Consumer electronics refers to everyday electronic devices including TVs, phones, DVD players, CD players, laptops, and computers. These devices are produced all around the world. One of the main benefits of the consumer electronics business is the constant cost reductions brought about by the advancements in electronic engineering, which result in an annual influx of new electronics products onto the market.
One issue with modern electronic products is electronic waste, which several manufacturers are currently planning to address.
Semiconductor:
All electronic gadgets rely on semiconductors, and none of them would function properly without them. At absolute zero (-273 degrees Celsius), semiconductors behave like insulators. They may be distinguished from conductors because at this temperature, a semiconductor’s outermost full electron energy band is totally filled but it is only partially filled in a conductor.
Semiconductors have substantially lower electrical conductivity than conductors do at normal temperatures.
Doping in semiconductors:
Silicon and germanium are the two most prevalent semiconductors used in electronic devices. Nevertheless, various additional conductors are also utilized, including iridium phosphide, gallium arsenide, and mercury cadmium telluride.
When an electron-rich element like arsenic or an electron-deficient element like boron are doped into a pure semiconductor, also known as an intrinsic semiconductor, the conductivity increases and the new conductor is referred to as an extrinsic conductor. We can create n-type (negative type) and p-type (positive type) semiconductor devices by doping silicon with boron and arsenic, two elements with different electron densities.
We may create a p-n junction by doping different element in different region of semiconductor and the device is known as diode. Similarly we can create p-n-p or n-p-n junctions and the device is known as triodes.
Electronic Devices
(a) Television:
It is a device by which we can receive moving pictures and sounds over a distance. The whole transmission and receiver systems require the following inputs.
1.Camera for live images or flying spot scanner for transmission of films and sound source.
2.Transmitters for transmitting both images and sounds.
3.Receiver systems for receiving these signals.
4.Display device, which is either CRT, Rear projection, LCD or plasma. To display the signal in the forms of images and sounds.
(b) Telephone:
It is the device for communicating by which two persons can send and receive sound signals over a distance. The system requires the following inputs.
1.The telephone equipment, which converts sound signals to electrical signals and electrical signals to sound signals.
2.Central exchange from where the subscribers are interconnected.
3.Wiring for connecting all the subscribers.
(c) Calculators:
It is a device used for carry out various mathematical calculations. The input required for calculator are as given below.
1.Power source (battery or solar panel).
2.Display device (LED or LCD)
3.Keypad containing all functions and numbers.
4.All electronic circuit devices.
Electronic Waste:
Due to the presence of various toxic materials like lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and others, these waste electronic devices may act as toxic waste if not properly recycled or used as secondary raw materials for other electronic equipment. Uncontrolled burning of these materials may also have negative effects on the environment.
Electronic waste is sometimes illegally sent to other countries for processing. However, due to complexity and difficulties in recycling, e-waste will remain an issue for the coming days.