, transistors are like tiny switches that turn signals on and off rapidly, making them essential in modern electronics.

Types of Transistors

NPN transistors: Allow current flow when a small voltage is applied to the base.

PNP transistors: Conduct when the base is negatively charged.

How Circuit Board Components Work Together

In a circuit, each component has a specific role, and together they form a cohesive system. For example:

Capacitors and resistors may work together to filter signals or smooth out voltage fluctuations.

Transistors and diodes ensure that signals are amplified or directed properly.

Integrated circuits handle the complex tasks, processing data, and controlling the overall system.

Choosing the Right Components for Your Circuit Board

When designing or repairing a circuit board, choosing the correct components is crucial. Some factors to consider include:

Voltage requirements

Power consumption

Signal type and frequency

Physical size and compatibility

Conclusion

Circuit boards are an integral part of any electronic device. The various components on the board each play a specific role in ensuring the device functions as intended. Understanding these components, from resistors to integrated circuits, is essential for anyone working with electronics, whether you're designing a new system or troubleshooting an existing one.

[circuit-king]

[circuitcardassembly]

PCB Electronic Board and the Role of Electronic Components Distributors

Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) are essential to advanced innovation, serving as the establishment upon which electronic components are fastened to make utilitarian gadgets. From shrewd phones to mechanical apparatus, PCBs are fundamental in nearly each industry. In this article, we’ll investigate the part of the PCB electronic board, the significance of an electronic components merchant, and the centrality of circuit board components in guaranteeing smooth gadgets manufacturing.

What is a PCB Electronic Board?

A PCB Electronic Board is a pivotal component in any electronic gadget. It serves as a physical stage to interface and organize electronic components such as resistors, capacitors, and transistors through conductive pathways, flag follows, or tracks. The essential work of a PCB is to mechanically bolster and electrically interface different components, permitting them to work together seamlessly.

Types of PCB Electronic Boards

1. Single-Sided PCB: This is a clear sort where components are put on one side, whereas conductive copper follows are found on the inverse side.

2. Double-Sided PCB: In differentiate, this sort obliges components on both sides of the board, with conductive layers too on both sides.

3. Multi-Layer PCB: Numerous layers of PCBs stacked together, utilized for more complex electronic circuits, frequently seen in progressed computing frameworks and communication devices.

Importance of PCB Electronic Boards in Cutting edge Electronics

• Compact Plan: PCBs permit for the miniaturization of gadgets, empowering the creation of littler, more capable contraptions like smart phones, portable workstations, and wearable devices.

• Cost-Efficiency: Mass generation of PCBs guarantees that electronic gadgets can be made cost-effectively, whereas still guaranteeing tall performance.

• Reliability: A well-designed PCB moves forward the in general unwavering quality and toughness of electronic gadgets, as components are safely mounted and connected.

Defining an Electronic Components Distributor

An Electronic Components Distributor is crucial within the electronics supply chain. These merchants act as mediators between producers and businesses, giving a wide run of components required to collect PCBs and other electronic frameworks. Whether you're a large-scale hardware producer or a little commerce, having get to dependable merchants guarantees that you get high-quality components on time.

Role of Electronic Components Distributors

1. Wide Item Accessibility: Wholesalers give a wide choice of components, from essential things like resistors and capacitors to progressed chip and coordinates circuits.

2. Quality Confirmation: Legitimate wholesalers work with certified producers to guarantee that all components meet industry measures and are free from defects.

3. Supply Chain Productivity: Wholesalers guarantee convenient conveyance of components, lessening the hazard of delays in generation due to supply shortages.

4. Technical Bolster: Numerous merchants offer extra administrations such as specialized back and plan exhortation, making a difference producers select the right components for their particular needs.

Key Circuit Board Components

A PCB electronic board requires a assortment of components to work accurately. Here are a few of the most basic Circuit Board Components:

1. Resistors: These components direct the stream of electrical current, guaranteeing that circuits work inside secure working limits.

2. Capacitors: Capacitors store electrical vitality and discharge it when required. They are pivotal in sifting signals and stabilizing voltage in circuits.

3. Diodes: Diodes permit current to stream in one heading as it were, securing the circuit from harm due to switch current.

4. Transistors: These components act as switches or speakers, playing a critical portion in controlling the stream of electrical signals in a circuit.

5. Integrated Circuits (ICs): ICs are small chips that contain distinctive components like transistors, diodes, and resistors, allowing complex capacities to be performed on a single piece of silicon.

6. Inductors: Inductors store vitality in a attractive field when current passes through them, commonly utilized in sifting applications and control supplies.

How to Select the Right Circuit Board Components

• Compatibility: Guarantee that the components are congruous with the plan of your PCB, counting measure, control prerequisites, and execution specifications.

• Reliability: Select high-quality components from trusted producers or wholesalers to guarantee the long-term unwavering quality of your devices.

• Availability: Guarantee that the components you select are promptly accessible in the showcase, particularly if you're arranging for large-scale production.

Conclusion

PCB electronic Boards, electronic components merchants, and circuit board components are basic in the world of hardware fabricating. A well-designed PCB, combined with high-quality components sourced from dependable merchants, guarantees the effective generation of tough, high-performance electronic gadgets. Understanding these components permits producers to enhance and create the innovation that powers our advanced world.

[electro-mech]

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Electromechanicals for Sale are premier supplier of electromechanical components and industrial automation spare parts. Explore our extensive catalog of electromechanical parts and components. As the premier supplier, we offer industrial automation spare parts and components for all your needs such as Servo Motors Active, Passive, & Sensor Parts, Power Supplies, Circuit Protection, Industrial Automation, Switches Automation, Control Gear, Electronic Connectors Relays and more. We supply electromechanical parts for leading manufacturers of Industrial automation.

Here at Electromechanicals for sale, quality is of the utmost importance. All parts found on our website trace back to leading automation spare parts suppliers and manufacturers that we trust, and countless listings undergo varying levels of testing, inspection, and document verification prior to shipment.

[sicomponent]

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[crispyeagleenthusiast]

Samsung DG92-01084A Range Pcb-Main | HnK Parts

[fpcway-daisy]

PCBA Details Display!!!

[agaselectronicmaterials]

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[electronalytics]

Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) Market Analysis, Key Players, Share Dynamic Demand and Consumption to 2032

The printed circuit boards (PCBs) market refers to the industry involved in the design, production, and sale of PCBs, which are essential components in electronic devices. PCBs provide a platform for interconnecting and supporting various electronic components, such as integrated circuits (ICs), resistors, capacitors, and connectors.

printed circuit board market size is expected to increase USD 3.60 billion by 2032 and Growth Rate from 2023  CAGR of 3.9% Forecast Period 2023 To 2032

Here are some key points about the PCBs market:

Market Size and Growth: The PCBs market has experienced significant growth in recent years. Factors driving this growth include the increasing demand for consumer electronics, telecommunications equipment, automotive electronics, industrial automation, and healthcare devices. The proliferation of smart devices, Internet of Things (IoT) applications, and advancements in technologies like 5G and artificial intelligence also contribute to the expanding PCBs market.

Types of PCBs: PCBs come in different types, including single-sided, double-sided, multi-layered, rigid, flexible, and rigid-flex PCBs. Each type has its specific applications and advantages. For instance, flexible PCBs are used in wearable devices and applications where flexibility and compactness are essential, while multi-layered PCBs are commonly found in complex electronic systems like smartphones and computers.

Manufacturing Process: PCB manufacturing involves several steps, including design, substrate selection, copper etching, solder mask application, and component assembly. The industry has seen advancements in manufacturing techniques such as surface-mount technology (SMT) and advanced packaging, enabling smaller and more complex PCB designs.

Market Players: The PCBs market is highly competitive, with numerous manufacturers operating globally. Some of the key players in the industry include Nippon Mektron Ltd., Unimicron Technology Corp., Zhen Ding Technology Holding Limited, Tripod Technology Corporation, Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd., and TTM Technologies, Inc. These companies offer a wide range of PCB products and services to cater to different industries and customer requirements.

Regional Market: Asia-Pacific dominates the global PCBs market, primarily due to the presence of major electronics manufacturing hubs in countries like China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. These countries are known for their strong electronics industry, which drives the demand for PCBs. North America and Europe also contribute significantly to the market due to their established electronics and automotive sectors.

Emerging Trends: The PCBs market is influenced by several emerging trends. These include the miniaturization of electronic devices, the adoption of advanced materials and technologies for higher performance and reliability, the shift towards environmentally friendly and lead-free PCBs, and the growing demand for high-speed and high-frequency PCBs to support advanced applications.

It's worth noting that the PCBs market is subject to various factors, including technological advancements, regulatory requirements, supply chain dynamics, and customer demand. To obtain the most accurate and up-to-date information on the market, it's advisable to refer to industry reports, market research studies, and publications specific to the PCBs market.

I recommend referring to our Stringent datalytics firm, industry publications, and websites that specialize in providing market reports. These sources often offer comprehensive analysis, market trends, growth forecasts, competitive landscape, and other valuable insights into the humidity sensors market.

By visiting our website or contacting us directly, you can explore the availability of specific reports related to the humidity sensors market. These reports often require a purchase or subscription, but we provide comprehensive and in-depth information that can be valuable for businesses, investors, and individuals interested in the market.

Remember to look for recent reports to ensure you have the most current and relevant information.

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Market Segmentations: Global Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) Market: By Company • AT&S • Nippon Mektron • Unimicron • Samsung • Dynamic Electronics • Daeduck Electronics • CMK Corporation • Nan Ya PCB Co. • TTM Technologies • Shenzhen Kinwong Electronic Global Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) Market: By Type • Single-sided • Double-sided • Multi-layer Global Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) Market: By Application • Consumer Electronics • Aerospace and Defense • Automotive • Healthcare • Others Global Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) Market: Regional Analysis All the regional segmentation has been studied based on recent and future trends, and the market is forecasted throughout the prediction period. The countries covered in the regional analysis of the Global Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) market report are U.S., Canada, and Mexico in North America, Germany, France, U.K., Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, and Rest of Europe in Europe, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Rest of Asia-Pacific (APAC) in the Asia-Pacific (APAC), Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, South Africa, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East and Africa (MEA) as a part of Middle East and Africa (MEA), and Argentina, Brazil, and Rest of South America as part of South America.

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Reasons to Purchase Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) Market Report:

• To obtain insights into industry trends and dynamics, including market size, growth rates, and important factors and difficulties. This study offers insightful information on these topics.

• To identify important participants and rivals: This research studies can assist companies in identifying key participants and rivals in their sector, along with their market share, business plans, and strengths and weaknesses.

• To comprehend consumer behaviour: these research studies can offer insightful information about customer behaviour, including preferences, spending patterns, and demographics.

• To assess market opportunities: These research studies can aid companies in assessing market chances, such as prospective new goods or services, fresh markets, and new trends.

• To make well-informed business decisions: These research reports give companies data-driven insights that they may use to plan their strategy, develop new products, and devise marketing and advertising plans.

In general, market research studies offer companies and organization’s useful data that can aid in making decisions and maintaining competitiveness in their industry. They can offer a strong basis for decision-making, strategy development, and business planning.

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Syndicated market research reports, on the other hand, are pre-existing reports that are available for purchase by multiple clients. These reports are often produced on a regular basis, such as annually or quarterly, and cover a broad range of industries and market segments. Syndicated reports provide clients with insights into industry trends, market sizes, and competitive landscapes. By offering both custom and syndicated reports, Stringent Datalytics can provide clients with a range of market research solutions that can be customized to their specific needs

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[glamourdj]

PCB adapter, also known as a Printed Circuit Board Adapter, is an essential component in electronics. It enables the designer to test and prototype electronic circuits efficiently. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of PCB Adapter in electronics, its design, types, and benefits.

[dyethin14]

Understanding Circuit Board Electronic Components: A Comprehensive Guide

In today's digital world, electronic devices have become an essential part of our daily lives. But what makes these devices tick? At the heart of every electronic device lies a circuit board—a masterpiece of tiny electronic components working together to perform complex tasks. In this article, we’ll dive deep into the fascinating world of circuit board electronic components, exploring each element’s role and how they contribute to the overall functionality of the device.

What is a Circuit Board?

A circuit board, often referred to as a PCB (Printed Circuit Board), is a flat board used to mechanically support and electrically connect various electronic components. These components work in unison to perform a specific task. Think of the circuit board as the skeleton and nervous system of an electronic device—it holds everything together and allows communication between parts.

Types of Circuit Boards

Single-sided PCB: Has one layer of conducting material.

Double-sided PCB: Contains two layers for components and connections.

Multi-layer PCB: Complex boards with multiple layers for advanced applications.

The Role of Electronic Components on a Circuit Board

Every electronic device you interact with is powered by a carefully designed circuit board filled with various components. These components might be tiny, but each one has a critical role in the operation of the device. Here's a breakdown of the most important electronic components you’ll find on a typical circuit board.

1. Resistors

Resistors are fundamental components that control the flow of electrical current. They resist the flow of electrons, hence the name "resistor." Their primary function is to reduce current flow, adjust signal levels, and divide voltages in a circuit. Without resistors, circuits would allow too much current to flow, potentially damaging other components.

Types of Resistors

Fixed resistors: Have a set resistance value.

Variable resistors: Allow adjustment of the resistance.

2. Capacitors

Capacitors store and release electrical energy in a circuit. They are often compared to small rechargeable batteries that quickly charge and discharge. Capacitors help smooth out fluctuations in voltage, filter noise, and store energy for future use.

Common Uses of Capacitors

Energy storage

Signal filtering

Voltage stabilization

3. Inductors

Inductors are components that store energy in a magnetic field when electrical current flows through them. They resist changes in current and are typically used in circuits to filter signals, manage power, and store energy.

Applications of Inductors

Power supplies

Radio frequency circuits

Noise suppression in circuits

4. Diodes

A diode is like a one-way valve for electricity, allowing current to flow in only one direction. They are vital in circuits to prevent reverse currents, which can damage components.

Types of Diodes

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs): Produce light when current flows through.

Zener diodes: Regulate voltage within a circuit.

5. Transistors

The transistor is a versatile component used to amplify or switch electronic signals. In essence, transistors are like tiny switches that turn signals on and off rapidly, making them essential in modern electronics.

Types of Transistors

NPN transistors: Allow current flow when a small voltage is applied to the base.

PNP transistors: Conduct when the base is negatively charged.

How Circuit Board Components Work Together

In a circuit, each component has a specific role, and together they form a cohesive system. For example:

Capacitors and resistors may work together to filter signals or smooth out voltage fluctuations.

Transistors and diodes ensure that signals are amplified or directed properly.

Integrated circuits handle the complex tasks, processing data, and controlling the overall system.

Choosing the Right Components for Your Circuit Board

When designing or repairing a circuit board, choosing the correct components is crucial. Some factors to consider include:

Voltage requirements

Power consumption

Signal type and frequency

Physical size and compatibility

Conclusion

Circuit boards are an integral part of any electronic device. The various components on the board each play a specific role in ensuring the device functions as intended. Understanding these components, from resistors to integrated circuits, is essential for anyone working with electronics, whether you're designing a new system or troubleshooting an existing one.

[gabimedia]

Electronic circuits on the prototype board by Vasiliu Gabriel Via Flickr: Circuit board component - Electronic board Manufacturing

[circuitcardassembly]

Understanding Electronic Parts Suppliers and Circuit Board Components

In today’s quickly progressing innovative scene, electronic parts providers play a pivotal part in guaranteeing the smooth operation of different businesses, from customer gadgets to car and aviation. These providers give fundamental components that control the gadgets and frameworks we depend on every day. Among the most crucial components are those utilized in circuit sheets, which shape the spine of essentially all electronic devices.

The Role of Electronic Parts Suppliers

Electronic Parts Suppliers are businesses that specialize in sourcing, conveying, and now and then fabricating electronic components. These components incorporate resistors, capacitors, transistors, coordinates circuits (ICs), and other basic parts. Providers serve a wide run of clients, from small-scale producers and specialists to expansive organizations and government entities.

One of the key parts of electronic parts providers is to give high-quality, dependable components that meet particular industry guidelines. They keep up broad catalogs, advertising a wide assortment of components that cater to diverse needs, whether for prototyping, generation, or repair. Numerous providers moreover offer extra administrations such as specialized bolster, custom bundling, and component sourcing to meet interesting venture requirements.

Circuit Board Components: The Heart of Electronic Devices

Circuit sheets, commonly known as Printed Circuit Sheets (PCBs), are fundamentally to all electronic gadgets. They serve as the stage that interfaces and bolsters the electronic components, empowering them to work together as a cohesive framework. The essential components found on a circuit board include:

1. Resistors: These are detached components that restrain current stream and diminish voltage levels inside the circuit. They play a basic part in overseeing the electrical stack and anticipating harm to touchy components.

2. Capacitors: Capacitors store and discharge electrical vitality, making a difference to smooth out voltage variances and channel signals. They are fundamental in applications where consistent voltage levels are significant, such as in control supplies and flag processing.

3. Transistors: These act like switches or amplifiers, basically controlling the flow of electric current within the circuit. They are highly important in modern devices, lying at the heart of chips and other ICs.

4. Diodes: Diodes permit current to stream in one heading as it were, giving assurance against invert extremity and helping in flag correction. They are commonly utilized in control supplies and flag preparing circuits.

5. Integrated Circuits (ICs): ICs are integrated assemblies comprising a vast array of different electronic components, including transistors, resistors, and capacitors, all mounted on one chip. They perform very basic logic operations up to advanced signal processing.

Importance of Quality and Reliability

The unwavering quality of Circuit Board Components is foremost. A single flawed component can compromise the usefulness of whole gadget, driving to exorbitant repairs or item reviews. Subsequently, sourcing components from trustworthy electronsic parts providers is vital to guarantee the life span and execution of electronic devices.

In conclusion, electronic parts providers and circuit board components are the unsung heroes of present day innovation. By giving the vital building squares for electronic gadgets, they empower development and back the proceeded development of the worldwide hardware industry.

[reasonsforhope]

"As the world grows “smarter” through the adoption of smartphones, smart fridges, and entire smart houses, the carbon cost of that technology grows, too. 

In the last decade, electronic waste has become one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the world. 

According to The World Counts, the globe generates about 50 million tons of e-waste every year. That’s the equivalent of 1,000 laptops being trashed every second. 

After they’re shipped off to landfills and incinerated, the trash releases toxic chemicals including lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, and so much more, which can cause disastrous health effects on the populations that live near those trash sites. 

Fortunately, Franziska Kerber — a university student at ​​FH Joanneum in Graz, Austria — has dreamed up a solution that helps carve away at that behemoth problem: electronics made out of recyclable, dissolvable paper. 

On September 11, Kerber’s invention “Pape” — or Paper Electronics — earned global recognition when it was named a national winner of the 2024 James Dyson Awards. 

When she entered the scientific competition, Kerber demonstrated her invention with the creation of several small electronics made out of paper materials, including a fully-functional WiFi router and smoke detector. 

“Small electronic devices are especially prone to ending up in household waste due to unclear disposal systems and their small size, so there is significant potential to develop a more user-friendly end-of-life system,” Kerber wrote on the James Dyson Award website. 

“With this in mind, I aimed to move beyond a simple recycling solution to a circular one, ensuring long-term sustainability.” 

Kerber’s invention hinges on crafting a dissolvable and recyclable PCB board out of compressed “paper pulp.” 

A printed circuit board (PCB) is a board that can be found in nearly all modern electronic devices, like phones, tablets, and smartwatches.

But even companies that have started incorporating a “dissolution” step into the end life of their products require deconstruction to break down and recover the PCB board before it can be recycled. 

With Kerber’s PAPE products, users don’t need to take the device apart to recycle it.

“By implementing a user-friendly return option, manufacturers can efficiently dissolve all returned items, potentially reusing electronic components,” Kerber explained. 

“Rapidly advancing technology, which forms the core of many devices, becomes obsolete much faster than the structural elements, which are often made from plastics that can last thousands of years,” Kerber poses. 

PAPE, Kerber says, has a “designed end-of-life system” which anticipates obsolescence. 

“Does anyone want to use a thousand-year-old computer?” Kerber asks. “Of course not. … This ensures a sustainable and reliable system without hindering technological advancement.”"

-via GoodGoodGood, September 13, 2024

[mentaltimetraveller]

Brian Oakes

Brian Oakes

Vessel 1, 2022 42" x 46" x 28"

Printed circuit boards, electronic components, microphones, audio cables, custom 3d printed hardware, power supplies, chain, hardware

[wirewitchviolet]

How a Computer Works - Part 3 (Miniaturization and Standardization)

For anyone just joining in, I'm writing a series of posts explaining perhaps haphazardly all there is to know about how a computer works, from the most basic fundamental circuitry components to whatever level of higher functionality I eventually get to. As explained in the first post on this subject, I am doing this just in pure text, so that if you are inclined you can straight up print these posts out or narrate them onto some audio tape or whatever and have full access to them should every computer in the world suddenly collapse into a pile of dust or something. Part 1 mainly covered the basic mechanical principles of circuitry and how to physically construct a logic gate. Part 2 covered logic gates in detail and how to use them to create a basic working architecture for a general purpose computer. Today we're going to be talking more about what you're looking at when you crack a machine open so you can make sense of all the important fiddly bits and have maybe a starting point on how to troubleshoot things with a multimeter or something.

Before getting into it though, I do have to shake my little donation can again and remind you that I do not know how I am going to get through the winter without becoming homeless, so if this is valuable to you, I'd appreciate some help.

Boards of Bread and Printed Circuits

With the things I've explained so far, you could totally build a computer right now, but it'd be a bit messy. You can totally buy resistors, transistors, capacitors, and diodes by the bagful for basically nothing, and cheap rolls of insulated wire, but there's all these long exposed pins to cut short and soldering things in mid-air is a messy nightmare and you'd just have this big tangle of wires in a bag or something that would almost certainly short out on you. So let's look into ways to organize stuff a little.

If you start playing around with electronics on your own, one of the first things you want to hook yourself up with besides raw components and wires is a breadboard or 12. And if you're watching people explain these things with visual aids, you'll also see a lot of them, so it's good to know exactly what they are and how they work. Your standard breadboard is a brick of plastic with a bunch of little holes in it. Incidentally, the name comes from how the first ones were literally just named after the wooden cutting boards for slicing bread people recycled to make them. Inside these holes there's some pinching bits of conductive metal which connect to each other in a particular way (pretty sure you can just see the strips that connect one if you pry the bottom off), so you can just jam a thing wire or prong into a hole, have it held in place, and make a connection to every other hole its connected to on the other side.

There is a ton of standardization to all of this. The holes should always be 0.1 inches apart () and split into two big grids. Everyone I've ever seen has 63 rows, each with 5 holes labeled A-E, a shallow channel through the middle of the board, and then another 5, F-J, and we generally have numbers printed every 5 rows. Down underneath, for any given row, the set of 5 pins on each side of the channel are connected. So, holes 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, and 1E are all connected to each other, and nothing else. Holes 1F, 1G, 1H, 1I, and 1J are also connected to each other. There's no connection though between 1E and 1F, or 1A and 2A.

Most breadboards will also have a couple of "power rails" along the sides. These are just going to be labeled with a long red line and +, and a long blue or black line and -, and have holes in 2x5 blocks staggered out. With these, all 25 or 50 or whatever holes near the red + line connect with each other, and all the ones near the black line connect with each other. The gaps every 5 holes don't serve any purpose beyond looking different enough from the big grid so you hopefully don't mix it up and forget that these ones all connect down the length, and not in in little clumps across the width like everything else. The idea, for the sake of convention, is you plug a wire connected directly to the positive side of your battery or DC adapter or whatever into any red line hole, the negative side to any blue/black hole, and then tada, you can make a circuit just by plugging a wire in from red to a normal grid line, whatever bits you want span from that grid line to another, and eventually you connect the far end back anywhere on the black/blue line.

With a nice circuit board, there's also little snap-together pegs along the sides, and the power rails are just snapped on with those. So you can just kinda cut through the backing with a knife or some scissors, snap those off, connect multiple boards together without redundant power rails in the middle, and then just have these nice spare long lines of linked sockets. In the computer I'm building on these, I'm just using spare power rails for the bus. Oh and the big grooved channel down the middle also has a purpose. Bigger electronic components, like our good good friend the integrated circuit, are generally designed to be exactly wide enough (or more, but by a multiple of 0.1 inches) to straddle that groove as you plug their legs into the wires on either side, so they nicely fit into a breadboard, and there's a handy gap to slide something under and pry them off later on.

Typically though, you don't see breadboards inside a computer, or anything else. They're super handy for tinkering around and designing stuff, but for final builds, you want something more permanent. Usually, that's a printed circuit board, or PCB. This is pretty much what everyone's going to picture when they think about the guts of a computer. A big hard (usually) green board with a bunch of intricate lines, or "traces" running all over made of (usually) copper. And maybe with some metal ringed holes punched all the way through (they call those vias). These tend to look really complicated and maybe even a little magical, but they're honestly they're just pre-placed wires with a sense of style.

Most of the material of the board is insulated. The copper traces conduct real well, and manufacturers have done the math on just how close together they can be run without connecting to each other in places you don't want. The holes that go all the way through are for either plugging other bits in that tend to come with long legs you maybe want to keep intact, or just ways to run a trace through to the other side, where we often have traces on the back too to maximize our space. Most of what makes them look all cool and magical is how the traces run as close packed as possible to conserve space, and tend to only turn at 45 degree angles, which is just an artifact of how the machinery used to etch them out sued to be iffy about anything else.

So tada, you have all your wires pre-stuck to a nice sturdy board, and maybe even have labels printed right on there for where you solder all the various components to finish the thing. Oh and when you hear people talk about like, motherboards and daughterboards? The big main board you have for everything is a motherboard. Sometimes you need more than that, so you make smaller ones, and connect them up ether with some soldering or cartridge style with end-pins sliding snugly into sockets, and those we call daughterboards.

Integrated Circuits, or as they're also known, "chips"

The last thing you're likely to find if you crack open a computer, or just about any other electronic device that isn't super old or super super simple, are integrated circuits. Generally these are think black plastic bars that look like you'd maybe try to awkardly use them to spread cheese or peanutbutter on crackers in a prepacked snack or something, with rows of tiny little legs that running along either side. Kinda makes them look like little toy bugs or something. Sometimes they're square with pins along every edge, because sometimes you need a lot of pins. These are integrated circuits, or microchips, or just chips, and wow are they handy.

Sometime back in the 60s when people were really getting their heads around just how ridiculously small they could make electronic components and still have them work, we started to quite rapidly move towards a point where the big concern was no longer "can we shrink all this stuff down to a manageable size" and more "we are shrinking everything down to such an absurdly tiny size that we need to pack it all up in some kind of basically indestructible package, while still being able to interact with it."

So, yeah, we worked out a really solid standard there. I kinda wish I could find more on how it was set or what sort of plastic was used, but you take your absurdly shrunken down complex circuit for doing whatever. You run the teensiest tiniest wires you can out from it that thicken up at the ends into standard toothy prongs you can sink into a breadboard or a PCB with that standardized pin spacing, and you coat it all in this black plastic so firmly enveloping it that nothing can move around inside or get broken, hopefully.

And honestly, in my opinion, this is all TOO standardized. The only real visible difference between any two given integrated circuits is how many legs they have, and even those tend to come to some pretty standard numbers. They're always the same size shape and color, they all have the same convention of having a little indented notch on one side so you know which end is which, and they all seem to use just the worst ink in the world to print a block of numbers on the back with their manufacturer, date of assembly, a catalog number, and some other random stuff.

For real if there's any real comprehensive standard for what's printing on these, I can't for the life of me find it. All I know is, SOMEWHERE, you've got a 2 or 3 letter code for every manufacturer, a number for the chip, and a 4 digit date code with the last 2 digits of the year, and which week of that year it was. These three things can be in any order, other things can also be on there, probably with zero spacing, and usually printed in ink that wipes away like immediately or at least is only readable under really direct light, it sucks.

Once you know what a chip is though and look up the datasheet for it, you should have all sorts of handy info on what's inside, and just need to know what every leg is for. For that, you find which end has a notch in it, that's the left side, sometimes there's also a little dot in the lower left corner, and hopefully the label is printed in alignment with that. From there, the bottom left leg is pin 1, and then you count counterclockwise around the whole chip. You're basically always going to have positive and negative power pins, past that anything goes. You can cram a whole computer into a single chip, yo can have someone just put like 4 NAND gates on a chip for convenience, whatever.

OK, but how do they make them so small?

OK, so, mostly a circuit we're going to want to shrink down and put on a chip is just gonna be a big pile of logic gates, we can make our logic gates just using transistors, and we can make transistors just by chemically treating some silicon. So we just need SUPER flat sheets of treated silicon, along with some little strands of capacitive/resistive/insulating material here and there, and a few vertically oriented bits of conductive metal to pass signals up and down as we layer these together. Then we just need to etch them out, real real small and tight.

And we can do that etching at like, basically infinite resolution it turns out. It just so happens we have access to special acids that eat through the materials we need them to eat through, but that only work when they're being directly hit with fairly intense UV light. And a thing about light is when you have say, a big cut out pattern that you hold between a light and a surface, it casts a shadow on it... and the scaling of that shadow depends entirely on the distances between the light, the pattern, and the surface. So if you're super careful calibrating everything, you can etch a pattern into something at a scale where the main limiting factors become stuff like how many molecules thick things have to be to hold their shape. Seriously, they use electron microscopes to inspect builds because that's the level of tininess we have achieved.

So yeah, you etch your layers of various materials out with shadow masks and UV acid, you stack them up, you somehow align microscopic pins to hold them together and then you coat the whole mess in plastic forever. Tada. Anything you want in a little chip.

ROMs, maybe with various letters in front

So there's a bunch of standard generally useful things people put into ICs, but also with a computer you generally want some real bespoke stored values with a lookup table where you'll keep, say, a program to be run by feeding whatever's inside out to the bus line by line. For that we use a chip we call Read Only Memory, or ROM. Nothing super special there, just... hard wire in the values you need when you manufacture it. Manufacturing these chips though is kind of a lot, with the exacting calibrations and the acid and the clean rooms and all. Can't we have some sort of Programmable ROM? Well sure, just like build it so that all the values are 1, and build a special little thing that feeds more voltage through than it can handle and physically destroy the fuse for everything you don't want to be a 1.

OK that's still kind of a serious commitment. What if I want to reuse this later? Oh, so you want some sort of Erasable PROM? OK someone came up with a funky setting where you overload and blow out the fuses but then if you expose the guts of the chip to direct UV light through this little window, everything should reform back to 1. Just like, throw a sticker on there when you don't want to erase it. Well great, but can we maybe not have me desolder it and take it out to put under a lamp? Oh la de da! You need Electronically Erasable PROMs? EEPROMs? I guess we can make THAT work, somehow. They're still gonna be slow to write to though, can't have anything. I mean, not unless we invented like, flash memory. Which somehow does all this at speeds where you can use it for long term storage without it being a pain. So that's just kinda the thing we have now. Sorry I don't quite get the principles behind it enough to summarize. Something about floating components and needing less voltage or whatever. Apparently you sacrifice some read speed next to older options but hey, usable rewritable long term storage you just plug in, no jumping through extra hoops.

So OK. I think that's everything I can explain without biting the bullet and explaining ALUs and such. Well, there's keyboards (they're just buttons connecting input lines), monitors (these days, LEDs wired up in big grids), and mice (there's spokes in wheels that click X times or cameras checking the offset values of dust on your desk or whatnot).

Maybe throw me some money before we move on ?

CONTINUED IN PART 4