Terminology is the studying of the terms used to identify things. In electronics, just like any other complex human endeavour, using the proper terms helps in understanding.
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2answers
67 views
What does “6 V stop-start applications” mean?
I read the following in the NXP TDF8530 leaflet:
this ultra-efficient device supports 6 V stop-start applications and delivers
audiophile sound quality
What does that "6 V stop-start ...
10
votes
5answers
362 views
What does the term “bias” mean?
I've see a number of terms that make reference to the word "bias". I've read the wikipedia article but I'm after are more practical answer.
Some examples of what a forward or reverse biased device is ...
7
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3answers
310 views
Why is the circuit board abreviation for transistor “Q”?
On circuit boards, I see that transistors are "Q", but why Q? Shouldn't "TR" be transformer, so transistor can be "T" because transistors seem to be more common then transformers.
4
votes
1answer
101 views
What is the origin of the “r” in resistance measurements? [duplicate]
In a post to the diyaudio forums, www.diyaudio.com/forums 67232, I see terminology that are likely to be measurements of resistance: "0r1", "1r0", and "10r". I am thinking the "r" there means a ...
7
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2answers
946 views
Help me understand the relationship between positive, negative, neutral and ground in AC and DC
This question stems from notations on schematics and seemingly conflicting information I'm seeing. I suspect that I'm seeing different vernacular for the same concepts--but I'm in a place where no ...
1
vote
3answers
148 views
What is “gain” a measurement of in electronics?
I'm familiar with the term "gain" used in sound and music, but I'm having difficulty finding the definition in electronics. I'm seeing the term low gain and high gain being used in the description of ...
3
votes
2answers
88 views
name of 'black trim masker' display
What is the official name again for the small black trimming 'border'/'mask' around the four edges of a display?
I just forgot the official name.. and google turns up results about a wrong display ...
35
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3answers
1k views
Why are they called breadboards?
Why are solderless protoboards called "breadboards"? I've used the term for decades but couldn't answer a student's question about the name.
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5answers
264 views
What do you call the drawing which contains tracks, pads and drilling points of a PCB layer/side?
Example:
Does this drawing has a technical name?
I see that people usually call these drawings "PCB". But, PCB is physical object, physical implementation of circuit, isn't it? Is these kind of ...
0
votes
1answer
176 views
What are pump probe measurements?
I was in class today, and we had a presentation by a student on how tunable lasers are used in fiber optics and change the wavelength. He also explained that by "pump probe measurements" a "sample ...
8
votes
3answers
550 views
What is the name of this springy type oscilloscope probe accessory?
Exactly what it says on the tin.
How is this pictured accessory called? The obvious place to look for a name would be the probe manual, but it looks like they decided to add the accessory to the ...
8
votes
2answers
488 views
What is high side current limiting?
What is high side current limiting? While google searching for the term I have found ICs that describe their application as "high side load switching". Is this the same thing or something utterly ...
4
votes
3answers
168 views
Name of connector for attaching to bolt
I have a heating element (essentially a very resistive wire) that has two threaded bolt-like connectors on each end. I want to avoid soldering any components of the heating element, so I asked a ...
9
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3answers
1k views
Crystals, Oscillators, and Resonators. What the difference?
I am trying to figure out the difference between crystals, oscillators, and resonators. I'm starting to grasp it but I still have some questions.
From my understanding, an oscillator is built from a ...
6
votes
5answers
281 views
What is the definition of “cathode”?
According to Wikipedia's definition, a cathode is "an electrode through which electric current flows out of a polarized electrical device". However, the direction of current flow is purely an ...
8
votes
2answers
377 views
What are sacrificial components?
The circuit diagram of a board I'm working on has parts labelled as "sacrificial components". These components seem to be pairs of probe points connected via a capacitor, and connected to nothing ...
2
votes
1answer
174 views
What does NOM stand for in a datasheet and what does it mean?
The question is in reference to: http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/sn74ls00.pdf
8
votes
2answers
375 views
UART & USART - What's the difference
In the office I hear these terms thrown around as if they are the same. My understanding is that USARTs can deliver the clock signal along with the data.
Are there any other differences? What are the ...
12
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2answers
794 views
What does it mean to “assert a pin”?
From the XBee/XBeePro product manual page 24 (link to pdf):
Sleep Modes enable the RF module to enter states of low-power consumption when not in use. In order to enter Sleep Mode, one of the ...
4
votes
1answer
130 views
LED size nomenclature
Round LEDs are often indicated by "T-1" for 3mm LEDs or "T-1 3/4" for 5mm LEDs. What does the "T" mean, and how should I read other indications like this when I encounter them? "T" doesn't seem to fit ...
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3answers
100 views
What is the terminology for polarity?
We have all seen the little symbols on electronic connectors that indicate its polarity. But is there a term for describing it other than something like positive inside, negative outside or negative ...
3
votes
4answers
970 views
Why do we call it a “board spin”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Interesting/Unusual/Old Electronics nomenclature
I've been getting into some minor board design work lately, and got confused a few times, because some of my colleagues ...
4
votes
3answers
595 views
What back-end and front-end are in hardware design?
I saw these two terms in context of chip-design.
what are Back-end and Front-end?
what are the differences between them?
3
votes
3answers
315 views
What do you call the dynamic range of a variable gain amp?
Dynamic range is the ratio of the largest signal a system can process to the noise floor of that system.
If the system has variable gain, though, then you could interpret this two ways:
Fixed gain ...
3
votes
2answers
411 views
specifying a non-momentary switch?
If I say something like "SPDT switch" it's assumed to be a non-momentary switch. Is there standard nomenclature for unambiguously specifying a non-momentary switch?
6
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3answers
538 views
Why is U used for ICs on circuit diagrams? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What do the PCB markings mean?
On circuit diagrams, C stands for Capacitor, R for Resistor, L for inductor (for Lenz), but why is U used for ICs on circuit diagrams?
0
votes
1answer
54 views
generic term for inductors/capacitors/transformers for power-handling applications
Can anyone think of a generic term to cover capacitors and magnetics for power-handling applications? (is there one?)
I want to distinguish from power semiconductors and signal-level ...
3
votes
2answers
216 views
Where might I find a prefabricated enclosure for a PCB?
I'm working on a small electronics project that includes a micro-controller and a few extra items soldered down to a PCB. This project will need to be contained in a nice chassis/enclosure that can be ...
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3answers
211 views
What are these connectors called?
There are two horizontal connectors in this illustration, one with four pins and one with six pins.
What are these connectors called?
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3answers
75 views
Correct Term for Radiation Pattern of Target
I am hoping that this is the right forum for questions related to radar systems.
The radiation pattern for an antenna is (a plot of) the relative strength of an emitted antennas signal as a function ...
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vote
7answers
367 views
What do you call it when you add energy to an inductor?
When you add energy to a capacitor, you say that you are "charging it".
This is kind of a misnomer, since the total amount of charge in the capacitor is the same, but whatever.
(Actually, using ...
1
vote
3answers
398 views
Deciphering Mux/Demux/Switch Nomenclature: AxB:C?
I'm looking through Digikey's Interface - Switches, Multiplexers, Demultiplexers section (and, thanks to W5VO, the Logic - Signal Switches, Multiplexers, Decoders section as well), and I'm having ...
15
votes
11answers
739 views
Interesting/Unusual/Old Electronics nomenclature
I've recently been transliterating some old schematics for a friend of mine (Basically taking paper schematics from the 40s and drawing them in a modern EDA package) and have come across some very ...
14
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5answers
2k views
What is a pull up and pull down?
Can some one explain this terminology please I think I understand it but not completely sure.
I think pull down is where you place a resistor between +V and the other component and pull up is where ...
