Passive Component Supplier

Passive components play a vital role in the functionality of electronic devices. They help regulate, store and transform energy within the device.

Purchasing departments and procurement specialists can benefit from some extra knowledge about those passive items on the Bill of Materials. Providing that knowledge empowers these stakeholders to make better decisions.

Resistors

Resistors are simple passive two-terminal electrical components that limit the flow of electric current. They offer a controlled amount of resistance and are used to divide voltage, set biasing conditions and control current in electronic circuits.

The number of copper wire turns and the thickness of the wire determine the resistance value, which can be a very wide range. A resistor’s rated resistance is indicated on the component.

A resistor doesn’t look like much, but it performs a critical function in every electronic circuit. Without it, no one would be able to use their mobile phones or computers.

The raw materials that go into making passive components are the most costly parts of the supply chain, so price increases can have a significant impact on total costs. The chart below from Paumanok Publications shows the long-term trend in the cost of key ceramics and metals consumed as dielectric materials and resistive elements in passive components.

Capacitors

The capacitor is one of the fundamental components used in a wide variety of electronics. It allows AC signals to pass while blocking DC ones, which helps to reduce noise. Its capacitance is determined by the physical structure and material it’s made of.

There are many different types of capacitors. Film/foil capacitors offer the highest surge ratings/pulse voltage and Passive Component Supplier have lower losses than their metallized counterparts. However, they do not have self-healing properties should an internal short occur.

Ceramic chip capacitors have low ESR, which makes them ideal for decoupling supply lines. They also have a smaller footprint than their MLCC counterparts.

The supply of passive components is crucial to enabling the next generation of technology, but demand often outstrips supply. This is especially true when there are raw materials shortages and global regulatory changes such as RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) which comes into effect in 2006. This requires suppliers to change production processes, invest in new equipment and develop innovative products. This puts additional strain on capacity and leads to lead times of 20-30 weeks.

Inductors

Passive components may not get the publicity that active semiconductors do, but they play just as critical a role in electronics. They store electrical charges, limit current flow and are used for circuit regulation, filtering, timing, and tuning applications. They also do not require an external power source to function.

Inductors (also known as coils, reactors or chokes) are devices that store energy in the form of magnetic fields. They are primarily used to regulate AC current or dump DC current. They can also serve as a noise filter to suppress interference in audio and video systems.

Like resistors and capacitors, inductors are made of two lengths of wire wound around a core. The resulting windings can be connected in a series or parallel manner and are often made of ferrite material. Raw materials used to produce inductors have a long history of fluctuating prices, and Paumanok Publications has a chart that tracks prices for specific ceramics and metals consumed as dielectric or resistive elements in passive components.

Switches

Unlike active elements like diodes & transistors which require microprocessor an external power source to function, Switches are passive components that store energy into a circuit. These passive devices include resistors, capacitors, inductors & transformers.

Passive component suppliers must ensure they are able to deliver the components that their customers need and do so with a reasonable lead time. This is because raw materials are a significant cost for electronics companies and any increase in price can have an impact on their profitability.

A key challenge is the need to develop IT systems that enable effective inventory management. This includes ensuring that suppliers can meet the demand for raw materials without compromising quality, delivery or customer service.

Another challenge is the need to understand and manage the business model of specialised passive component suppliers. Many of these firms serve a broad range of industries through multiple models and focus areas, which can make it difficult to derive economies of scope and scale. This can also make it hard to run a business against the relevant Key Performance Indicators.

Filters

Passive components are the building blocks of all circuits, providing resistance and capacitance and electrical connections between active devices. The top specialised passive component companies are attuned to their customers’ needs in terms of a one-stop-shop, wide product range and fast delivery.

A filter is a combination of resistors, inductors and capacitors that resonate at a specific frequency. It blocks any signals with frequencies lower than its cutoff frequency and allows all other signals, known as passband frequencies. Combining a low pass filter with a high pass filter in a cascade configuration produces a bandpass filter.

PCB footprints for SMD and through-hole passives follow standard packages and can be time-consuming to create by hand. An electronics search engine with a library of passive footprints can save you time and help you focus on designing your next circuit.