Electronics

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Electronics is a branch of science and technology that deals with the flow of electrons through nonmetallic conductors, mainly semiconductors such as silicon. It is distinct from electrical science and technology, which deal with the flow of electrons and other charge carriers through metal conductors such as copper. This distinction started around 1906 with the invention by Lee De Forest of the triode. Until 1950 this field was called "radio technology" because its principal application was the design and theory of radio transmitters, receivers and vacuum tubes.

The study of semiconductor devices and related technology is considered a branch of physics, whereas the design and construction of electronic circuits to solve practical problems come under electronics engineering. This article focuses on engineering aspects of electronics.

For more information about Electronics, read the full article at Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.


News tagged with electronic devices

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What Comes After Hard Drives?

What Comes After Hard Drives?

Electronics / Hardware

created Oct 23, 2009 | popularity 4.1 / 5 (34) | comments 36

(PhysOrg.com) -- The ability to store and retrieve data is an important component of today's computers, as well as other modern electronic devices such as cell phones, video game consoles, and camcorders. ...


Atomtronic transistor and diode could advance quantum computing

Physics / Quantum Physics

created Oct 09, 2009 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (24) | comments 5

(PhysOrg.com) -- What if atoms could be used to perform the functions currently the province of electronic devices? The goal of atomtronics is to do just that by creating analogues to the common items found in electronic ...


Could a paper transistor offer an alternative to silicon?

Nanotechnology / Nanophysics

created Sep 22, 2009 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (15) | comments 6

(PhysOrg.com) -- As technology advances, scientists look for ways to enhance electronic applications and devices. Indeed, electronics are getting smaller and more diverse. And as this happens, there is an increased requirement ...


New Nanowire-Based Memory Could Beef Up Information Storage

New Nanowire-Based Memory Could Beef Up Information Storage

Nanotechnology / Nanophysics

created Jul 02, 2008 | popularity 4.3 / 5 (55) | comments 5

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have created a type of nanowire-based information storage device that is capable of storing three bit values rather than the usual two—that is, "0," "1," and ...


Discovery brings new type of fast computers closer to reality

Discovery brings new type of fast computers closer to reality

Physics / Optics & Photonics

created Sep 27, 2009 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (34) | comments 1

Physicists at UC San Diego have successfully created speedy integrated circuits with particles called "excitons" that operate at commercially cold temperatures, bringing the possibility of a new type of extremely ...


Metal sheets with DNA framework may enable nanocircuits

Metal sheets with DNA framework may enable nanocircuits

Nanotechnology / Bio & Medicine

created May 20, 2009 | popularity 4.9 / 5 (8) | comments 1

(PhysOrg.com) -- Using DNA not as a genetic material but as a structural support, Cornell researchers have created thin sheets of gold nanoparticles held together by strands of DNA. The work could prove useful ...


Nano changes rise to macro importance in a key electronics material

Physics / Condensed Matter

created Apr 08, 2009 | popularity 4 / 5 (2) | comments 0

By combining the results of a number of powerful techniques for studying material structure at the nanoscale, a team of researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, working with colleagues in other ...


Multiferroic compounds used to produce smaller and cheaper digital memories

Multiferroic compounds used to produce smaller and cheaper digital memories

Physics / Condensed Matter

created Nov 27, 2009 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (5) | comments 1

(PhysOrg.com) -- Is it possible to make even more compact digital memories for portable electronic devices and which consume even less energy? A team of French researchers has recently demonstrated that it ...


Harvesting Energy from Natural Motion: Magnets, Cantilever Capture Wide Range of Frequencies

Harvesting Energy from Natural Motion: Magnets, Cantilever Capture Wide Range of Frequencies

Physics / General Physics

created Oct 28, 2009 | popularity 4.1 / 5 (11) | comments 4

(PhysOrg.com) -- By taking advantage of the vagaries of the natural world, Duke University engineers have developed a novel approach that they believe can more efficiently harvest electricity from the motions ...


Toshiba launches portable fuel-cell for mobiles

Toshiba launches portable fuel-cell for mobiles

Technology / Energy

created Oct 22, 2009 | popularity 4.4 / 5 (5) | comments 4

(PhysOrg.com) -- For people fed up with their mobile telephone or iPod batteries running out, Japan's Toshiba Corp. announced Thursday the launch of a portable fuel-cell that can power up digital gadgets on ...


The Spin Cycle: Nanoresearch could lead to next generation of transistors

The Spin Cycle: Nanoresearch could lead to next generation of transistors

Nanotechnology / Nanophysics

created Oct 20, 2009 | popularity 4.9 / 5 (11) | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- For decades, the transistors inside radios, televisions and other everyday items have transmitted data by controlling the movement of the electron’s charge. Scientists now have discovered ...


A woman dials a cell phone in her car

Texting increases crash risk 23 times: study

Technology / Other

created Jul 28, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 4

Text messaging behind the wheel increases the risk of a crash or a near crash by 23 times, and is far more dangerous than talking on a cell phone while driving, according to a report released Tuesday.


Breaking barriers with nanoscale lasers

Breaking barriers with nanoscale lasers

Physics / Optics & Photonics

created Jul 28, 2009 | popularity 4.2 / 5 (5) | comments 2

(PhysOrg.com) -- We could soon see the potential of laser technology expand dramatically.


Laser technology creates new forms of metal and enhances aircraft performance

Laser technology creates new forms of metal and enhances aircraft performance

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

created Jul 15, 2009 | popularity 4.4 / 5 (8) | comments 6

AFOSR-funded researchers at the University of Rochester are using laser light technology that will help the military create new forms of metal that may guide, attract and repel liquids and cool small electronic ...


A (virtual) smart home controlled by your thoughts

A (virtual) smart home controlled by your thoughts

Technology / Engineering

created May 11, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 3

Light switches, TV remote controls and even house keys could become a thing of the past thanks to brain-computer interface (BCI) technology being developed in Europe that lets users perform everyday tasks ...