Starting Electronics

Citation

Ellis, B. (2005), "Starting Electronics", Microelectronics International, Vol. 22 No. 2, pp. 42-42. https://doi.org/10.1108/mi.2005.22.2.42.1

Let me be quite clear from the start, this is not a book for anyone with any knowledge of both electronics theory and practice.

Some readers of this journal may be good practitioners within our industry but without the slightest idea of electronics, how it works or anything. This book is for them, should they wish to expand their knowledge towards a better understanding of what they are doing. It starts at the beginning, with a brief explanation of electricity, going on to Ohm's law. It explains the various passive components and offers ways of breadboarding some practical experiments and measuring the results. The chapters on semiconductors start with diodes, and then go on to junction transistors, analogue integrated circuits and digital integrated circuits. Each chapter (bar one) ends with a “quiz” of a few questions (with the answers in the back of the book). There is a good glossary and an adequate index.

This work is well printed and clear. The author's style is personal (we, you etc.) and informal, making it easy to read and to follow the practical examples. For the latter, there are schematic circuit diagrams and breadboard layouts. The schematics show components in the non‐preferred style common in the Anglo‐Saxon world rather than the ISO preferred symbols, which are easier to sketch.

Recommended for beginners to acquire a background, but don't expect to become a graduate engineer for having read it!