A low alkali lime glass, noted for its good electrical properties.
A wing shaped device to hold cables prior to final termination into some IDT connectors. Connectors may be single- or double-eagle.
Electrically Alterable Programmab1e Read Only Memory.
See EEPROM.
Non-US English speaking world terminology for electrical potential zero-reference ground.
See Edge Connector.
The center of a conductor's location with respect to the center of the circular cross section of insulation. Eccentricity is expressed as a percentage of displacement of one circle within another.
Emitter-Coupled Logic. A technology for building logic gates in which the emitter of a transistor is used as the output rather than its collector and the power supply voltage is negative with respect to the ground reference. ECL permits very high speed logic operation and transmission of digital data.
See Edge Connector.
End of a PCB designed to mate with a one-piece receptacle, containing female contacts. An edge card connectors is designed to receive the edge of a printed circuit board and interconnect onto which the male contacts are etched or printed. The connector may contain either a single or double row of female contacts. Both thermoplastic and thermosetting materials are used.
The oldest solderability test. It is performed by taking a specially prepared specimen, fluxing it with a non-activated rosin flux, and then immersing it into a pot of molten solder at a pre-determined rate of immersion for pre-determined dwell, and then withdrawing at a particular rate. Wettability of the solder is the test criterion.
A contact style in which the female contact holds the thin edge of the male contact.
See Edge Connector.
A series of contacts printed on or near any edge of a printed board and intended for mating with an edge connector's female counterpart.
See also Edge Connector.
Electronic Data Interchange. A standard by which documents such as purchase orders, invoices, etc. are sent and received electronically.
EDI is a platform-independent communications technology, which means it works on any kind of computer from a PC to a mainframe, for the exchange of business documents and forms. Premium line exchanges several record types with customers and vendors using the SAP system.
Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory. A solid-state storage device capable of read only memory that can be reprogrammed by a burst of electricity of a specified voltage without being removed from the computer.
Time a resource stops during production due to reel change, jamming, fatigue (for labor resources). This time is not recorded as downtime.
The insulating walls between the cavities within the contact or wire entry face of the connector housing. This prevents shorts and minimizes shock.
Electronic Industries Association. Lead standards body that sets premise wiring standards in the US (Formerly RMA or RETMA).
ANSI standard for planning and installing wiring in commercial buildings.
Extended Industry Standard Architecture. It is the 32-bit bus architecture that evolved from the original ISA bus. Developed by a consortium of 9 computer vendors in the '80s.
A rubbery polymer (lightly cross-linked) which at room temperature under a tensile stress stretches to at least twice its length and returns to its original length upon release of the stress.
The maximum potential gradient that a material can withstand without rupture. Also called dielectric strength and disruptive gradient.
Switch actuation produced by various electrical phenomena. Involves a change in state rather than a mechanical operation.
Electrical (DC) Thermal Analogue Model
Under DC or steady-state conditions, an "equivalent circuit" created for the solution of a DC electrical problem has its symmetrical thermal analogue, i.e., an "equivalent circuit" created to solve a thermal problem, or vice versa. This is true since DC electrical resistances behave similarly compared with that of thermal resistances, effecting analogously (electrical/thermal) flow under a gradient (voltage/thermal).
The minimum current that will keep relay contact springs energized. Also called hold current.
Electrical Interconnect Device
U.S. terminology for electrical connector.
A measurement of the resistance form circuit-to-circuit through the interfacial connection. Designed to insure a satisfactory connection.
See Thermal Resistance.
Electroplating using tin.
The deposition of conductive material from an auto-catalytic plating solution, without application of electrical current.
The controlled autocatalytic reduction of a metal ion on certain catalytic surfaces.
Corrosion by means of electro-chemical erosion.
A method of raw-copper preparation to ensure a good physical and electrical grade copper finished product.
A coil of wire that develops a concentrated magnetic field likened to that of a N-, S-Pole magnet when an electric current flows through the coil. Note that a magnetic field exists, unconcentrated, about a straight wire carrying current.
The transfer of energy by means of a varying magnetic field. Also called inductive coupling.
Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)
Electromagnetic waves that interrupt signals in electronic equipment. A common example is the electromagnetic waves generated by lightning that cause noise in radio or TV signals.
A continuous range of electromagnetic signals, from the lowest frequencies (longest wavelengths) to the highest frequencies (shortest wavelengths).
Magnetism caused by the flow of electric current.
A dynamic, unified, coupled field state of the electric and magnetic fields developed under conditions of high frequency signals and/or fast transient signals. The mode, usually TEM mode, of propagation of the energy of a signal waveform down a transmission line.
See also TEM mode.
The force that determines the flow of electricity; a difference of electric potential.
Electrically charged particle that orbits the nucleus of every atom. The charge of the electron is called negative (-) to signify that it is equal to and opposite to that of a proton, positive (+). The electron is tiny, only 1/1840 of the mass of a proton.
A device in which electrons move through a vacuum, in one direction, from the cathode to the plate, or anode. A grid, used in some types of tubes, between the cathode and plate, controls the flow of electrons (current), allowing the electron tube to act as a switch or amplifier. Until 1960, the electron tube was king of the electronics world. Transistors have replaced tubes in most applications since then. Also known as a vacuum tube.
A measurement unit, particularly for atomic and nuclear process, that represents the energy gained by an electron by accelerating it through one volt of electric potential difference.
See Electronic Interconnect Device.
Wire used to make the internal connections between the various electrical parts of electronic assemblies.
Electronic Interconnect Device
A device made from one or more materials, usually plastic or metal, that bridges a gap between two conductors and allows the flow of electric current or of light waves from one conductor to another.
Related to the movement and control of electrical charges through devices, circuits, systems, semiconductors and vacuum tubes. The technology of controlling electron flow.
The electro-deposition of an adherent metal coating on a conductive object for protection, decoration, or other purposes.
Pertaining to static electricity, or electricity at rest. An electric charge, for example.
The transfer of energy by means of a varying electrostatic field. Capacitive coupling.
Electromagnetic Compatibility. EMC is the standard term for RFI/EMI.
Electromotive Force. Voltage.
See Electromagnetic Interference.
In fiber optics, a device that generates a light signal from an electrical current. For fiber optics, emitters are used to change an electrical signal to light and to launch the light onto a fiber.
An integrated circuit logic family characterized by very high speed of operation, low circuit density per chip, with a very high power consumption when compared to other SC logic families.
See also ECL.
A transistor current amplifier.
To enclose a component in an envelope of plastic.
A device or circuit which changes any form of information into coded digital data.
A process by which a single input signal is translated into an equivalent or representative set of simultaneous output signals.
An accessory similar to a cable clamp which attaches to the back of a plug or receptacle. It serves as an adapter for the back of a connector.
A mounting option for terminal blocks. Contacts in end sections allow an installer to mount blocks with screws in end section holes.
A glow lamp that is used for its light output is said to have reached its end-of-life when the light output falls to 50 percent of its original value. If a lamp is used as a circuit component, the end-of-life occurs when the characteristics fall out of specifications. Lamps operated on AC have longer life figures due to shorter duty cycle.
A specified set of limiting electrical and/or mechanical conditions, any of which when reached, indicate that a switch has reached the end of its useful life.
Loss of energy from a system due to the conversion of work into undesirable forms. An example of this is heat loss that is due to friction in a mechanical system.
A measure, in pounds per circuit, of the effort required to mate the plug with the receptacle. Multiply the number of circuits in the housing by the per circuit engagement force. Engagement force can be a major concern in higher circuit count housings due to potentially high total mating forces and in printed circuit board applications where high mating forces could damage the PCB.
Has the same definition as backbone. The main difference is it enables the entire enterprise to be united into a commonly managed LAN. This provides high bandwidth and low latency without complicating network management.
See also Backbone
Supports simultaneous, parallel conversations between Ethernet segments. Solves congestion problems caused by high-bandwidth devices and a large number of users by assigning each device its own 10-, 100-, or 1000-Mbps segment.
Enterprise Routers consist of a wide variety of line cards that connect any local area network protocol to any wide area network interface over any required data rate. This delivers the highest performance availability, operational efficiency and the greatest level of service.
Delivers a common unified network. Produces application-optimized performance to provide true data, telephony and video application integration.
The damaging admission and trapping of air, flux, and fumes; it is caused by contamination and plating.
The aggregate of all conditions which externally influence a device's performance.
Space below a raised floor or above a hung ceiling used for heating or air conditioning. When cables are installed in environmental air space, they must be of the plenum variety.
The electrical and mechanical resistance of a switch to specified environmental extremes such as dust, moisture, salt spray, and corrosive vapors.
A connector provided with gaskets, seals, potting, or other devices to keep out moisture, dirt, air, or dust which might reduce its performance.
Elevator lighting and control cable. Rubber insulation, cotton braid, neoprene jacket, 300 in, 14-18 AWG, 2 or more conductors.
Ethylene-propylene-diene copolymer elastomer or rubber. A material with good electrical insulating properties.
A chemical/physical reaction in the semiconductor manufacturing process in which silicon is precipitated from a gaseous solution and grows upon the surface of a silicon wafer. The nature of this growth is highly controlled and is an important fact in the quality of the silicon wafer
A family of thermosetting resins used in the packaging of semiconductor devices. Epoxies form a chemical bond to many metal surfaces.
In fiber optics, a method of terminating connectors. Requires the use of epoxy to bond the fiber to the connector, and the polishing of the fiber to provide a low loss optical interface.
Chemical compounds bearing two or more epoxide (or oxirane) groups per molecule.
Ethylene-propylene Copolymer Rubber. A material with good electrical insulating properties.
Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory. A solid-state storage device capable of read only memory that can be removed from the computer and exposed to ultraviolet light in order to be reprogrammed.
Greek letter used to represent the symbol for the material dielectric constant.
Point at which the PBX and other communications equipment common to a premise wiring network are stored. Often this room is also the point in which incoming cables are cross-connected to the in-building cabling.
A simplified circuit that represents a more complex circuit but permits easier analysis.
Electronic Representatives Association
Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory
See EPROM.
Enterprise Systems Connection - developed for high speed communication between mainframes and storage devices, peripheral control units, cluster controllers and other networks. ESCON is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
Electrostatic Discharging. Grounding, or the escape of resting electricity.
Elevator and control cable. Polyvinyl chloride insulation, three braids, flame retardant and moisture retardant finish. 300 in, 14-18 AWG, 2 or more conductors.
The most popular local area network (LAN) protocol. Ethernet is based on a CSMA/CD algorithm.
Electrolytic Tough Pitch Copper. A minimum conductivity of 99.9 percent.
Electron Volt
Enhanced Video Connector
Stoppage of equipment due to no orders.
See Central Office.
Logic Gate. Either input (but not both) of a two input logic gate having a 1 signal will produce a logic 1 output state.
A connector housing mold that can run a series of circuit sizes within the same family. Used where small to medium volume part numbers is required.
A connector that provides a flexible connection between a rigid conductor and an electrical apparatus.
Advanced statistical techniques used to analyze the effects of process parameters, or factors, and their levels. Also known as design of experiments (DOE) through experimental design training (EDT).
A PCB that is an extension to a motherboard with another (usually smaller) board in the horizontal plane
The voltage at which a neon lamp will stop glowing.
Cables with conductors that are insulated and formed in a uniform configuration by the application of a homogeneous insulation material in a continuous plastic/polymer extrusion process.
Method of forcing plastic, rubber, or elastomer material through an orifice in more-or-less continuous fashion to apply insulation or jacketing to a conductor or cable.
The feeding, inserting, staking, and fusing of eyelets in printed boards to provide a properly fused connection.