Top Printed Circuit Board Manufacturers Online

Hi Guys! I welcome you on board. Happy to see you around. In this post today, I’ll walk you through Top Printed Circuit Board Manufacturers Online. It's our 5th tutorial in the PCB learning series.

Whether you’re a hobbyist working on your electronic project or someone who wants to develop an electronic product, PCB is an integral part of creating electronic units. With scores of PCB manufacturers available online, it’s very challenging to pick one that absolutely resonates with your needs and requirements. So how do you keep up when almost every company claims to be the best on board?

We’ve picked the top printed circuit board manufacturers online that you can select for developing your electronic projects.

Let’s get started.

Top Printed Circuit Board Manufacturers Online

The top printed circuit board manufacturers include:

1. JLCPCB

JLCPCB tops the list for several good reasons. Introduced in 2006, JLCPCB comes with advanced PCB technology that ensures both academic and compact products with fully automated production lines. They offer an easy-to-use online system to order PCB; you just need to fill up your requirements on the online form and upload the Gerber file, and you’ll get a quick quote based on your needs.

Whether you need a single PCB for your project or you want orders in volumes, JLCPCB is a one-stop shop for providing PCB prototype and SMT assembly services. More often, you’ll get PCB delivered to your doorstep within 3-5 business days, however, it also depends on the nature of the PCB and the carrier you choose for delivery.

You can pick different features to be included in the final product i.e. number of copper layers, substrate material, maximum dimensions of the PCB, dimension tolerance, and board thickness, making sure you get exactly what you ordered online.

The commitment of JLCPCB is second to none and we’re not even bragging since the hundreds of thousands of satisfied customers are solid proof of their durable and long-lasting products stuffed with innovation and precision.

Plus, they also offer a PCB Panelization service which suits you best if you want smaller PCBs with unusual shapes in bulk orders. This will not only save money but also ensures an efficient manufacturing process with a durable product.

2. PCBWay

PCBWay is another top-notch PCB prototype and fabrication company. They are committed to satisfying customers around the world with reliable circuit boards where the final product goes through advanced testing and inspecting equipment including an X-ray inspection machine, automated optical inspection machine, and flying probe tester.

They are equipped with online pricing software where you can get a rough estimation of the PCB you want to be manufactured. In addition, they also offer a PCB assembly service for successfully mounting the electrical components on the board.

Know that with PCBway, you’re in direct contact with the company as they are not a broker and you’ll get standard PCBs at an economical price with no extra charges. Moreover, you can monitor order fabrication and processing status online to make sure you’re not left behind in the process.

Different types of circuit boards they produce, include: standard PCB, multi-layer PCB, flexible PCB, rigid-flex PCB, rigid PCB, high-frequency PCB, thick copper PCB, HDI PCB, LED PCB and aluminum PCB.

3. AllPCB

AllPCB is a PCB fabrication company that provides customized integrated solutions to meet your electronic needs. They carry high-precision processing equipment that guarantees flawless operation where every PCB goes through strict 100% AOI testing and ruthless inspection.

If you’re looking for reliable and top-notch PCB fabrication and PCB assembly service, your search is over since AllPCB is there to help you deliver durable PCB exactly meeting your needs and requirements.

Normally, they ship the finished product within 3-5 business days, however, it also depends on the complexity of the order and the shipping cost may vary based on the size, weight and destination of your circuit boards. Furthermore, they also offer PCB Panelization which helps you place an order in bulk for the small-sized PCBs that saves both cost and time for the manufacturing process.

4. PCBgogo

PCBgogo is a highly specialized PCB Prototype Company, providing state-of-the-art medium and small-volume PCB fabrication. They adhere to the strictest standards in manufacture and assembly and also come with ISO 9001:2015 quality management system.

Introduced in 2017, PCBgogo is UL certified which guarantees the product’s reliability with a careful inspection where all circuit boards are thoroughly tested before being delivered. They carry the latest professional production equipment to ensure a seamless PCB and PCBA manufacturing process.

Moreover, you cannot only track your PCB and assembly order status online but also get notified of the manufacturing process and the shipping status of your order. An instant online quote option is available that comes with a transparent price structure making sure you get the final product with the exact features that you ordered online.

PCBgogo believes in 100% customer satisfaction instead of merely meeting financial goals. The fastest fabrication time is 2-3 business days, however, you can expedite the process and make it 12-24 hours on demand.

5. Atechcircuit

Founded in 2003, A-tech Circuit specializes in fast PCB prototypes, PCB manufacturing, and assembly services. A large inventory of stock PCB helps them cover a wide range of industries including telecommunication, aerospace, medical, automotive, and more. The staff contains highly trained experts that go the extra mile to comply with your PCB requirements. Customer satisfaction is their priority and they make sure you come back again and again for what they have to offer.

Their products and services are 100% in compliance with IPC-6012 & IPC-A600F standards and they are ISO9001:2008, ISO14001, TS16949 and UL certified. The types of PCBs that A-tech Circuit manufactures are rigid-flex PCB, flex PCB, FR-4 multilayer PCB, microwave PCB, metal core PCB and HDI PCB, so you don’t have to search for a new manufacturer for your electronic projects.

6. Unimicron

To meet the increasing demands of circuit boards in consumers’ electronics, Unimicron is another leading PCB fabrication company in the club. They are committed to designing customized PCB designs with an additional focus on maintaining the efficiency of the product with an efficient manufacturing process.

Started in 1980 as a small sheet metal and stamping company, Unimicron has not only continually evolved but also welcomed innovative ideas to manufacture and prototype circuit boards and make them align with the customer’s demands.

Moreover, high-end materials and sophisticated advanced technology are always considered in the manufacturing process. Unimicron has recently participated in new product and technology development projects with research institutes including IZM in Germany and Georgia Institute of Technology in the USA.

In November 2020, they received the “National Occupational Safety and Healthy Award” which is a helpful clue on how safe and secure is their production equipment.

7. PCBCart

Established in 2005, PCBCart is a professional PCB production service provider that takes pride in providing outstanding service in more than 80 countries around the world. Apart from high-quality PCB fabrication, they also offer PCB assembly and components sourcing services.

It is a one-stop production solution to your electronic needs serving companies of all sizes. Plus, they also offer an option to order a sample before you order in bulk, making sure you get the exact product meeting your needs and requirements. The manufacturing process is transparent and clear and you’ll never be left in the dark, as you can monitor and track your order in action and the processes it goes through before the final product is ready to deliver at your doorstep.

In PCBCart, the PCB fabrication complies with IPC 2 as quality grade, while PCB assembly is with IPC 3 and they follow strict manufacturing guidelines to ensure the reliability and functionality of products, including ISO9001:2007, TS16949, UL, RoHS, etc.

8. Zhen Ding Tech

Zhen Ding Tech strives to provide multiple customized solutions to customers around the world. The company serves a range of industries and electronic companies including IoT, Artificial Intelligence, 5-G technology, aerospace and military.

Every step in the manufacturing process follows strict guidelines, ensuring the precision and accuracy of the finished product. Use of automated production lines to ensure seamless production and on-time delivery put this company ahead of the curve.

Another aspect you may want to consider before hiring the PCB fabrication company is the qualified and trained staff. Zhen Ding Tech comes with highly skilled professionals that not only help you in the design process but also provide valuable suggestions in picking the right circuit board for your application.

9. Suntak PCB

Founded in Shenzhen in 1995, Suntak PCB is another top-notch PCB manufacturing factory on board. The company adheres to bringing in new trends in PCB design capabilities to stand out from the crowd.

As a full-category PCB manufacturing group, Suntak PCB makes PCBs that are used in communication equipment, smartphones, and automotive electronics. In the last two decades, they have established long-lasting relationships with world-renowned communication equipment manufacturers by providing customer-centric and impeccable service.

We love their mission, value and vision statements that put customers first by providing rugged and firm products using advanced and cutting-edge technology.

10. Kinwong

Kinwong is a PCB fabrication company that works ahead with clients to provide customized circuit boards for the development of the electronic project. Founded in 1993, Kinwong is the world’s leading PCB manufacturer that owns 5 production bases and 11 factories in China. The company is committed to serving its customers with more than 13000 employees worldwide.

With the main focus on incorporating innovation with the latest technology, Kinwong is specialized in producing automated circuit boards to make the electronic device thin, robust and lighter. They are one of the few domestic manufacturers that handle metal base PCB, flexible PCB, rigid PCB and rigid-flex PCB.

They have a dedicated department that is responsible for the systematic management of suppliers, ensuring a quick and automated supply chain for the prompt production of circuit boards.

Conclusion

Not all PCB manufacturers are equal. Some are better than others. We’ve shortlisted the top 10 manufacturers online that you can pick from. Again, it is advised to do your due diligence and gather enough information about the company you want to work with, this will not only save time but keep you from a lot of trouble later.

That’s all for today. In the next tutorial, we will have a look at the Top Circuit Simulators. Hope you’ve enjoyed reading this article. If you have any questions, you can approach me in the section below. I’d love to help you the best way I can. Thank you for reading this article.

What is PCB Panelization & Why do we need it?

Hello Friends! Hope you’re well. Today, I am going to share the 11th chapter in the PCB learning series. In today’s post, I’ll walk you through PCB Panelization, where we will discuss its definition, types, combinations, manufacturing guidelines etc.

In PCB companies, CNC machines are used for PCB manufacturing and assembly. These CNC machines are capable of designing PCBs of quite large sizes. But normally, small-sized PCBs are used in electronic products. So, in order to fully utilize the power of CNC machines, PCB design is replicated multiple times(let’s say 10) and this final design is then fed to the CNC machine. This process of manufacturing multiple PCBs on a single board is called PCB Panelization and the final board created is called PCB Panel. A PCB Panel containing 6 PCB designs is shown in the below figure:

I hope you have understood the basic concepts, now let’s have a look at the definition of PCB Panelization:

PCB Panelization Definition

  • PCB penalization is a process of manufacturing/assembling multiple PCB boards, by designing them on a single board (called PCB Panel).
  • Once PCB Panel is manufactured, it is depenalized and separate PCB boards are plucked out of it.
  • PCB Panelization is the most commonly used PCB manufacturing technique, as it saves both time and cost.
  • If you have ever ordered any PCB then you must have the idea that as we increase the number of PCBs(to be manufactured), the cost reduces significantly, that’s because of PCB Panelization.

Why need PCB Panelization?

PCB Panelization is the most commonly used manufacturing technique because of its numerous advantages. Let’s have a look at a few scenarios, where PCB Panelization proves helpful:

Small Sized PCB

  • If a small-sized PCB is manufactured on these CNC machines, the machine will consume almost the same power as that of a large-sized PCB.
  • So, if the PCB design(to be manufactured) is of small size, it is replicated over the panel and with a slight increase in the price, multiple designs are manufactured.

Product Designing

  • In product designing, the PCB order normally ranges between 10k - 100k.
  • In such cases, PCB Panelization is used to save time and cost.

Combinations of PCB Panelization

In PCB Panelization, we have three types of combinations, termed:

  1. AAAA Combination
  2. ABAB Combination
  3. ABCD Combination

1. AAAA Combination

  • In AAAA Combination, PCB Panel has identical PCB designs on it.
  • This combination is used when small-sized PCB designs are needed to be manufactured.
  • For example, a car locking RF remote has a single PCB in it as it's a very small product.
  • So, the company manufacturing this product must be using PCB Panelization in AAAA Combination.

2. ABAB Combination

  • This combination is used in designing PCBs for medium-sized electronic products i.e. small toys, calculators, handheld devices etc.
  • In such products, around 3 to 5 small PCB designs are used, which are interfaced together in the final product.
  • So, for designing multiple PCBs of a single product ABAB combination is used in PCB Panelization.

3. ABCD Panelization

  • In ABCD Combination, the PCB Panel has different PCB designs on it.
  • This combination is normally used by PCB companies as they combine all single PCB orders on a PCB Panel to save time and cost.
  • This combination is a bit tricky as it involves extra care for each PCB design.

Depanelization Methods:

  • Depanelization is the method to remove the smaller PCB boards from a PCB Panel.
  • Normally, two types of depanelization techniques are used, named:
  1. V-Scoring
  2. Tab Route
Let’s have a look at these Depanelization methods, one by one:

1. V-Scoring

  • V-Scoring, also known as V-grooves, is a method of placing a straight-lined V-shaped groove between the PCB designs.
  • While applying the V-grooves, it is important to create a cut of an equal depth i.e. 1/3 on the bottom and 1/3 on the top, making sure the middle part ‘the web’ remains connected.
  • This method is useful for boards with regular shapes with sizes over 75mmx75mm.
  • It is advised to use machines and fixtures to depanelize the boards, as manual removal can damage the components placed at the edge of the board.
  • Know that the V-scoring is a continuous process and cannot be stopped in the panel, however, if you have multiple different boards to be depanelized, it’s better to use the following tab route method.

2. Tab Route

  • In this method, small tabs are created between PCB designs on the PCB Panel, these tabs have spacing between them.
  • This method is useful for the depanelization of ABCD combinations i.e. different circuit boards.

3. Breakaway Rail

  • Breakaway Rail, also called Edge Rail, is simply the marking of the PCB Panel border to avoid any damage to PCB boards at the margins.
  • The Edge rail is simply removed during depanelization and both V-scoring or Tab Route could be used.

PCB Depaneling Technologies:

Now, let's have a look at the PCB Depaneling Technologies used to separate the individual PCB Boards from a PCB Panel. A few of these PCB Depaneling technologies are as follows:

  • Pizza Cutter/V-Cut
  • Water Jet Cutter
  • Laser Cutter
  • Router
  • Saw
  • Punch
  • Hand Break

Pizza Cutter/V-Cut

Pizza Cutter is a rotary blade, with a motor. The Motor rotates the blade and PCB Panel is placed in front of the blade to cut into pieces.

Water Jet Cutter

Water Jet Cutters use a high-pressure stream of water to cut the PCB Panel. Abrasive particles are added to the water stream to make the cutting smooth. A water Jet cutter can be used for various PCB materials i.e. metal, aluminum etc.

Laser Cutter

A high Laser Beam is used to cut the PCB Panel into individual PCBs. Laser Cutting has high precision and accuracy as compared to any other method.

Types of PCB Panelization:

The four types of PCB Panelization include:
  1. Order Panelization

  • To order panelization, a single PCB design is replicated all over the PCB Panel.
  • This is the most common type of Panelization used in manufacturing industries.
  • Though you may come across a few operating difficulties while using this Panelization, it doesn’t compromise the quality of the final product.
  1. Rotation Panelization

  • In rotation Panelization, the circuit boards are rotated either 90 or 180 degrees, to save material cost.
  • This panelization is normally used for designing irregularly shaped PCB designs.
  • Suppose you are working on triangular-shaped PCB designs, then it would be the best practice to place the alternative one upside down, as shown in the below figure:
  1. Combination Panelization

  • Combination Panelization, also called characteristics Panelization, is a special type of Panelization that involves combining different types of circuit boards based on the combination principles.
  • It is beneficial for designs containing different circuit board combinations in electronic units like toys and household appliances.
  • We have already discussed those combinations i.e. AAAA, ABAB and ABCD.

Things to Consider for PCB Panelization

The following things you must consider during the PCB Panelization:

  • Panel Size: Different manufacturers use different panel sizes. The panel size mainly depends on the size of the board you want to be manufactured. It is beneficial to work ahead with your PCB CM (a contract manufacturer) and ask about the Panel size of the manufacturing units. If necessary, you may need to alter the PCB size to accommodate the standard panel size.
  • Layer Stackup: Not only multiple PCBs can be laid out on the panel, but Panelization ensures a cost-effective and efficient manufacturing process. And if you want to panelize multiple circuit boards, it is a good idea to keep identical layer stack-ups for all boards.
  • Panel Structure: The circuit boards will usually require certain clearances to the edge of the panel and to each other and will generally come up with alignment holes. Again, coordinating with your CM can help you produce a final circuit board that can be effectively panelized.
  • Panel Layout: The boards are placed to effectively use the space of the panel and the direction the board will take during the soldering process is a major concern. To effectively panelize the circuit boards, it is a good idea to work ahead with your CM to define the direction of the board through the soldering process.
  • Breakouts: The panels are either depanelized with V-groove or with the routing method. The space you require between the components and the edges of the board is mainly dependent on the depanelized method you pick. The routing method requires 0.125 inches of space between the components and board edges while the V-groove method requires 0.075 inches. These board edge clearances keep the solder joints from major damage during depanelization of the board.
  • Component Clearances: Components coming out of the board edge may require additional clearances based on the requirements of the manufacturing processes. If the components are large and overhang the edge, the clearances should be more than already defined for the V-groove and routing depanelization method.
  • Panel Tooling: The board panels will require their own fiducial marks and tooling holes to resonate with what is on the circuit board.
  • Physical Support: Different boards come with different thicknesses and sizes. Sometimes, additional support is required to keep the boards from sagging during the manufacturing process. To achieve this, a brace is included in the panel based on the board layout.

Advantages of PCB Panelization:

PCB Panelization is not only suitable for producing smaller circuit boards but also leads to an efficient production process. The following are common advantages of PCB Panelization:

  • PCB Panelization saves both time and money and is the best technique for the mass production of circuit boards.
  • It is a faster and more efficient process to handle multiple smaller boards as part of the large sheet.
  • Normally, an 18x24 inch panel size with ½ inch perimeter of board edge clearance is used for the standard panels, however, it is advised to ask for the fabricator’s standard panel size before you even start designing the PCB layout. Since the boards produced using the fabricator’s standard size are cost-effective and help you manufacture multiple boards in less time.
  • Product safety is important, especially when you are working in an extreme environment your boards may come across vibrations and shocks as you pass them through the assembly line. PCB Panelization saves your boards from those shocks and ensures the safety of the boards.

That’s all for today. With today's lecture, we have completed the second section of the PCB learning series. In the next section, we will have a look at the Types of PCB boards one by one. Hope you find this article helpful. If you have any questions, you can approach me in the section below. I’d love to help you the best way I can. Thank you for reading this article.

The Importance of Secure Coding

Secure coding is important to protect your applications and prevent hackers from exploiting vulnerabilities. Without secure coding, cybercriminals would have easier access to your code which they could steal or use to grant them further access to sensitive data.

Since code is one of the key elements involved with successful applications, it means that it’s frequently under attack through hackers sending malware or attempting to log into authorized accounts.

As a result, companies must always check for security threats regarding their code and have tight measures in place to prevent them from happening. This post covers more details about why secure coding is so important for your company, especially in today’s world.

Data Security Breaches

Attackers are constantly coming up with new ways to try and infiltrate a company’s code and applications. Therefore, you must put security measures in place to make it as hard as possible for them to be successful.

Data security breaches can be fatal if hackers are successful with their attacks. It can lead to sensitive information being exposed and services going down. This can result in poor customer reputation and even a loss in revenue.

That’s why developers need to practice secure coding. It acts as a preventative measure to keep hackers out of your system. Developers should be carrying out regular scans to find vulnerabilities and making efforts to fix them as soon as possible.

Organizations that put secure coding policies in place have an easier time managing how exposed their code is and can keep their applications safer. Developers need to have a good understanding of the company’s secure code policies from the beginning of their projects to ensure that they’re following the correct processes.

Developers must also be aware of the ways that hackers try to exploit vulnerabilities. Once they have a solid grasp of this, they can be sure to approach the way that they develop code more deliberately and securely.

Threats Within Developed Applications

When applications have been deployed, some developers are under the assumption that it’s safe and free from security threats. In reality, applications, whether they’re currently being developed or have been deployed, are always at risk for attacks.

Developers that don’t have enough knowledge about this factor may run applications even if they know that it includes vulnerable areas. This can make the applications a bigger target for cybercriminals to attack.

Many developers will be able to make a code function well within an application. However, ensuring that it functions well whilst being secure is imperative and secure coding is a practice that helps.

Developers that don’t practice secure coding could be leaving large weaknesses open within live applications which can cause major problems if hackers attack them. Secure coding helps developers use security techniques whilst also focusing on releasing an application that functions well.

Some organizations that don’t use secure coding may find that developers struggle with implementing security measures due to a lack of clear protocols and policies. The program itself could also be complicated and adding security measures to the mix can make things even more complex.

Secure coding can help with all of these issues due to how it’s integrated early on during the development stage. Developers can be properly trained from the very start so that they have a deeper understanding of how to use secure coding methodologies.

Coding Errors

It’s common for developers to make accidental errors whilst coding. These coding errors can result in vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. They can include using incorrect format strings, SQL injections, buffer overflows, and improper authorization.

Coding errors that aren’t fixed can enable hackers to gain access to authorized accounts and send malicious content into your code.

The most effective way to deal with coding errors is through secure coding practices. It enables developers to scan for coding errors and fix them before they continue developing. This helps them to prevent errors from going under the radar and becoming a big problem later down the line.

Secure Coding Standards

Having a set of secure coding standards in place provides developers with guidelines to stick to whilst creating code. It’s an effective way to stop security breaches and vulnerabilities from going unchecked for too long.

Secure coding involves setting coding standards that enable developers to follow processes to ensure code is secure before they continue with the project. This helps to prevent giving hackers a large surface area to attack which makes it more difficult for them to carry out successful attacks.

Secure coding standards should be in place from the beginning stages of development. This ensures that developers are fully aware of what the standards are so that they can compare the security of their code with the guidelines that are set.

The basis of secure coding standards is creating a baseline for developers to compare their code with. When guidelines clearly state what makes code secure and what doesn’t, developers can have an easier time deciding whether code is secure or not before moving on.

Compliance tests can be carried out on software too. This can be a great way for developers to find out how secure their code is as the tests can give them details about whether it adheres to the company’s security standards.

The process of compliance testing and practicing secure coding standards saves time and money in the long run. Developers don’t have to backtrack and remediate vulnerable code and companies don’t have to spend as much on recovery if hackers exploit their system.

Conclusion

Cybercriminals will always be attempting to exploit weaknesses in applications and companies will always be putting preventative measures in place against them. Secure coding is one of those preventative methods that can be incredibly effective at reducing the attack surface area to make it trickier for attackers to gain unauthorized access to your system.

Hopefully, the details found throughout this post have provided you with some insight into why secure coding is so important and how developers can use it to keep applications safe.

Latest Proteus Libraries for Engineering Students V2.0

Hi Friends! Hope you’re well today. Happy to see you around. In this post today, I’ll walk you through Latest Proteus Libraries for Engineering Students V2.0.

We have been designing proteus libraries for our blog readers for quite a while now. You might have visited our Arduino Libraries for Proteus V2.0 and Analog Sensors Libraries for Proteus V2.0. We keep working on those libraries and make sure the bugs are removed and you always get the updated version of those libraries.

We are going to share the most advanced and upgraded version of Proteus Libraries V2.0 we have designed for our readers. These libraries are more robust, fast, and efficient than previous versions. Moreover, we have converted some digital sensors to analog sensors, helping you pick from a wide range of libraries for your projects. If you think some sensors or modules are missing in the Proteus database that should be included, leave your valuable suggestion in the section below. We’ll try our best to design and simulate those in proteus.

Before further ado, let’s jump right in.

Where To Buy?
No.ComponentsDistributorLink To Buy
1LEDsAmazonBuy Now
2ResistorAmazonBuy Now
3ACS712AmazonBuy Now
4DHT11AmazonBuy Now
5DHT22AmazonBuy Now
6DS18B20AmazonBuy Now
7Flame SensorsAmazonBuy Now
8Arduino Mega 2560AmazonBuy Now
9Arduino NanoAmazonBuy Now
10Arduino UnoAmazonBuy Now

Latest Proteus Libraries for Engineering Students V2.0

We’ll be covering both Arduino Libraries for Proteus V2.0 and Analog Sensors Libraries for Proteus V2.0.

Arduino Libraries for Proteus V2.0

Arduino boards are open-source electronic development boards that you can use in your projects. Arduino Libraries for Proteus V2.0 contain the following Arduino boards.

1. Arduino UNO Library for Proteus V2.0

Arduino UNO is a microcontroller board based on the Atmega328 microcontroller. We have designed Arduino UNO Library for Proteus V2.0 which you can download from the link given below. We’ve previously designed the Proteus Library for the Arduino UNO V1.0 board and the below figure shows the comparison of both V1 and V2 Arduino boards. You can see the V2 board is more compact and small-sized compared to the V1 Arduino UNO board.

In this library, we’ve also interfaced LCD with the Arduino UNO. If you find any difficulty in interfacing the board with the LCD, you can approach me in the section below. I’d love to help you the best way I can.

Download the Arduino UNO Library for Proteus V2.0 by clicking the link below:

Download Arduino UNO Library for Proteus V2.0

2. Arduino Mega 1280 Library for Proteus V2.0

Arduino Mega is an electronic board that features an Atmega1280 microcontroller. You can use this board to develop stand-alone electronic projects or you can also incorporate it into embedded projects. Again, the following figure shows a comparison between Arduino Mega 1280 V1 and V2. The V2 board is compact and small-sized compared to the V1 board.

We have developed the Arduino Mega 1280 library for proteus V2.0 which you can download to simulate Arduino Mega 1280 in proteus.

Download the Arduino Mega 1280 Library for Proteus V2.0 by clicking the link below:

Download Arduino Mega 1280 Library for Proteus V2.0

3. Arduino Mega 2560 Library for Proteus V2.0

Arduino Mega 2560 is a sophisticated, application-type microcontroller board that features an Atmega2560 microcontroller. This board comes in handy when you require more input and output pins and more memory space to store the code for your electronic project. We have developed Arduino Mega 2560 Library for Proteus V2.0 to help you simulate this board in the proteus. Moreover, we’ve also interfaced LCD with this board so if you have any questions about it, you can ask me in the section below:

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Click the link below and download the Arduino Mega 2560 Library for Proteus V2.0.

Download Arduino Mega 2560 Library for Proteus V2.0

4. Arduino Mini Library for Proteus V2.0

Arduino Mini is a small-sized, powerful open-source microcontroller board based on the Atmega328 microcontroller. The board is 1/6th of the size of the Arduino UNO board and can easily rest on hard-to-reach places. We have designed Arduino Mini Library for Proteus V2.0 that you can download to simulate Arduino Mini in Proteus.

Click the link below and download the Arduino Mini Library for Proteus V2.0:

Download Arduino Mini Library for Proteus V2.0

5. Arduino Pro Mini Library for Proteus V2.0

Arduino Pro Mini is a small-sized microcontroller board that includes an Atmega328 microcontroller. The Proteus library V2.0 is designed for Arduino Pro Mini, moreover, we have also interfaced the board with the LCD 20x4.

Click the link below and download the Arduino Pro Mini Library for Proteus V2.0.

Download Arduino Pro Mini Library for Proteus V2.0

6. Arduino Nano Library for Proteus V2.0

Arduino Nano is a powerful and bread-board-friendly microcontroller board based on ATmega328p/Atmega168 microcontroller. We have developed the Arduino Nano Library for Proteus V2.0 which you can download to simulate Arduino Nano in the Proteus workspace.

Click the link below and download the Arduino Nano Library for Proteus V2.0:

Download Arduino Nano Library for Proteus V2.0

Analog Sensors Libraries for Proteus V2.0

Analog Sensors Libraries for Proteus V2.0 contain the following Analog Sensors.

Vibration Sensor Library for Proteus V2.0

An analog vibration sensor, also known as a piezoelectric, is mainly employed to detect the vibration of industrial machinery. The sensor gets activated if the vibration of the machines goes above the standard value. Vibration sensors are used to monitor the small changes in temperature, acceleration, pressure, and force.

We have done a little work and designed Analog Vibration Sensor Library for Proteus V2.0. Earlier we designed the proteus library for V1 version analog vibration sensors. The V2 version is more robust, compact, and advanced compared to the V1 version. Four vibration sensors are included in the proteus library and they have both digital and analog output pins which you can interface with Arduino boards or microcontrollers.

You can download the analog vibration sensor library for proteus V2.0 by clicking the link below:

Download Vibration Sensor Library for Proteus V2.0

Sound Detector Sensor Library for Proteus V2.0

A sound detector sensor is used to detect the sound in the environment. This sensor is only used for sound detection, not for sound recognition.

We have designed the Sound Detector Sensor Library for Proteus V2.0 that you can download to simulate this sensor in proteus. An LC filter is used on the analog output of the sensor since we need to convert the peak to peak voltage into Vrms. Know that you don’t require this LC filter in the real sensor circuit. We have simulated two sound detector sensors in proteus as they have different outputs because of different voltages on the test pin.

Click the link below and download the Sound Detector Sensor Library for Proteus V2.0:

Download Sound Detector Library for Proteus V2.0

Analog Flex Sensor Library for Proteus

An Analog flex sensor, also known as a bend sensor, is a special type of sensor used to detect the value of bend in the application. This sensor is mainly employed indoor sensors, robot whisker sensors, and stuffed animal toys.

We have developed an analog flex sensor library for proteus that you can download to simulate this sensor in Proteus. Know that Test Pin is included in the pinout of this sensor in proteus only, you won’t find this pin in the real sensor. This pin will determine the value of the bend. The HIGH value at this pin will give the value of bend and the LOW value at this pin will indicate there is no bend. We have also interfaced the Arduino board with the sensor where the analog input pin of the board is connected with the voltage appearing across the voltmeter.

Click the link below and download the Analog Flex Sensor Library for Proteus:

Download Flex Sensor Library for Proteus

Analog PIR Sensor Library for Proteus

PIR (Passive Infrared) sensor is a small, inexpensive, low-power sensor used to detect heat energy in the surrounding. The sensor monitors if the human body has come in or out of the sensor’s range.

We have designed Analog PIR Sensor Library for Proteus that you can download to simulate this sensor in Proteus. Moreover, we’ve also developed a simulation of this PIR sensor with an Arduino board. Know that, besides Arduino boards, you can also interface this sensor with PIC or Atmel microcontrollers. We’ve added four PIR sensors file in the proteus that are the same in terms of working but they come in a different color. Again, a test pin is added in the pinout of this sensor in proteus only, you won’t find this pin in real. This pin is added to sense the motion in the proteus workspace.

Click the link below and download the Analog PIR Sensor Library for Proteus:

Download PIR Sensor Library for Proteus

Water Sensor Library for Proteus

A water sensor is a sensor used to sense the presence of water. The water’s electrical conductivity is measured using this sensor to sense the presence of water. This sensor is widely used in applications where we need to monitor rainfall, water level, and water leakage.

We have designed the water sensor library for proteus which you can download to simulate this sensor in proteus. The Test pin is added to detect the water in the proteus simulation. We’ve also interfaced this sensor with the Arduino board where we have connected the analog input pin of the Arduino board with the output of the water sensor appearing across the voltmeter.

You can download the water sensor library for Proteus by clicking the link below:

Download Water Sensor Library for Proteus

Soil Moisture Sensor Library for Proteus

A soil moisture sensor is employed to analyze the water content in the soil. The sensor uses capacitance to monitor the dielectric permittivity of the soil which defines the function of the water content.

We have designed the Soil Moisture Sensor Library for Proteus where we have connected the test pin with the variable resistor. This resistor is used to define the soil moisture content in the proteus simulation. The maximum resistance on the test pin shows zero volts across the voltmeter, referring to the zero moisture value of the water content. The sensor is also interfaced with the Arduino board as shown below.

Click the link below and download the Soil Moisture Sensor Library for Proteus:

Download Soil Moisture Library for Proteus

IR Proximity Sensor Library for Proteus

The IR proximity sensor is used in robots to detect obstacles. This sensor is widely used for path navigation and obstacle avoidance in electronic projects.

We have designed the IR Proximity Sensor Library for Proteus which you can download to simulate this sensor in Proteus. The Test pin is used for hurdle detection. HIGH value on this pin means there is an obstacle in front and LOW value on this pin means there is no hurdle.

LC filter is included in the simulation which you don’t require in real. This filter is used to convert the Peak to Peak value we get on Proteus into the Vrms value.

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You can download the IR proximity sensor library for proteus by clicking the link below:

Download IR Proximity Sensor Library for Proteus

That’s all for today. Hope you find this article helpful. If you have any questions, you can approach me in the section below. I’d love to help you the best way I can. Thank you for reading this article.

From Bluetooth to Bio-Preservation: 3 Levels of DIY Challenge

You don’t have to be a coder to be a DIY kind of guy. You can even use something as simple as Java or Swift to get your projects up and running. But sometimes, things don’t go as planned no matter how many times you debug. Those are the times when the Swift hits the fan and the project comes to a grinding halt. That is when you hear the voice of Luke Skywalker pushing you to stop running around in circles and just use the force. You roll up your sleeves and that is when the magic begins.

Electronic tinkering is for people of all skill levels. Here are a few projects that reflect different skill levels:

  • As a Youngling, you can build your own Bluetooth speaker. - simple concepts, accessible supplies, low time commitment
  • Once you advance to Padawan, you will be ready to build your own gaming PC. - medium concepts, not very accessible supplies, moderate time commitment
  • As a Jedi Master, you will be ready for bio-preservation experiments, challenging concepts, challenging supplies, long-term commitment

Let’s start with the highest level and work backward from there.

Jedi Level: Bio-Preservation

If you are into bio-preservation, you are going to need one of those nitrogen freezers. These are a few of the uses for this kind of equipment:

This method of freezing is referred to as cryopreservation and applies to a range of fields that include cryosurgery, food sciences, ecology, plant physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, and cryopreservation of cells and organs. There are also many medical applications such as blood transfusions, bone marrow transplantation, artificial insemination, and in vitro fertilization.

As you can see, this is serious equipment for serious, scientific work. Most people would not own a nitrogen freezer. They would use the one at the lab where they work. It is not the stuff of casual tinkerers. Just know that you can rent or lease this equipment to eliminate the upfront cost.

A very interesting use for nitrogen freezers is gastro-tech experimentation. If you are into food science, you can do a lot of interesting things with a flash freezer. This is one piece of tech that determines the skill level of the project. Any project you do that utilizes a nitrogen freezer is a master-level project.

Padawan-Level Building a Worthy Gaming PC

The GPU shortage is bursting the dreams of DIY gamers worldwide. You will need more than the requisite $699 if you want to get your hands on the RTX 3080 Founders' Edition. Orders for these cards are being manually examined to limit scalpers and their ability to ruin it for everyone. A few lucky builders are starting to get their hands on these cards that are more valuable than gold-pressed latinum. The real challenge is seldom scoring the CPU. The GPU is always the key. Never settle.

It is relatively easy to slap some parts together and run Lenox on the cheap. Gaming PC’s are far more demanding. The power curve and thermals are not to be taken lightly. You can seriously blow yourself up if you don’t know what you’re doing. There is a fairly substantial cost and a difficult path to getting the perfect parts. But it is so worth it when it all comes together.

Beginner-Level Bluetooth Speakers

This is a fun project for just about anyone and it actually solves a problem. One of the worst things about Apple’s HomePod is that it is completely dependent on WiFi and services. You cannot connect anything to them via a cable. And you cannot use Bluetooth. Even if you could, they would be too expensive for casual needs. You don’t have to spend a fortune on bluetooth speakers if you are willing to put in a little elbow grease and build a bluetooth speaker yourself. It is easier than you might imagine.

Speakers are not overly complicated. They are mechanical objects for the most part. Sure, big companies are using a lot of software and additional hardware to produce computational audio. But as a music purist, you don’t want your audio computed. You just want it played by a not so smart speaker that reproduces the input as faithfully as possible. At the end of the day, you need a good driver and a good cabinet for pushing sound waves and air. Don’t get overly caught up in the rest. Get a good DAC and you will be most of the way there.

Nitrogen freezers, bluetooth DACs and GPUs are just some of the equipment necessary to build the world of tomorrow. But they are all useless without your ability and willingness to dare the impossible today.

Why Should You Get LED Light Fixtures for Dangerous Locations?

There is a deep sense of wonder in how a light bulb works. Although most people understand the function of a light bulb, not many appreciate the physics in how it converts electrical energy into light. The quantum physics behind this basic technique can help explain why some bulbs explode.

The operating principle behind a light bulb

The first step to getting a light bulb is to connect it to an electrical source. The filament in the bulbs burns and becomes hot. Because hot objects glow, the filament will become a light source.

The hotter it becomes, the brighter the light, thus the whiter it becomes. However, the filament on its own will eventually burn out and cease to create light. The presence of air, especially oxygen, causes a chemical reaction that destroys the filament.

Light bulbs have a glass 'chamber' of vacuum or an inert gas like argon to prevent the filament from burning to completion.

Why do bulbs explode?

Too much heat is what causes bulbs to explode. The hotter a filament becomes, it glows brighter. However, bulbs have sealants around the base. Therefore, the adhesive will melt if the temperatures are too high, and gas will escape from the glass chamber. The change in pressure, the outside is higher than the inside, which causes the bulb to explode.

Are LED lights explosion proof?

The structure of a Light-Emitting Diode bulb prevents an explosion from occurring: a semiconductor that emits lights. Therefore, explosions are highly improbable but not impossible. One of the reasons an LED light would explode; the presence of electrical or thermal stress.

What is electrical stress?

Most electrical outlets on walls allow for 120V electricity. However, an LED light can only manage about 2V electricity. A capacitor on the bulb usually reduces the voltage before letting it through the LED circuit.

However, this task is stressful to a bulb capacitor which may fail. Even for a fraction of a second, the voltage fluctuation that occurs causes the bulb to explode. This electrical overstress problem mostly happens to LED bulbs that are of low quality, ergo or cheaper.

What is thermal stress?

When a high electrical current fluctuates into the semiconductor of an LED light bulb, heat accumulates, causing the conducting material to expand. Lack of heat dispersion causes failure of the bulb: Pressure increase causes a short circuit which eventually causes an explosion.

How to prevent an LED bulb explosion?

Most of these types of fixtures are efficient and do not explode quickly. It is essential to look for a brand that creates quality bulbs that can withstand electrical and thermal stress. Although the explosion from an LED light is not enough to cause a fire, one should still be keen to avoid cheap solutions that will require replacements in the long run.

Why is it essential to choose the right LED fixtures for hazardous locations?

A laboratory or an oil and gas factory are places that require strict observation and care, especially when it comes to lighting. Having a good light source in these areas will prevent navigation problems.

However, a small bulb explosion can cause catastrophic results. LED lights are a much safer option for hazardous locations prone to fire because they do not quickly explode.

Unfortunately, some manufacturers create low-quality lighting that cannot tolerate great electrical and thermal stress. If you are not careful about the LED lights you are buying, you might deal with severe damage and even loss of lives.

Why do LED lights perform better in hazardous locations?

This reliable technology offers lower maintenance costs, especially for bulbs in hard-to-access places of a workstation. Moreover, Light-Emitting Diodes bulbs are a cost-efficient option, especially when running a business in a hazardous location that requires a lot of capital to maintain.

LED lights help you concentrate your finances on other areas of your factory. Furthermore, dangerous places like labs require lighting throughout and without switching lights on and off constantly. LED lighting systems provide an opportunity for IoT, which automatically switch the lights on when needed.

Install the best LED systems for your business using Phoenix hazardous locations lights to safeguard your activities and improve efficiency.

5 Current Trends in Outsourcing

Outsourcing is a relatively new form of organizing work. Yet, nowadays it’s probably the most effective and profitable way to have your project done. No wonder businesses all over the world prefer it over the traditional methods. But what is outsourcing and how it works? What are the advantages? What trends does this sphere have today?

Outsourcing Basics

Outsourcing works in a really simple way. A company needs a part of the project done, but they don’t have enough employees to finish it in time. So, they hire specialized outsourcing teams that provide professional assistance in all the needed aspects.

That doesn’t mean it’s limited to being some kind of assistance service, though. Remote dedicated teams can work on a separate part of an already existing project, or even develop a product from scratch. The only thing you need to do is to find the best outsourcing company for all your needs.

The Advantages

Answering the question about the benefits of outsourcing, there are many of them. Here’s a of the most important ones:

  • Expert skill and knowledge. Most such companies on the market provide only top-level services. The skills and knowledge of their employees can be used to improve the quality of the product, or even to teach your own employees by their example.
  • Cost-efficiency and profitability. It can help you save money in many processes, from removing the need to hire and buy equipment for additional workers, to the fact that paying for such services is much cheaper than issuing wages to your employees. Not even talking about how the improved quality and performance positively affect the project budget.
  • Speed. The proficiency of the hired professionals ensures that everything will be not only done in time but probably even ahead of it. It can be used as a perfect opportunity to save your team from failing the deadline.
  • Security and integrations. The experience of the outsourcing companies lies not only in the skills themselves but also in the acquaintance with many integrative platforms and pieces of software. That, of course, includes safe payment systems and security protocols that have passed the test of time.
  • And many others!

However, keep in mind that just like any other sphere, only the best services on the market can ensure that all these benefits will be present. “In case I don’t have a budget for the best ones and go with the cheaper services, which of these is not an advantage of outsourcing?”

Well, the first one that will be lost is security and knowledge. You’ll still receive decent development speed and cost-efficiency. Yet, the overall quality will be much lower when compared to companies that have been around for a long time.

That’s why we always recommend Develux, as their level of quality in all aspects is simply unmatched. It’s one of the market leaders that are ready to take on any tasks one may present them with. You’ll never have a single doubt in their performance and security.

The Trends

Automation

Automation is everywhere today, and outsourcing is not an exception. Of course, automation has a lot of limits in this sphere due to its specifics, but it’s not impossible. Many simple processes can be done by basic AI. And that already helps to save many expenses and allows human resources to be reallocated to more important tasks.

Also, for some repeatedly demanded tasks and parts of the projects, outsourcing services are starting to use AI that is already taught how to do them. Many common things, especially in software development, can be either auto-filled or written by a computer automatically, saving the team’s precious time. In the end, both the vendor and the customer are satisfied, as the work is done faster and with the same quality.

Long-term Relationships

Many people don’t look at outsourcing as a stable sphere that can be trusted. Some businesses are afraid of entrusting big projects and parts of them to such services. But today, more and more enterprises are starting to form long-term relationships and contracts with remote dedicated teams.

That’s because once you find the company that does the job the way you need it, on the level you needed, you start trusting it. And from that moment, you’ll be more likely to turn to them for all your outsourcing needs. This builds even more trust and results in perfect strategic business relationships.

Eastern European Companies

In many cases, the cost-efficiency outsourcing brings is caused by the low average wages in particular regions. And of course, specialists with lower payments are usually expected to perform worse. But that’s not the case with companies from such countries as Ukraine, Belarus, and Poland.

The last decades proved that dedicated teams from these countries tend to be extremely good at their job, outperforming even the best professionals from Western countries. And don’t forget that the cost of their services is usually 2-3 times lower. Eastern Europe is kind of a goldmine for remote workers.

Increased Competition

A basic rule of business - the more companies of the same type emerge on the market, the stronger is the competition between them. And with the current popularity of outsourcing and the number of such businesses, the rivalry between them is really strong.

Increased competition means not only a smaller pool of potential clients but also extra expenses on marketing. Now, you not only have to provide professional services, but also convince customers that you’re their perfect choice. Of course, the rivalry always exists, but it has never been as strong in this sphere as it is today. What’s even worse, it’s not gonna stop, and the market circumstances will only become worse for new enterprises.

Different Motivation

Businesses entrust their projects to remote teams and freelancers because of their high cost-efficiency and profitability. It's a matter of saving as much money as possible while retaining high-quality work performance.

Hiring freelancers using online platforms like Dormzi can enhance many aspects of your business. Hiring freelancers is a good idea if you don't require a full-time employee. Another benefit is the fact that you don't have to pay a salary and you only pay per project worked.

Summing Up

Outsourcing proved to be an extremely profitable sphere for both vendors inside it and their customers. And with the current trends and market analysis, it’s predicted to grow many times bigger. So, use all the benefits it brings to your advantage, and you’ll see that outsourcing is as effective as it seems.

Top 5 Affordable Flooring Upgrades

If you're dreaming of a home with new flooring, but the budget won't allow it, fear not! There are plenty of affordable and easy-to-install upgrades that will make your floors look like they were professionally installed. Also, an essential thing that you should always keep in mind is to consider free flooring samples before installing this upgraded flooring at your home.

In this blog post, we'll share some of our favorite inexpensive DIY options for hardwood and tile floors.

Let's take a look at these options.

Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

Luxury vinyl flooring is the most expensive of our inexpensive options, but it doesn't require installation or anything more than a squirt bottle and mop to maintain. It also comes in an array of styles that mimic different types of natural hardwood floors - so you can try them before you buy!

This affordable option will never need to be sanded nor refinished, meaning this upgrade won't make your budget suffer any more than necessary. Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring is an excellent option for upgrading your kitchen or bathroom without breaking the bank!

Carpet Flooring

Carpet flooring is a great option for families with pets or kids, as it can be easily vacuumed and maintained. Carpet Flooring also makes your room feel cozy, which everyone needs to combat winter's chill! New carpets are relatively inexpensive - but the maintenance required after installation will make this an expensive upgrade over time.

SPC/WPC Vinyl Plank

This is an excellent option for people on a budget or who don't want to add too much expense. These floors can be installed in any room and are easy to maintain with proper care. However, they will show wear more quickly than other options because the surface of this product isn't recommended for high traffic areas.

There are no laminate strips that you need to replace when these become damaged either, which saves money over time!

Laminate Flooring

With a laminate floor, you get the look of hardwood at an affordable price. Laminate floors are waterproof and scratch-resistant- which is perfect for families with pets or children! They also come in many different styles to fit any taste. However, this product is not recommended for people who want a more natural feel.

There are no laminate strips that need replacing when these become damaged either, which saves money over time!

Stained Concrete Flooring

This option is perfect for those who want a more natural look with the durability of concrete. This material has enough benefits to make up for them! For example, stained concrete floors have no fumes or toxins that you need to worry about if you've got pets or children in your home- just like laminate and vinyl flooring.

Also, because they are made from solid materials, there aren't any laminates strips when these get damaged, so that installation costs will be low over time.

Summing Up

If you're looking for a new home with hardwood or tile floors, but the budget won't allow it, fear not! There are plenty of affordable and easy-to-install upgrades that will make your floors look like they were professionally installed. We hope these tips help guide you when making decisions about what new flooring is best for you.

FET: Definition, Symbol, Working, Characteristics, Types & Applications

Hello friends, I hope you all are happy, healthy and, content. We have been discussing transistors lately, from the basic definition to the types and characteristics of transistors we have covered it all. If you have a brief idea about transistors, you must be aware of the field effect transistor or you might have heard or read about it somewhere, it is one of the earliest known types of transistors which is our topic of discussion today.

Field Effect Transistors were made to cover up the lacking of previously known transistors which occupied large space and produced a lot of noise, another major problem was the low reliability of previous versions. So, let's get started with the FETs.

Definition of Field Effect Transistor

Let us define field effect transistor first,
  • "The Field effect transistor is a unipolar transistor made up of semiconductor material, which uses an electric field to control the current flow."

History of Field Effect Transistors

  • To know how the field effect transistors evolved throughout the ages, let us have a quick trip to history, the days when we did not have a large amount of resources to materialize our concepts.
  • The first attempt to make a field-effect transistor was made by Julius Edgar in 1925, and sadly he failed miserably but he was lucky enough to get the concept patented.
  • In 1934, Oscar Heil tried his luck but failed to make a successful attempt.
  • In 1945, the Junction field-effect transistor was the first FET device to be constructed by Heinrich Welker.
  • In successive years several attempts were made and different types of materials were introduced for making field-effect transistors and their related types. All these successful and unsuccessful attempts led to the formation of the modern-day Field Effect Transistor.

Unipolarity of Field Effect Transistor

Unipolarity of the field effect transistor means that the transistor uses either holes or electrons for working, depending on the type of material being implied for making, unlike the bipolar junction transistors which employ both the electrons and holes for their functioning.

Symbol of Field Effect transistor_ FET

  • The following figure shows the symbol of a field effect transistor.
  • Three terminals can be seen in the figure namely gate, source, and drain represented by D, G, and S.
  • The direction of the arrowhead reflects the direction of the electric field.
  • The symbol is slightly different for two different types of field-effect transistors FETs, they can either be N channel FET or P channel FET, you will learn the symbols of different FETs in their respective sections of this article.

Why Field Effect Transistors are named so, or what is the meaning of FET?

Now you must be thinking about how the field effect transistor got its name? What does it mean by a FET? There are multiple assumptions behind it, the one that I felt to be appropriate is the one that, a weak electrical signal entering through an electrode generates a larger electric field through the other parts of the transistor as well, so they are named field-effect transistors. If you know any other reason, why we call them field effect transistor other than this, you can let me know in the comment section below, I'm looking forward to your response!

BJT vs FET

A lot of times, FET is compared with the BJT let's have a brief overview of their peculiarities in this section. These are some of the significant differences between the two of them;

  • BJT is a bit noisy than FET.
  • BJT has a higher output impedance than FET.
  • BJT is current controlled meanwhile FET is voltage controlled device.
  • BJT has a lower input impedance than FET.

Working of Field Effect Transistor FET

Basic construction of a field effect transistor FET

Unlike the other types of transistors, the field effect transistors are not made up of typical collector, emitter, and base, although the number of components is the same but the name and functions of each component are entirely different. To understand the working of the field effect transistor, let us first discuss its basic components one by one.

Source
  • The source is represented by the symbol S. It acts as an electrode of the field effect transistor through which the charge carriers enter the channel when voltage is applied.
  • As the name suggests, the source of a field-effect transistor works as a providing source of charge carriers.
Gate
  • It is represented by the letter G, wherever you see a G, immediately assume it's a field effect transistor, in the case of transistors. The conductive story of the field effect transistor begins with applying the voltage to the Gate, which is passed on to the other components.
Drain
  • The drain is represented by symbol D. The drain is the electrode of the field effect transistor which provides the channel to charge carriers helping them leave the circuit.

Working of FET

  • As you have a brief idea about the main components of a Field Effect Transistor and their function, we are going to discuss the working of FET.
  • The current always flows from the source S towards the Drain D.
  • A voltage is applied across the Gate and Source terminal which creates a conductive channel between the source S and Gate G.
  • The electrons or holes flow from the source S to Drain D in the form of a stream through the channel.
  • There are several other things involved in the working and function of a field effect transistor according to their types, which we are about to discuss in respective sections. So, stay tuned!
  • Here arises a simple question which is often left unasked and answered too, why the field effect transistors FETs are called voltage-controlled devices?
  • The FETs are called voltage-controlled devices because the current in the drain represented as ID depends on the voltage across the gate G, unlike the bipolar junction transistor which is a current-controlled device.
  • The gate voltage is very important for the conduction of current towards the Drain.
  • There are two phenomena that influence it one is depletion of the channel and the other is the enhanced state of the channel. Let us discuss them one by one.
  • Depletion of channel: Consider an N channel FET, it has the majority of electrons as charge carriers, by making the gate more negative we would repel the electrons from the gate and these electrons would saturate the channel increasing its resistance. This makes the gate region thinner because of the minimal traffic of electrons, but the conduction channel is said to be depleted due to increased resistance.
  • Again consider the n channel FET, now think yourself, what would happen when you will make the gate G of the FET is more positive? The traffic of electrons would rush towards the gate! It would make the gate region thicker due to greater traffic but on the parallel lines, the conduction channel would be enhanced due to less resistance.

Types of Field Effect Transistor

We can divide the field effect transistor into the following types based on their structure;
  • Junction Field-effect transistor JFET
  • Metal oxide Field Effect Transistor MOSFET

Junction Field-effect transistor JFET

  • Junction field effect is one of the simplest types of field effect transistors.
  • They are unipolar in function and either work with electrons and holes, the same thing which is peculiar to the simple field effect transistors.
  • The junction field-effect transistor has a very high input impedance level.
  • Unlike the bipolar junction field-effect transistor, it makes a little noise or is somehow silent as compared to it.
  • The structure of the Junction Field-effect transistor is based on its type, in general, JFET is made up of two n-type and one p-type semiconductor material and vice versa.
  • The symbol of the junction field effect transistor is as follows;

Types of JFET

There are further two types of junction field effect transistors
  • N Channel Field Effect Transistors
  • P Channel Field Effect Transistors
We will now discuss these two types of junction Field Effect Transistors - JFET in detail.

N Channel Field Effect Transistors

Construction of N Channel FET Let's discuss the construction of N channel Field Effect Transistor first,
  • A bar of n-type semiconductor material primarily silicone is taken which acts as the substrate.
  • The bar is then diffused with two p-type silicone bars which are smaller in size than the n-type silicon bar, on the two extreme ends of the substrate bar. Just imagine you are placing and gluing two small blocks on the extreme right and extreme left sides of a larger block made up of wood or any material you can stick together!
  • Now we are done with diffusing the p-type materials into our n-type substrate, the leftover region conducts the current and is labeled as Channel. These channels are responsible for the conductive action of the Field Effect Transistors when voltage is applied.
  • After we are done with the formation of the channel, we will now see how the main parts such as Gate, Source, and Drain are formed out of these diffused semiconductor blocks.
  • The two diffused p-type silicon bars which have now formed the PN junction with the n-type material are now joined together to form the Gate.
  • The two ends of the channel which was formed earlier after the diffusion process are metalized to be converted into source and drain.
  • The N channel Field Effect Transistors imply electrons as the majority charge carriers. They are more efficient than the p channel junction Field Effect Transistors because electrons travel faster than the holes.

P channel junction Field Effect Transistors

Construction of P channel FET
  • The same process is repeated for the construction of the p channel junction Field Effect Transistor.
  • The p-type material substrate is taken in form of a large wafer or bar and then diffused with two smaller n-type bars.
  • The channel formed after diffusion is then metalized at both ends to form the source and drain.
  • The PN junction formed by the two n-type semiconductor materials is then connected to form the Gate.
  • So this is how the p channel junction Field Effect Transistors are constructed.
  • The p channel junction Field Effect Transistors imply holes as Majority charge carriers as they are unipolar.

Working of Junction Field Effect Transistor

  • The Junction Field Effect Transistor always works in reverse biasing condition, that is why they have a very high input impedance.
  • In the case of the Junction Field Effect Transistor, the gate current is Zero which is denoted by; IG=0
  • The input voltage which is represented by VGS is the controlling factor for the output current which is represented by ID.
  • You must be thinking how we control the width of the channel through which the current is conducted? The answer is simple, we alter the width of the PN junction on both sides of the channel which increases resistance to the flow of current.

As we already know that the Junction Field Effect Transistor only works in reverse biasing conditions let us now discuss a few scenarios to know how the output is generated under different circumstances.

Zero biasing condition of Junction Field Effect Transistor

  • When no external voltage VGS is applied to the gate the resulting voltage to the drain would be zero which can be written as VGS = VDS = 0
  • The depletion regions would have the same thickness as they had earlier because the voltage is not being applied yet.
  • In this zero biased condition the drain current is produced, let me tell you how! The charge carriers in the absence of a potential difference start moving from the source to drain producing a drain current that is opposite to the conventional flow of current.
  • So in the zero biased condition, only drain current exists in Junction Field Effect Transistor.

Reverse Biasing condition of Junction Field Effect Transistor

Small Reverse Voltage application scenario
  • In the presence of a potential or small voltage the gate-source voltage VGS on which the Drain current ID is dependent, on applying small reverse potential width of the depletion region increases.
  • Due to the increase in the width of depletion regions on both sides, the channel finds it difficult to conduct current.
  • This difficulty of the channel to conduct current results in voltage drop.
  • The width of the depletion region increases more towards the drain terminal, one can think of it as accidental but in science, nothing exists within reasoning and logic, the depletion region increases more towards the drain because the voltage drop is higher at the drain side.
  • There is a lesser amount of Drain current ID because of the shrinkage of the conduction channel.
Large reverse voltage application scenario
  • In this case we apply a higher negative voltage which is our Gate to Source voltage, represented by VGS
  • The depletion regions of both the corresponding PN Junctions, keep on increasing in width.
  • Eventually, both the depletion regions meet each other or you can say touch each other.
  • Here is a question for you, what would happen when both the depletion regions would meet or diffuse into each other? They would eventually block the conduction of the current!
  • The point at which the particular voltage blocks the conduction channel completely is called the cut-off voltage or sometimes pinch-off

MOSFET_  metal-oxide field-effect transistors.

The second type of field-effect transistors is the  MOSFET, metal-oxide field-effect transistors.

Metal-oxide field-effect transistors are one of the most common types of transistors used widely.

Features of MOSFET

  • The MOSFET consumes lesser power than other transistors.
  • They are exceptionally scalable and if you remember Moore's law, they are the best practical manifestation of it.
  • MOSFETs have high switching speeds that is why they are used for generating pulse trains. Do you know what is a pulse train? A pulse train is the square waveform of asymmetrical waves which are periodic but non-sinusoidal in nature.
  • .metal oxide field-effect transistors are considered ideal for digital circuits, analog circuits, and linear circuits as well.
  • Sometimes metal-oxide field-effect transistors - MOSFETs are also called IGFET, Insulated Gate Field-Effect Transistors.

Basic Structure of MOSFET

  • Let us now discuss the basic structure of metal oxide field-effect transistors MOSFET.
  • The metal oxide field effect transistor MOSFET has four components, unlike the JFET.
  • The components of MOSFET include Source S, drain D, body B, and Gate G.
  • The gate is separated by the body of the transistor through the insulating material
  • MOSFET is very similar to the JFET, but the main difference lies in the insulation of Gate Electrode from the conduction channel, either P channel or N channel, with the help of a thin layer of primarily SiO2 or Glass.
  • The insulation of the Gate terminal with the metal oxide layer helps in increasing the input resistance. The insulation can increase the value of input resistance into Mega Ohms.
  • For a detailed outlook on the MOSFET, its construction, working and applications you can refer to the detailed article present on our website.

Symbol of The metal oxide field effect transistor MOSFET

  • The following symbol is used to represent MOSFET.
  • The Arrowhead indicates the direction of current and I already know that you are aware of this!
  • Now you must be thinking, why the symbolic representation is only showing three terminals, please do not search for the fourth one! Because the source is always attached to the body terminal and is represented as one terminal.
  • So you can only spot the three terminals naming Gate G, Drain D, and Source S.

Types of MOSFET

Following are the four commonly known types of MOSFET;
  • N-Channel Enhancement mode MOSFET
  • P-Channel Enhancement mode MOSFET
  • N-Channel Depletion mode MOSFET
  • P-Channel Depletion mode MOSFET
Detailed outlook on all these types of MOSFET can be found in our article regarding MOSFET.

Characteristics of FET

  • The Current Voltage, I-V characteristics of the Field Effect Transistor is plotted between the applied voltage VDS and Drain Current ID.
  • The graph for studying the characteristic curve of a field effect transistor_ FET is plotted between the varying values of Drain Current represented by ID along the y-axis, with the varying values of VDS along the x- axis.
The graph shows the following regions;
  • Ohmic Region
  • Cut off region
  • Saturation or Active Region
  • Breakdown region
Refer to the graph for better understanding. We will now discuss each of the regions in detail.

Ohmic Region

  • This is the extreme left side of the graph which represents the value of Drain Current ID when the applied voltage of the transistor between the source and gate is Zero i.e VGS= 0
  • The conductive channel is small but not narrow in this case.
  • Depletion regions on the corresponding sides are equal in size and haven't started expanding yet.
  • Our Field effect transistor acts as a voltage controlled resistor at this instance of the IV characteristics curve.

Cut-off Region

  • This is the second region of our graph represented by purple the purple lines.
  • This cut-off region is also called as pinch-off region because the VGS voltage , the one which controls the current of the transistor is terribly high enough to make the circuit work as an open switch.
  • At the pinch off region the conductive channel for current is almost closed due to the Increased thickness of depletion regions on both sides.

Saturation Region

  • The saturation region is also called the active region of the graph.
  • In this region the Field effect transistor acts a good conductor.
  • The value of applied Voltage VGS, the voltage between gate and source drives the transistor.
  • The Drain Source Voltage VDS has minimal effect on the current ID of the transistor at this very instant.

Breakdown Region

  • This is the last and terminal region of characteristics curve for the field effect transistor, you can observe this region on the extreme right corner.
  • The Voltage between the source and drain represented by VDS is very high at this point.
  • The voltage is high enough that the conductive channel is broken and maximum current passes through the channel into drain.

Applications of Field Effect Transistors

  • Field Effect Transistors have revolutionized the electronic world, there is an endless list of uses of field effect transistors, we are going to discuss a few important ones in this section.
  • Field Effect Transistors FETs are frequently used in Integrated Circuits because of their smaller size and compactness.
  • FETs are used in operational amplifiers as VRs, Voltage Variable Resistors.
  • They are also used in tone controls for mixer operations on TV and on FM as well.
  • Field Effect Transistors are also used in logic gates.
  • Field Effect Transistors are widely used in the production of digital switches as well.
We will now discuss some of the most advanced applications of field effect transistors now,

FET as Buffer Amplifier

  • First things first ,let us first discuss what does a buffer do? A buffer makes sure that the signal either digital or analog is successfully transferred to the preceding wave.
  • A voltage buffer helps in amplifying the current without disturbing the actual voltage level.
  • So, as you are well aware of the function of a buffer, we will discuss how a Field Effect Transistor acts a buffer amplifier.
  • A buffer amplifier separates the previous stage of the signal from the next upcoming stage, drain of the Field Effect Transistor works for this purpose.
  • Lastly , you must be thinking which characteristic property helps the Field Effect Transistor in achieving this, i have the answer for this question of yours! The high input impedance and low output impedance make a Field Effect Transistor an excellent buffer amplifier.

FET as Analog switch

  • We have been discussing the use of Field Effect Transistors in analog and digital switches lately, we will be discussing their use in analog switches now.
  • We have discussed it earlier as well in our characteristics curve and operational scenarios of the Field Effect Transistor when the output voltage equals the input voltage making the FET works as a switch.
  • When the VGS which is the gate source voltage as you already know is absent, the FET works as a small resistance , although a little bit of drain current is present but its value is almost negligible.
  • The mathematical expression can be written as

VOUT = {RDS/ (RD + RDS (ON)}* Vin

  • If you remember, the cuttoff region of I-V characteristics curve of our Field Effect Transistor, when the max negative voltage is applied to the Gate source region and eventually the Field Effect Transistor_ FET starts acting as a very high resistance.
  • That resistance lies in the range of Mega Ohms.
  • In this case the output voltage Vout is nearly equal to the input voltage which was VGS.

FET as Phase shift oscillator

  • Field Effect Transistors are ideal to be used as phase shift oscillators.
  • Phase shift oscillators are used to generate signals with wide range of frequencies.
  • Field Effect Transistors can be used for amplifying as well as for feedback loop operation, that is the reason they are excellent to work as phase shift oscillators.
  • Field Effect Transistor_ FETs have high input impedance, so there is a very less loading effect when they are used as phase shift oscillators.
  • Most of the times N channel JFETs are used for this purpose.
  • You can observe the Field Effect Transistors as phase shift oscillators in GPS units, musical instruments and many other places where audio signals are modulated such as voice synthesis.

FET as Cascode amplifier

  • The word case code has been derived from the phrase " Cascade to Cathode".
  • Cascode circuits are made up of two components, the first one is the transconductance amplifier and the second one is the buffer amplifier.
  • Cascode amplifiers are generally made using Field-Effect Transistors due to their high input resistance.
  • We use cascode amplifiers because of their quality of having low input capacitance, otherwise, the normally used common amplifiers have a higher value of input capacitance in general than the cascode amplifiers.
  • Although the voltage gain is the same for both the amplifiers which is again a win-win situation for
  • Cascode amplifiers using Field-Effect Transistors.

FET in Multiplexer

  • Let us first discuss the function of a multiplexer, a multiplexer collects different signals from different sources to present as a single output signal. Imagine a whole year of hard work and the end result is summarized in a single result card after the exam!
  • Junction Field-Effect Transistors are used to construct the multiplexer circuit.
  • Each Field Effect Transistor act as an SPST.
  • In case you don't know about the SPST, let me tell you, it is the single pole single throw switch that generates one output from one input.
  • An SPST is used as an on-off switch in circuits.
Consider the circuit diagram given below;
  • All input signals get blocked when the control signals are made more negative than the Gate source voltage VGS.
  • This condition blocks all the input signals.
  • By turning any one of the control voltages V1, V2, or V3 to zero we can obtain a single desired output wave.
  • Consider if ye turn V2 to Zero we will obtain a triangular signal.
  • If we turn V3 to zero, you can yourself figure out from the circuit diagram, the wave signal you would get, Go! Scroll up!
  • So this is how the Field Effect Transistors are used in multiplexers.

FET as Low noise input amplifier

  • How you define noise? A sound that is unpleasant to the ears or when talking of signals a disturbance that causes unnecessary turbulence in the desired output making it meager or weak.
  • Noise is produced in many mechanical and electrical instruments but sometimes for a few things it is tolerable and sometimes it is not!
  • Just imagine disturbing noise when you are streaming a video or audio, a loud signal which blurs out music during your sunny beach day on your radio, nobody wants that! That is why Field effect transistors are used for low noise amplification.
  • Noise has nothing to do with signal strength which is why it is always there, even when you have ended your live stream!
  • Noise production is a drawback of many electronic devices but the bright side is that our Field effect transistors make a little less noise especially if they are used in the front end of the signal receiver.
  • Field-effect transistors are a bit noisy too, but I have a solution for it, MOSFETs are used where even a little bit of noise can't be tolerated, don't worry we would talk about MOSFETs in our next article!
  • So, lastly, we can say that, if we use a Field-effect transistor_ FET on the front end, there is lesser amplification of undesirable signal in our generated output.

FET as Current limiter

  • Junction Field Effect transistors can be used to make a current limiting circuit.
  • By this characteristic and arrangement, constant-current diodes and current regulators are made, let's discuss the process, but firstly refer to the circuit diagram for better understanding.
  • When there is an excess of supply voltage due to any discrepancies in the system, the Junction Field Effect transistor immediately starts operating in its active or saturated region, I hope, by now you are well aware of the active region of the Junction Field Effect transistor, if not, refer to the section of I-V characteristics graph and its explanation!
  • At this instance, the Junction Field Effect transistor acts as a source of the current itself and prevents any further load current.

So friends, this last segment concludes our discussion on Field Effect Transistors(FET), I hope you have learned something new from this discussion. For any suggestions or constructive criticism or a little bit of appreciation, you can use the comment section below. See you soon with the next topic, have a good day ahead!

Step By Step Guide To Building An SEO-friendly Website

With many people clicking on organic search listings, it is essential to use search engine optimization ( SEO) so that your site can be ranked higher than other sites, and if you optimize your site for SEO, you will rank better than other websites that lack SEO. The things you should put in place include:

Get Domain And Hosting

It is important to keep SEO in mind and use the best practices when you buy a web domain. First of all, make sure to get a domain name that is memorable and easy to read. Don’t choose an overly complicated name consisting of numbers and hyphens. Simplicity is key when it comes to domain names. Sometimes using keywords in your domain name helps as well. For example, if you own a bakery, including the word “bakery” in your domain name could be a good idea in terms of SEO.

Another important point is to try to avoid the less common TLDs. The best choice is to get a “.com” TLD, but if that isn’t possible, then go for one of the other common ones like “.net”. 

Use Responsive Design for a Mobile-Friendly site

When trying to build an SEO-friendly website, it's important to make your website easy to use for both desktop and mobile visitors. So much of today’s web traffic is via mobile, so making sure your website is mobile-friendly is more critical than ever before. A good way to do that is by using responsive web design.

Responsive design allows your website to adapt to any device a user is using. Whether the user is accessing the website via phone, computer, tablet, or desktop, the website will adapt itself to the device. The reasons you should consider using responsive design include:

  • Each device usually has a different sized screen which means that your website needs to adapt to fit all the available screens, and when you don't adjust it to a mobile device, the user won't get a good view of your page.
  • It is essential to adjust it to a mobile version so that it won't look too small and less attractive when your customer accesses the page on their smartphone. Because if it's too small, the reader will struggle reading, and it will make them less interested in your page.

It also helps improve your bounce rate, because all of those mobile users will stay on your site longer if they find it easy and pleasant to use. Don’t you hate it when you go to a website on your phone and you have to keep moving the screen and zooming in and out just to be able to read the content and navigate the site properly? It’s very annoying and makes most people want to leave. If your site is responsive, the mobile users will stay on your site and the bounce rate will improve. In turn, Google will rank your site higher because it will see that you are answering the intent of the visitors. 

Create Website Content to Target Valuable Keywords

Content creation is a vital part of your website because you generate a lot of traffic to your site when you create content. It also provides a sense of authority and enables you to get great keywords to drive interested leads to your page.

When you decide to create content, the first thing you should consider is finding an appropriate topic. Once you've chosen your topic, you can get the proper keywords to use. To find these keywords, you must conduct keyword research.

Keyword research helps you to find vital phrases for your SEO listing and see the importance of these terms. When doing this, you will need to focus on long-tail keywords, which are keywords that contain two or more words.

Once all your phrases are in check, the next thing you should consider looking at is fonts. You could create blogs, videos, infographics, and ebooks to provide critical information for your audience.

Once you've found the appropriate format to use, you can start creating your content.  Your content needs to be fascinating and easy to comprehend, and also academic. You should also ensure the content is direct so that your audience doesn't have a hard time understanding your content.

Use Header Tags to Help Search Engines Understand Your Page

HTML header tags are used to define your page's heading and help improve Google’s readability of your page by organizing it. Header tags go from H1 to H6, in order of importance, H1 is the title of the whole page. Your page title should include keywords in them to help with your rankings.

For more minor headings, you could integrate other keywords to help you rank your page. The importance of these headers is that they make it easier for your audience to digest your information and make it easier for Google to read your page. So if you want to build an SEO-friendly website, you should create a heading structure for your pages and make your guides easy to find.

Syed Zain Nasir

I am Syed Zain Nasir, the founder of <a href=https://www.TheEngineeringProjects.com/>The Engineering Projects</a> (TEP). I am a programmer since 2009 before that I just search things, make small projects and now I am sharing my knowledge through this platform.I also work as a freelancer and did many projects related to programming and electrical circuitry. <a href=https://plus.google.com/+SyedZainNasir/>My Google Profile+</a>

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Syed Zain Nasir