Theelectronics industry is theindustry that produceselectronic devices. It emerged in the 20th century and is today one of the largestglobal industries. Contemporary society uses a vast array of electronic devices, including theconsumer electronics andhome appliances most people are familiar with. The electronics industry builds electronics in factoriesautomated in turn by many different kinds of electronic devices.
Electronic products today are primarily assembled frommetal–oxide–semiconductor (MOS)transistors andintegrated circuits, the latter principally byphotolithography and often onprinted circuit boards.[citation needed]
Circuit boards are assembled largely usingsurface-mount technology, which typically involves the automated placement of electronic parts on circuit boards usingpick-and-place machines. Surface-mount technology and pick-and-placerobots make it possible to assemble large numbers of circuit boards at high speed.
The industry's size, the use of toxic materials, and the difficulty of recycling have led to a series of problems withelectronic waste. International regulation and environmental legislation have been developed to address the issues.[citation needed]
The electronics industry consists of various branches. The central driving force behind the entire electronics industry is thesemiconductor industry,[1] which has annual sales of over$481 billion as of 2018.[2]
Theelectric power industry began in the 19th century, which led to the development of inventions such asgramaphones,radio transmitters and receivers, andtelevision. Thevacuum tube was used for early electronic devices, before later being largely supplanted bysemiconductor components as the fundamental technology of the industry.[3]
The first workingtransistor, apoint-contact transistor, was invented byJohn Bardeen andWalter Houser Brattain atBell Laboratories in 1947, which led to significant research in the field ofsolid-statesemiconductors during the 1950s.[4] This led to the emergence of the home entertainmentconsumer electronics industry starting in the 1950s, largely due to the efforts ofTokyo Tsushin Kogyo (nowSony) in successfully commercializing transistor technology for a mass market, with affordabletransistor radios and then transistorizedtelevision sets.[5]
The industry employs large numbers ofelectronics engineers andelectronics technicians to design, develop, test, manufacture, install, and repair electrical and electronic equipment such as communication equipment, medical monitoring devices, navigational equipment, andcomputers. Common parts manufactured are connectors, system components, cell systems, and computer accessories, and these are made of alloy steel, copper, brass, stainless steel, plastic, steel tubing, and other materials.[6][7]
Consumer electronics (orconsumer-grade) are products intended for everyday use, most often inentertainment,communications andoffice productivity.Radio broadcasting in the early 20th century brought the first major consumer product, the broadcast receiver. Later products includepersonal computers,telephones,MP3 players,cell phones,smart phones,audio equipment,televisions,calculators,GPSautomotive electronics,digital cameras and players and recorders using video media such asDVDs,VCRs orcamcorders. Increasingly these products have become based on digital technologies, and have largely merged with the computer industry in what is increasingly referred to as theconsumerization ofinformation technology.
The CEA (Consumer Electronics Association) projected the value of annual consumer electronics sales in the United States to be over$170 billion in 2008.[8] Global annual consumer electronic sales are expected to reach$2.9 trillion by 2020.[9]
Professional electronics (also known asindustry electronics,professional-grade orprofessional-oriented) are devices focused on the users with high exigency oftechnology andhardware equipment. In such cases, technology may be more advanced than currently available for consumer electronics on the market. Professional electronics are more durable than consumer devices because of the focus on high functionality and less on design or visual aspect.[10]
These equipment have less promotional marketing/visibility and focus on technical consumers such as companies. Furthermore, its technical specification is higher specification than consumer specifications.
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Electrical waste contains hazardous, valuable, and scarce materials, and up to 60 elements can be found in complex electronics.
The United States and China are the world leaders in producing electronic waste, each tossing away about 3 million tons each year.[11] China also remains a major e-waste dumping ground for developed countries.[11] TheUNEP estimate that the amount of e-waste being produced – including mobile phones and computers – could rise by as much as 500 percent over the next decade in somedeveloping countries, such as India.[12]
Increasing environmental awareness has led to changes in electronics design to reduce or eliminate toxic materials and reduce energy consumption. TheRestriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) andWaste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) were released by theEuropean Commission in 2002.
| Industry sector | Annual revenue | Year | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tech industry (high tech) | $4,800,000,000,000 | 2018 | [13] |
| Mobile technology | $3,900,000,000,000 | 2018 | [14] |
| Consumer electronics | $1,712,900,000,000 | 2016 | [9] |
| Semiconductor industry | $481,000,000,000 | 2018 | [2] |
| Television broadcasting services | $407,700,000,000 | 2017 | [15] |
| Power electronics | $216,000,000,000 | 2011 | [16] |
| TFTliquid-crystal displays (TFT LCD) | $141,000,000,000 | 2017 | [17] |
| Video games | $137,900,000,000 | 2018 | [18] |
| Home videofilm industry | $55,700,000,000 | 2018 | [19] |
Power Electronics is a £135 billion direct global market
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