A Diode - low power or signal

A Germanium B Diode - variable capacitance

B Silicon
C Transistor - audio frequency, low
power
C Gallium Arsenide

R Compound materials D Transistor - audio frequency, power

The characters following the first

two letters form the serial number E Tunnel diode
of the device. Those intended for
domestic use have three
numbers, but those intended for
F Transistor - high frequency, low power
commercial or industrial use have
letter followed by two numbers,
i.e. A10 - Z99.
G Miscellaneous devices
First Letter
Specifies semiconductor
material
H Diode - sensitive to magnetism
Second Letter
Specifies type of device
L Transistor - high frequency, power
Subsequent Characters

The characters following the first

two letters form the serial number N Photocoupler
of the device. Those intended for
domestic use have three
numbers, but those intended for
P Light detector
commercial or industrial use have
letter followed by two numbers,
i.e. A10 - Z99.
Q Light emitter
 R Switching device, low power, e.g.
thyristor, diac, unijunction

S Transistor - switching low power

T Switching device, low power, e.g.

thyristor, triac

U Transistor - switching, power

W Surface acoustic wave device

X Diode multiplier

Y Diode rectifying

Z Diode - voltage reference

Examine the JEDEC chart. The typical format for the transistor is a digit, letter and serial
number. The first digit is the number of leads minus one. An ordinary bipolar transistor has three
leads, so the first digit for it will be 2. The letter N is for semiconductors, so this will be the letter
written on a transistor using this system. The serial number gives information about the device
operation and specifications, and you must read the packaging or data sheet to find them.
Sometimes there are extra letters on the transistors that refer to the manufacturer. M means the
manufacturer is Motorola, while TI means Texas Instruments. A code 2N222 is an example of a
transistor with JEDEC coding.
Study the Pro Electron chart. Its format for transistors is two letters followed by a serial number.
The first letter represents the material. For instance, A means germanium and B means silicon.
The second letter refers to transistor type. For instance, C means small signal and D means
power.

Analyze the JIS chart. Its format for a transistor is a digit, two letters and a serial number. The
first digit is the number of leads minus one, so it will be 2 for a bipolar transistor. The first letter
will be an S, for semiconductor. The second letter refers to transistor type, such as A for a high-
frequency PNP transistor and C for an NPN high-frequency transistor. Sometimes 2S is assumed,
and so it is not explicitly written on the component’s casing.