This is a book for anyone who wants to get to know about electronics. It requires no previous knowledge of the subject, or of electrical theory, and the treatment is entirely non-mathematical. It begins with an outline of electricity and the laws that govern its behaviour in circuits. Then it describes the basic electronic components and how they are used in simple electronic circuits. Semiconductors are given a full treatment since they are at the heart of almost all modern electronic devices. In the next few chapters we examine a range of electronic sensors, seeing how they work and how they are used to put electronic circuits in contact with the world around them.

The methods used for constructing electronic circuits from individual components and the techniques of manufacturing complex integrated circuits on single silicon chips are covered in sufficient detail to allow the reader to understand the steps taken in the production of an item of electronic equipment. This is followed by an account of the test equipment used to check the finished product.

The next few chapters deal with the electronic circuits that are used in special fields and serves as an introduction to amplifiers, logic circuits, audio equipment, computing, telecommunications (including TV and video equipment) and microwave technology. Then we look at the ways in which electronics plays an ever-increasing role in measurement, detection and control in industry and other fields. Throughout, the descriptions are intentionally aimed at the non-technical reader.

Finally, we outline some of the current research in electronics and point the way to future developments in this technology.

All the photographic illustrations in this book were taken by the author.