LAN term used ambiguously as either a synonym for an active hubbing device or an interface between multiple LAN nodes at slow speeds to a LAN at higher speeds. An FDDI concentrator is either a hub for multiple FDDI LANs, or it concentrates signals from Ethernet nodes so as to put them on FDDI. You normally have to deduce which is which from the context. In this context, a concentrator is only a device that concentrates slower-speed LAN nodes to put their signals on a faster LAN.
A group of non-insulated wires twisted together and containing a center core with subsequent layers spirally wrapped around the core to form a single conductor.
In a wire or cable, the measurement of the location of the center of the conductor with respect to the geometric center of the circular insulation.
An older term for capacitor.
See Capacitor.
The reciprocal of resistance. With transmission lines, the shunt resistance or conductancethat leaks current through the material dielectric creating an irreversible loss and heating mechanism as a function of frequency.
The bridging of circuits by conductive salts. This contamination develops from plating and etching residues as well as from flux residues.
The configuration or design of the conductive material on the base material. Includes conductors, lands, and through connections when these connections are an integral part of the manufacturing process, such as additive.
The ability of a material to conduct electric current. It is expressed in terms of the current per unit of applied voltage. It is the reciprocal of resistivity.
A wire or combination of wires not insulated from one another, suitable for carrying electric current.
The distance between adjacent edges (not centerline to centerline) of isolated conductive patterns in a conductor layer.
A device on a terminal, splice contact or tool used to prevent excessive extension of the conductor beyond the conductor barrel.
Pipe for protecting wires or cables.
Arrangement of contacts in a multiple-contact connector. Premium line power connector families are available in free hanging, panel mounted wire-to-wire, and printed circuit board header assembly configurations.
Confined Crescent Crimp (CC Crimp)
A crimp that remains within the outside diameter of the original barrel. It is usually identified by two crescent-shaped forms on the top and bottom of the wire barrel crimp.
A crimp that remains in the confines of the outside diameter of the original barrel, but also shows a "C" indent into the wire at the point where the barrel is closed around the wire.
An insulating protective coating that conforms to the surface geometry configuration of the object coated, applied to the completed PC board assembly.
That part of a circuit which has a negligible impedance and which joins components, devices, etc. together.
A pattern illustrating the connections needed to place an electronic system in operation when such system includes one or more assemblies, power supplies, and devices being controlled.
A coupling device which provides an electrical and mechanical connection/disconnection in a system. Connectors usually consists of a plastic housing and metal conductors. Some connectors also have an outer metal shell. When two halves of a connector are mated, they bridge the gap in an electrical or fiber optics circuit. In the US, connectors are more commonly referred to as electrical interconnect devices.
That portion of printed wiring used for the purpose of providing external electrical connections.
A mated plug and receptacle.
See Connector Housing.
See Connector Housing.
Amount by which a compressed connector will not recover its original height when compression is removed within the prescribed deflection limits.
A mismatch of the characteristic impedance of a connector and that of the system signal net (circuit of driver-receiver) in which it is located that can produce reflection noise degrading the signal.
Insulating material that encapsulates contacts. Once pins and sockets are inserted into the housing, the assembly is called a connector. Connector housings are usually made of plastic and are sometimes called blocks, or shells, or bodies.
For connectors with metal shells, the insert is that part which holds contacts in proper arrangement while electrically insulating them from each other and from the shell.
The loss of power due to insertion of a mated connector on to a cable.
A family of connector inserts which are uniform in external dimension, but which have the ability of each accepting different types of contacts or having different contact densities or configurations.
Center-to-center measurement of conductive layers.
A connector signal fidelity characterization for a given signal waveform that is measured specifically as the rise time-degradation of the incident signal rise time as it passes through a connector. In other words, it is a measure of a connector's ability to preserve the edges of a signal waveform, being ideally 0 for an ideal connector; and quantitatively also given as: Tr2,out = Tr2, sig + Tr2,conn.
Two or more separate plug and receptacle connectors designed to be mated together.
See Connector Housing.
The function which relates to the loss of back stress of the compressed connector over time, expressed as a percentage of original stress.
The added resistance, above the bulk, created by a current path which curves and/or "funnels" into a reduced geometric zone, e.g., flow from a large diameter wire to that of a small one; or flow into the contact asperities, the "A-Spots" of the critical area.
The conducting part of a connector that acts with another such part to complete or break a circuit. Also known as terminals.
Material erosion from contacts during operation in the presence of organic vapors.
Defines the overall side play which contacts shall have within the insert cavity so as to permit self-alignment of mated contacts. Sometimes referred to as amount of contact float.
Area in contact between two conductors or a conductor and a connector permitting flow of electrical current.
The number, spacing, and pattern of contacts in a connector.
An actuated contact surface where a contact travels on the surface of its mating contact during the actuation cycle, then moves back to a clean wiped surface at the completion of the actuation cycle.
The momentary rebounding occurring between two contact surfaces before they attain firm closure in a switch.
The capacitance that exists between two open contacts in a switch.
A defined hole in the connector insert into which the contacts must fit.
Connector ohmic discontinuities.
Number of conductive layers per inch.
Endurance measured by the number of insertion and withdrawal cycles that a connector withstands while remaining within its specified performance levels.
Contact Engaging and Separating Force
Force needed to either engage or separate pins and socket contacts when they are in and out of connector inserts. Values are generally established for maximum and minimum forces.
A contact located in an insert or body in such a manner that the mating contact is inserted into the unit. It is similar in function to a socket contact.
The actual force exerted during the mating of two contact surfaces.
The effective open distance between the movable and stationary contacts.
The amount of inductive reactance between the contacts that results in losses in high frequency signals in switches.
A hole in the cylindrical rear portion of a contact used to check the depth to which a wire has been inserted.
The mating regions of two contact surfaces.
Length of travel made by one contact in contact with another during assembly or disassembly of a connector. Sometimes called contact mating length.
See also Wiping.
A contact located in an insert or body in such a manner that the mating portion extends into the female contact. It is similar in function to a pin contact.
Plated-on metal applied to the base contact metal to provide the required contact-resistance and/or wear-resistance.
In most connectors, the maximum number of contacts that can be actively engaged. In edge connectors, the total number of contacts.
See Read Out.
Force which mating surfaces exert against each other.
The maximum and minimum voltage, current and power that a contact system is capable of switching under certain specified conditions.
Maximum permitted electrical resistance of pin and socket contacts when assembled in a connector under typical service use.
The flanged portion of the contact which limits its travel into the insert.
Defines the largest size wire which can be used with the specific contact. By specification dimensioning, it also defines the diameter of the engagement end of the pin.
The spring placed inside the socket-type contact to force the pin into a position of positive intimate contact.
The area over which matting contact surfaces are touching during engagement and separation.
See also Wiping.
A continuous path for the flow of current in an electrical circuit.
An electrical test used at various stages in the connector overmolding process.
The designated RMS alternating or direct current which the connector can carry continuously under specified conditions.
A multi-conductor cable made for operation in control or signal circuits, usually flexible, relatively and/or wear-resistance.
The graphic representation of a characteristic of a process, showing plotted values representing statistics from that characteristic along with one or two control limits. Its basic uses include determining process control and aiding in achieving and maintaining statistical control.
An assembly that consists of a membrane switch plus active electronic components such as drivers, controllers, or integrated circuits that perform a function on a PCB.
A transmission line which has relatively tight tolerances on it characteristic impedance Zo and the line parameters which make up Zo.
A conveying, or transference, of heat or electricity by moving particles of matter.
A definite formatting method used in electronic diagrams to present the clearest picture of the circuit function.