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Base Electronics: Resistors Configuration

By arag61
Created 01/24/2009 - 11:44

Technology electronics Resistor

Here following we will discuss about their classification according to the configuration and in another article we will discuss their classification according
to application and colours code.

Classification according to the configuration

Resistors can be classified, according to the used configuration, in the following categories:

Chip resistors:
They are generally standard, passive components that are helpful for derating voltage and current controlling and they are used in integrated circuits
(IC) to allow an high integration. A thin film technology is used for their manufacturing and their composition can be made from different materials : a
powdered carbon and a resin binder is used for the carbon composition ones, ceramic and metallic materials for the cermet ones. Chip resistors like
metal alloy, metal foil, metal film, tantalum and wirewound can be also found in the market. Lately the demand for high precision chip resistors has
increased, especially for the ones with low resistance and small temperature coefficient of resistance. Another configuration is the array one: a resistor
chip array includes many resistors in a single package.

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Pictures courtesy of Vishay Electronic Company

Resistor - Capacitor (RC) networks:

They are integrated circuits that include, in a single chip, resistor - capacitor arrays. Four basic technologies are used for their manufacturing :
wirewound, thin film, metal film and thick film. While the wirewound RC networks are simple, in fact they are often wound by hand, the other ones are
more complex. In the thin film technology, for example, a thin layer of semiconductor or magnetic material is deposited over a ceramic, metal or
semiconductor base. This technology is preferred in the applications that require low noise levels, good stability and high class performances at very
high frequencies. The metal film technology is used in simple circuit, the thick film one is used for its good reliability, low cost, low weight and circuits
miniaturization. The RC networks specification parameters include the power rating, the capacitance, the temperature coefficient, the resistance and the
resistance tolerance that is the percentage deviation from a nominal resistance value. The RC networks are generally used to eliminate the
electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference at the I/O ports of a PC and its peripherals, workstations etc.

RC network - Picture courtesy of RCD

Resistor-Capacitor- Diode (RCD) networks:

They are built on silicon substrates using the thin film technology that allows a very good performances at high frequencies. They are excellent for high
speed- frequency data and communication applications, supplying very good performances, reducing significantly cost and space. The integrated RC
networks, at higher frequencies, are better than standard RC networks for reliability, for mechanical and electrical performances and stability.

Current Sensing Resistors (CSR):

They transform the current flowing through them in a voltage fall. Measuring this voltage fall allows the current through the resistor to be measured. The
construction materials and the configuration styles are parameters that must be considered for their realization. Materials comprise carbon film, carbon

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composition, metal film, metal alloy, ceramic composition, thin film, thick film and wirewound. About the configuration styles we must consider the single
resistor, the resistors network and the resistor chip array. The CSR specification parameters include: the resistance range measured in Ohm, the power
rating that is the maximum power level that a CSR supports, the tolerance specified as percentage, the continuous operating voltage measured in volts,
the operating temperature, the temperature coefficient parameter that measures the rate at which the nominal resistance value changes as a
temperature function, the terminal numbers.

Current sensing resistors - Courtesy of CTS

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