Adjustable inductors are a type of electronic component used primarily to control the flow of electrical current in a circuit. Their main function lies in their ability to adjust the inductance, which is the property of an electrical conductor by which a change in current flowing through it induces an electromotive force in both the conductor itself and in any nearby conductors by mutual inductance. This adjustable feature is crucial for applications requiring tuning or variable frequency operation, such as in radio frequency (RF) circuits, filters, and oscillators, allowing for precise control over signal frequencies and impedance matching.
The main uses of adjustable inductors include tuning circuits, controlling signal bandwidth, and adjusting circuit resonance. These components are particularly characteristic for their versatility and efficiency in applications where variable inductance is required to achieve optimal performance. Common characteristics include a variable core, which can be manually adjusted to change the inductance value, thereby modifying the circuit's overall behavior.