In electronic components, Active components are electronic devices that need an external power source to operate actively. They mainly manipulate, amplify, switch, or control the flow of electric current or voltage in a circuit. Active components, like diodes, transistors, integrated circuits (ICs), and sensors require power to do their job. A circuit is an interconnection of components. These components are capable of performing active functions like amplification, rectification, and switching they are called active components.

In this article, We will go through What is Active Components, the Characteristics of Active Components, the Working of Active Components, the Types of Active Components, Difference between Active and Passive Electronic Components, At last we will Conclude Our Article With Applications of Active Components with Some FAQs.

What is Active Components?

Active components are electronic devices that need an external power source to work. They actively control and manipulate the flow of electric current in a circuit. These components can amplify, switch, or generate electrical signals.

Active components require an external source of power to operate in a circuit. An active component is an electronic component that supplies energy to a circuit. These components supply electrical energy to the circuit or provide power gain in the circuit. Active components, can amplify, can carry energy in one way or another, e.g. Integrated Circuit, battery, Diode etc. Active components make use of an external power source to add power to a system. They use one electrical signal to control another and are required for the circuit to be considered “electronic” Technically, we don’t define circuits without active components as “electronics”. Active components are useful because they often enable a small amount of electricity to control a larger quantity.

Characteristics of Active Components

• Active Components require an external power supply to operate.
• Active Components produce energy in form of current or voltage.
• Active components can power gain in the electric circuit.
• Active components can control the flow of current.
• Active components receive energy in the forms of thermal energy, chemical energy, hydraulic energy, and delivers in the circuit in the form of electrical energy.

Working of Active Components

An active component works as an alternating-current circuit in a device, which works to increase the active power, voltage or current. An active component is able to do this because it is powered by a source of electricity that is separate from the electrical signal.

Working of Active components includes, Active components receive energy in the forms of thermal energy, chemical energy, hydraulic energy, and delivers in the circuit in the form of electrical energy. Therefore, a active components provide electric power or power amplification in an electric circuit. Some common examples of active circuit components are diodes, transistors, Integrated Circuits ,etc.

Types of Active Components

Active components are mainly divided into three basic active electronic components which include:

• Diodes
• Transistors
• Integrated Circuits.

Diodes

Diode is a one way valve for electricity. Diodes allow the current to pass through one way if it is forward biased (the anode with the positive terminal and the cathode with the negative one), and it prevents it from passing when it is reverse biased.

• Diodes consist of semiconductor materials, either silicon or germanium.
• It is a two terminal semiconductor device, these two terminals are called the anode and cathode.
• It lets the electricity to flow only in one direction.
• Most diodes have painted line on one end showing the direction or flow. The negative side is normally white
• Current flow through diode only when positive voltage is applied to anode and negative voltage is connected to cathode
• If these voltages are reversed, then the current will not flow.

Diode

Applications of Diodes

• They act as shields for solar panels.
• They are used to protect loads from voltage spikes.
• They are used in voltage and converting it from AC to DC.
• They are used to allow an unidirectional flow of current in circuit.
• They differ by its power, and how much current it can handle.
• They act as an electronic check valve and convert alternating current into direct current (DC).

Transistors

Transistor is the most important invention of the last century, its invention led to the advancement of electronics in a large and amazing way. Transistors amplify and switch electronic signals. The transistor amplifies, connects and disconnects electrical signals (acts as an electronic switch).

• Transistors are able to amplify the power of a signal
• Bipolar Junction Transistors in which include NPN and PNP transistors are further classified based on their applications and characteristics:
• NPN Transistor: The NPN transistor is commonly used for the amplification and switching in electronic circuits. It is named after the arrangement of its layers: N-type collector, P-type base, and N-type emitter.
• PNP Transistor: The PNP transistor is also used for the amplification and switching but with the opposite current flow compared to NPN.

The terminals of the BJT bipolar transistor are:

• B: Base
• C: Collector
• E: Emitter

Transistor

Applications of Transistors

• They are used in amplifiers.
• They are used in digital logic circuits.
• They are used in voltage regulators.
• They are used in Logic Circuits
• They are used in Temperature Control Systems
• It is used in converters.
• They are used in automatic switches

Integrated Circuits (ICs)

ICs integrate multiple electronic components into a single package, performing complex functions like microprocessors, memory storage, and specialized circuitry. An integrated circuit (IC) is a small semiconductor chip on which millions of electronic components such as resistors, capacitors and transistors are fabricated.

• The integrated circuit function is mainly to offer high-level functions and tasks like amplification, complex digital calculations i.e. microprocessors, and signal processing.
• The sole purpose of ICs is to increase the efficiency of the electronic devices, while reducing their size and manufacturing cost.
• An IC can function as an amplifier, oscillator, timer, counter, logic gate, microcontroller, or microprocessor.

An integrated circuit (IC) can consist of thousands or even millions of:

• Transistors
• Resistors
• Capacitors
• Diodes

Integrated Circuits

Applications of Integrated Circuits (ICs)

• IC’s are used to that combine multiple electronic components such as transistors, resistors, capacitors, into a single chip.
• IC’s are used to combines multiple electronic components.
• IC’s are used to reduce component size.
• IC’s are used to reduce power consumption.

Other Active components include voltage sources like batteries ,current sources, generators, sensors and many other common components. These components are available as through-hole and components, and many are available in common packages with standard land patterns.

Difference between Active and Passive Electronic Components