Solid State Components are the building blocks of today's technology. From batteries and circuit breakers to oscillators and microcontrollers, they make up the gadgets and machines that we use every day.
Oscillators show up in lots of electronic equipment. In fact, you might be surprised to know that computers, radios, metal detectors and stun guns all use oscillators. Learn all about electronic oscillators. See more »
You can find batteries under the hood of your car, inside a TV remote -- even within hearing aids. Batteries were invented nearly two centuries ago, and they keep getting more sophisticated. But how well do you know what's at work inside these cans of chemicals?
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On virtually every computer available, the basic input/output system, or BIOS, makes sure all the other components function together smoothly. Without BIOS, you wouldn't be able to load your operating system. How much do you know about BIOS?
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What looks like a battery, has two terminals like a battery and stores electrons like a battery? Capacitors can store and release electrical energy, but don't replenish their supply. How do capacitors work, and what tools rely on them?
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How about, instead of your standard AA, we used flexible, incredibly thin batteries that could be powered by blood or sweat? Seems like an improvement, right?
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Electric motors are inside all kinds of ordinary devices, using a power source to make motion. So what makes the motor go 'round?
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Batteries power all sorts of things -- they're in our cars, our PCs, our cameras, our cell phones. How do these tiny cans of chemicals provide power for so many of our daily conveniences?
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In addition to protecting our electronics from lightning strikes and making it possible to run multiple devices from one wall outlet, can surge protectors actually conserve energy?
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The capacitor plays a crucial role in electronics -- it stores electrons for when they're needed most, dumping a huge charge instead of a steady flow. How does it do it?
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The circuit breaker is one of the most important safety mechanisms in your home. Without it, the risk of fire would skyrocket. Learn how a circuit breaker keeps your home's electricity in check.
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The little disposable battery testers you see on batteries or battery packages are a great example of combined technologies -- several existing technologies have been combined in a completely new way!
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The brushless motor is more precise than a regular electric motor and it's also a great deal more efficient. Learn all about brushless motors and how the invention of transistors led to their development.
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You might be surprised to find out just how much work is done by electric motors. They're everywhere! You'll find them in your car, your kitchen, bathroom, office... Find out how electric motors get stuff moving.
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Would you like to be able to build your own digital devices? Logic gates are the basis of digital electronics. Find out what these gates do and how you can use them to start building your own devices.
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Unlike conventional hard drives, flash memory has no moving parts to break. And it can be used in smaller spaces, such as a pocket camera or cell phone. So why use anything else?
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Home theater systems look great in ads, but where are all the wires? If you want that look in your home, you'll have to fish all the wires through the wall, or you can use FlatWire.
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An inductor is little more than a coil of wire. Sound simple? Well, it is -- but that coil of wire can do some pretty cool things. Learn all about inductors and what they're used for in our article.
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Liquid crystal displays are found in everything from digital watches to laptop computers. In a relatively short period of time, they've crept from a fascinating novelty item to a technology standard. Learn about the science (a liquid crystal?) and technology behind LCDs.
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Light emitting diodes form the numbers on digital clocks, send data from remote controls, light up traffic signals, illuminate watches -- the simple genius of the design makes it infinitely applicable.
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Lithium-ion batteries are incredibly popular these days. You can find them in laptops, PDAs, cell phones and iPods. Find out why.
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Most modern electronic devices (TVs, appliances, power tools) contain an embedded microcontroller. It's basically a dedicated computer. Find out how these devices work and experiment with one on your own.
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