Active components

Active electronic components are used to amplify, control or modify electrical signals. Exclusively semiconductors are used for this purpose.

Semiconductors are extremely important in electrical engineering: their conductivity can depend on the direction of current flow or a control signal. Diodes are used for the rectification of alternating voltages of low power; while controllable elements such as the thyristor, IGBT or MOSFET are used for power control, as in the dimming of lamps.