Nikhil Agnihotri

The simplest of electronic devices is a diode. It’s often referred to as a semiconductor diode but, technically, a diode has its own specific electrical characteristics. The is true for all electronic devices. They’re defined by unique electrical characteristics even though different construction, types, and applications may be available. Having said this, a semiconductor diode…

As with any productive industry, the electronics sector is continually evolving and advancing. Currently, one of the biggest trends is miniaturization as the demand for smaller and lighter components grows, particularly in the PCB market. Semiconductor technology has also scaled down in size, leading to the miniaturization and integration of circuits. Now, except for inductors…

Cryptocurrencies are getting popular day by day. Bitcoin was the first-ever cryptocurrency and is the most popular one right now. At present, there are more than 6700 cryptocurrencies around the world. In the future, where the world may go cashless with different kinds of electronic money, and all financial transactions may become digital, cryptocurrencies have…

Electromyography (EMG) is a medical procedure that evaluates the health conditions of muscles and nerve cells. These cells transmit electrical signals that cause muscles to contract or relax. EMG is used to read these signals and plot them as numbers or graphs. Typically, EMG is performed by doctors as one part of a diagnostic tool…

Raspberry Pi is a credit-card sized, single-board computer developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, a UK-based charity that works to ensure global access of computing and digital technology. It was initially developed as a low-cost microcomputer to impart digital skills to kids. It comes without any power supply or peripherals as it’s meant to be programmed…

In the previous tutorial, we introduced Raspberry Pi (RPi), including the operating systems it can run, programming languages it can use, as well as its advantages and limitations. We also discussed other single-board computers that are comparable to the RPi. The following models of Raspberry Pi have been released since 2012: Raspberry Pi 1 Model B…

In the previous article, we reviewed several Raspberry Pi models and considered which are most suitable depending on the application. Most of the time, you will be using RPi as a Linux computer. Raspbian, the official operating system for Raspberry Pi, is a variant of Debian OS (a Linux Distribution). Other operating systems are available, but…

In the previous article, we discussed the role of an operating system. We explored how Linux, as an open-source operating system, can be modified and used for mobile, desktop, server, cloud, mainframe, supercomputer, cluster, and embedded computing.  Raspbian, the official OS for the Raspberry Pi (PRi), is based on Debian. This is a Linux distribution, which…

In the previous tutorial, we successfully set up a Raspberry Pi (RPi) Linux desktop. Now let’s learn Python.  We could start with how to control the hardware by using Python scripts, but that would defeat the purpose of using Raspberry Pi and a Very-High-Level-Language (VHLL) — such as Python — to control electronics. Certainly, you can…

In the previous tutorial, we learned about signal behavior and role of a capacitor in a circuit. A capacitor stores electrical charge in the form of the electrostatic field in response to an applied voltage. It charges, whenever applied voltage increases (relative to the current voltage across the capacitor), by allowing a charging current through…

In the previous tutorial, we learned about the practical construction of a capacitor and different technical aspects associated with a standard capacitor. Let us now discuss different types of commercial capacitors and the practical technical specifications associated with them. This will help greatly in choosing the right capacitor for a given application. The capacitors are…

In the previous article, we had a look at various types of capacitors. Now, let us discuss how to select a capacitor for a given application. Generally, the selection of a capacitor is not a daunting task unless you have specific circuit requirements. More often, engineers have a nominal capacitance derived for a circuit at…

In the previous tutorials, we discussed working with a capacitor, characteristics of a capacitor, various types of capacitors, and selecting a capacitor for a given circuit. As we have learned, typical commercial capacitors have their capacitance in Picofarad, Nanofarad or Microfarad range. The maximum capacitance that these capacitors can provide is 1 Farad. If the…

So far, we discussed two passive properties of electronic components – resistance and capacitance and have reviewed the associated passive electronic components resistors and capacitors. We learned how these components affect current and voltage in a circuit, their electrical properties, and their various commercial types. A third and final passive property of electronic components that…

In the previous tutorial, we discussed magnetism, electromagnetism and inductance. Inductance can be useful in circuits. The electronic components that are designed to offer inductance in a circuit are called inductors. Inductors Most of the conducting materials (metals) are paramagnetic or ferromagnetic while most of the non-conducting materials (non-metals) are diamagnetic. Any conductor shows some…

The Arduino L293D motor driver shield guide is a robobtics project that involves driving various types of motors. The most common types used for robotic applications include DC, servo, and stepper motors. However, these motors typically cannot be driven directly by Arduino or another microcontroller. This is because of their higher current and power ratings,…

Temperature is one of the most commonly measured quantities of a device or the conditions surrounding it — and particularly for electronic components. This is because electronic devices and circuitry generate heat and require some type of thermal management. There are several types of temperature sensors that work well for such applications and that offer…

Proximity sensors — often called, proximity switches — detect the presence of nearby objects without making physical contact with them. These objects are called targets. There are several types of proximity sensors, including those used to detect metallic or non-metallic objects. Others are used to detect a specific object.  These sensors also rely on different working…

Inertial sensors are used to transduce inertial force into measurable electrical signals to measure acceleration, inclination, and vibration of an object. Micromachining technology has made it possible to produce MEMS (Micro Electromechanical System) inertial sensors using single-crystal silicon sensor elements. These micron-sized sensors meet all major system design drivers like low-cost, high performance, high precision,…

Light sensors or photosensors, which are designed to measure light intensity, are one of the most commonly used sensors in electronic applications. Light intensity is one of the seven base physical quantities. The measurement of light intensity is useful in many consumer, industrial, and security applications. What is a light sensor? A light sensor is…