Assignment # 05

“CAPACITOR”
What is Capacitor?
The capacitor is a component which has the ability or “capacity” to store energy in the form of
an electrical charge producing a potential difference (Static Voltage) across its plates, much like
a small rechargeable battery.

Structure:
In its basic form, a capacitor consists of two or more parallel conductive (metal) plates which
are not connected or touching each other, but are electrically separated either by air or by
some form of a good insulating material such as waxed paper, mica, ceramic, plastic or some
form of a liquid gel as used in electrolytic capacitors. The insulating layer between a capacitors
plates is commonly called the Dielectric.

Diagram:

Working:
As a capacitor is passive component, it does not generate energy. But it is able to store energy
from an energy source like a battery or another charged capacitor. When a battery (DC Source)
is connected across a capacitor, one surface, named plate I gets positive end of the battery and
another surface, named plate II gets negative end of the battery. When battery is connected,
the full voltage of that battery is applied across that capacitor. At that situation, plate I is in
positive potency with respect to the plate II.

Capacity of a capacitor to store charge on its plates is known as “CAPACITANCE”.

Units of Capacitance:
SI units of Capacitance are “Farad”.

Symbol of different types of Capacitor:

“DIODE”
What is Diode?
A diode is a specialized electronic component with two electrodes called the anode and
the cathode. Most diodes are made with semiconductor materials such as silicon, germanium,
or selenium. Some diodes are comprised of metal electrodes in a chamber evacuated or filled
with a pure elemental gas at low pressure. Diodes can be used as rectifiers, signal
limiters, voltage regulators, switches, signal modulators, signal mixers, signal demodulators,
and oscillators

Function of diode:
The most common function of a diode is to allow an electric current to pass in one direction
(called the diode’s forward direction), while blocking it in the opposite direction (the reverse
direction). As such, the diode can be viewed as an electronic version of a check valve.

Diagram:
 “PCB”
What is PCB?
PCB Stands for "Printed Circuit Board." A PCB is a thin board made of fiberglass, composite
epoxy, or other laminate material. Conductive pathways are etched or "printed" onto board,
connecting different components on the PCB, such as transistors, resistors, and integrated
circuits.

Function of PCB:
A printed circuit board (PCB) mechanically supports and electrically connects electronic
components or electrical components using conductive tracks, pads and other
features etched from one or more sheet layers of copper laminated onto and/or between sheet
layers of a non-conductive substrate. Components are generally soldered onto the PCB to both
electrically connect and mechanically fasten them to it.
Printed circuit boards are used in all but the simplest electronic products. They are also used in
some electrical products, such as passive switch boxes.

Diagram:

Advantages:
 Low Cost

 Widely Available

 Re-workable

 Excellent Shelf Life

Disadvantages:
 Uneven Surfaces

 Not Good for Fine Pitch

 Contains Lead (HASL)

 Thermal Shock

 Solder Bridging

 Plugged or Reduced PTH's (Plated Through Holes)

“ETCHING”
What is ETCHING?
Etching is a "subtractive" method used for the production of printed circuit boards: acid
is used to remove unwanted copper from a prefabricated laminate. ... You can etch a
PCB by yourself, in a lab or even at home, through a simple and inexpensive production
process.

Diagram:

Advantages and Disadvantages of Etching:

The advantages of wet etching processes are the simple equipment, high etching rate, and high
selectivity. However, there are many disadvantages. Wet etching is generally isotropic, which
results in the etchant chemicals removing substrate material under the masking material. Wet
etching also requires large amounts of etchant chemicals because the substrate material has to
be covered with the etchant chemical. Furthermore, the etchant chemicals have to be
consistently replaced in order to keep the same initial etching rate. As a result, the chemical
and disposal costs associated with wet etching are extremely high.