Resistor - four terminal device

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the classification of resistors and capacitors as four-terminal and three-terminal devices, respectively. Participants seek clarification on these terms and their applications, particularly in relation to integrated circuits and measurement techniques.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that resistors are referred to as four-terminal devices and capacitors as three-terminal devices, seeking explanations or sources for this classification.
  • Others challenge this classification, noting that transistors are typically described as three-terminal devices.
  • A participant with industry experience expresses skepticism about the terminology, indicating they have not encountered it in their professional background.
  • One participant suggests that the term "four-terminal current sense resistor" may be relevant and provides a link to a source for further information.
  • Another participant mentions a specific context where four terminals are used for measuring low voltages across a resistor, referencing a textbook for additional context.
  • A different perspective is offered regarding bipolar junction transistors and field effect transistors, proposing that FETs could be considered four-terminal devices due to their substrate connection.
  • One participant clarifies that while a four-terminal setup is used for measuring resistivity, it does not classify as a resistor itself.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not appear to reach a consensus on the classification of resistors and capacitors as four-terminal and three-terminal devices. Multiple competing views and uncertainties remain regarding the terminology and its applications.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying levels of familiarity with the terms, and there are references to specific applications and contexts that may influence the understanding of these classifications. The discussion includes references to academic sources and practical applications, but no definitive conclusions are drawn.

ineedmunchies
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I've read of resistors being referred to as four terminal devices, and capacitors being referred to as 3 terminal devices, can anyone explain this? or point me to a source that explains it, I can't find anything about it online.
 
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I've never heard that, transistors are 3 terminal devices.
 
Well, I'm an integrated circuit designer with a master's in electrical engineering and almost ten years of industry experience -- and I've never heard of such things either.

- Warren
 
chroot said:
Well, I'm an integrated circuit designer with a master's in electrical engineering and almost ten years of industry experience -- and I've never heard of such things either.

- Warren

One day I want to be able to say that.
 
ineedmunchies said:
I've read of resistors being referred to as four terminal devices, and capacitors being referred to as 3 terminal devices, can anyone explain this? or point me to a source that explains it, I can't find anything about it online.

Could you be referring to a Four-terminal current sense resistor?
http://www.koaspeer.com/resistors.asp?part=24
3-terminal capacitor (US Patent 5040094)
http://www.google.com/patents?id=p7UdAAAAEBAJ&dq=3+terminal+capacitor

Where did you read it from?
 
I'm still not clear on this, but its not that important. It was a past paper question for one of the modules I am doing, I believe it was referring to some sort of resistor where there were very low voltages being measured, current was driven through two of the terminals and the voltage measured across the other two terminals.

There was a small paragraph about it in "Electronic Instrumentation and Measurements" by David A. Bell
 
ineedmunchies said:
I've read of resistors being referred to as four terminal devices, and capacitors being referred to as 3 terminal devices, can anyone explain this? or point me to a source that explains it, I can't find anything about it online.

Maybe you mean that bipolar junction transistors (which have resistive coupling between the base and conduction channel) are three terminal devices while field effect transistors (which have capacitive coupling between the gate and conduction channel) are four terminal devices.

I could be a troll and wait for someone to say "you're wrong, FETs only have three terminals: the gate, the source and the drain". Instead, I will preemptively remind everyone that a FET also has a substrate which must be connected to ground... therefore, it is technically a four terminal device.
 
Perhaps you're thinking about the apparatus for measuring resistivity, ineedmunchies. It does indeed involve four terminals, but it's not a "resistor."

- Warren
 

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