Passive Components
Passive components, although might appear to be a simple one to understand, quite often, majority of the designers do not pay attention to know their characteristics in depth. Passive components are basic, yet vital elements in each printed circuit board (PCB) design. Knowing their characteristics in depth, will help one to design and manufacture PCBs within tolerances, meeting the performance requirements such as accuracy over variations in voltages, currents, and temperature.
Resistors
Resistors are the components, that uses the property of “resistance” of materials. The linear resistors are used as current limiting devices, voltage dividers, determining the gain in amplifier circuits, such as heaters etc.,
Capacitors
Capacitors are the components, that uses the property of “Capacitance” which is due to, two metal plates separated by a dielectric medium and that helps to store electric charge. Capacitors are used as filters, dc blocking/ac coupling, current limiters etc.,
Inductors and Ferrites
Inductors are the components that uses the property of “Inductance” of a wire. Like capacitors store electrical charge in the electrostatic field with the application of voltage across their two terminals, Inductors do store the electrical energy in the electromagnetic field with the current passes through them. Inductors are useful as filters, energy storage etc., and Ferrite beads are used as filters.