Introduction to Attenuators and its types
Attenuators are very significant electronic devices. These devices are primarily used for decreasing the amplitude level of a signal without creating any kind of discrepancies in its waveform. There is quite a lot of difference in the functioning of an amplifier and an attenuator. People use coaxial attenuator to bring down the level of signals and enhance the link between the components. Attenuators are very much opposite to that of amplifiers. The purpose of an attenuator is to reduce the power signals. This reduction can be enabled by providing loss or gain below 1. On the contrary, amplifiers are used with the purpose of facilitating gain. Simple voltage divider networks are used to make attenuators. This component is used primarily to reduce the voltage. As a result, it does not impact the electrical device in an adverse manner. This component also helps to enhance matching of impedance.
There are various types of attenuators which are used in different applications. Depending on the end need of people, different types of attenuators are deployed. People use n attenuators to avoid signals from damaging the device used for measuring, especially while noting down the readings of an electrical circuit. They are also known as passive devices. By cutting off some of the wattage which is sent to the speakers, the attenuator enables the user to stimulate the amplifier without causing any harmful impact to your ears. Thus users can hear the tone of a boosted amplifier at a lower volume through the speaker. The attenuators are placed between the output space of the speaker and the amplifier.
Features and advantages of n type attenuators:
Mostly n type attenuators can handle the frequencies up to 11GHz. These are built of exceptional sonic clarity and meet the need of people in a great way. There are different types of attenuators in the market and depending on the type of connector, there is a precise name given to these attenuators. The building styles of attenuators differentiate them in male and female. The build out style is usually for n-type male and the opposite style is for n-type female attenuators. The style may be different but their performance is relatively the same. Their features and benefits are deal for controlling the power level of optical signals. The compact design is able to fit in the existing connections or the patch panels. They are also used for telecommunication networks, CATV networks, Instrumentation, Local Area Networks, etc. To test the dynamic range or linearity of photo sensors, various types of attenuators are used and depending on the circuit, the male or female attenuators are used.
Brief About Variable attenuator:
There is a fixed and variable attenuator where fixed ones are used for different types of functions. They are inexpensive and dependable. The variable attenuator uses a neutral density filter and has several advantages. Though they are expensive but you will find them giving a stable performance. The variable ones offer a large dynamic range where they are wavelength and mode insensitive. Either they can be controlled with the help of a motor or manually. There are several types in these as well and the test sequence which makes use of variable ones eats up a lot of time.
Author’s Bio: John Smith is a writer who writes on several business topics. He expertise on electrical engineering, electrical wires and cables and related accessories. In this article, he described different types of attenuators