MO DER N
`DICTI ONARY
`of
`ELECTRONICS
`Rudolf F. Graf
`
`SIXTH ED ITION
`
`Howard W. Sams & Co., Inc.
`4300 WE ST 62ND ST. INDIANAPOLIS, IN DIANA 46268 USA
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`Preface
`
`We are in the midst of a high-technology explosion. Technological
`ad vances in electronics and closely related fields occur at a feverish pace.
`l'o keep up with this exciting industry, a truly " modern" dictionary must
`reflect the ever-expanding vocabulary generated by the science of electron(cid:173)
`ics. It must not only record additions to the language but also define and
`explain terms with authority in that form of the language which is uni(cid:173)
`quely suited to its time and place.
`Those who work in new areas frequently need a new vocabulary to
`effectively communicate thoughts and ideas about their field of specializa(cid:173)
`tion . Originators of newly coined terms assign their initial meanings, but
`definitions frequently change with technological advances and through
`actual use by others.
`Every new edition of this dictionary corroborates the impressive growth
`of the electronics industry. It is a body of data about the language of
`electronics dedicated to the task of improving comprehension and com(cid:173)
`munication, deriving its authority from the care and completeness with
`which its content were collected and interpreted. Definitions are written in
`a clear and simple style that is understandable and yet consistent with the
`level of complexity of the term being defined. It should come as no sur(cid:173)
`prise that this sixth edition of the Modern Dictionary of Electronics(cid:173)
`probably the most up-to-date electronics dictionary in the world(cid:173)
`contains definitions of app roximately 25,000 terms unique to electronics
`and related fields. This includes 5000 more definitions than were in the
`fifth edition published in 1977, as many new terms as would have half(cid:173)
`f illed the firs t edition published only 20 years ago. All earlier definitions
`were reviewed and revised or expanded where necessary, to further
`enhance the intelligibility of each entry and to ensure meaningful, concise
`defini tions requiring no further interpretation. Illustrations have been
`updated, modified and augmented to help give clarity to the definitions.
`While this work is as up-to-date as possible at the time of publication,
`the field of electronics is expanding so rapidly that new terms continuously
`evolve and established terms take on broader or more specialized mean(cid:173)
`ings. The publisher intends to issue revised editions of this dictionary
`periodically; thus suggestions for new terms and definitions are always
`welcomed.
`
`Copyright .. J 962, 1963, J 968, 1972, 1977, and 1984
`by Rudolf F. Graf
`
`SJXTH EDITION
`FIRST PRINTING- 1984
`
`All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be
`reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by
`any means, electronic, mechanical , photocopying, record(cid:173)
`ing, or otherwise, without written permission from the pub(cid:173)
`lisher. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use
`of the information contained herein. While every precaution
`has been taken in the preparation of this book, the pub(cid:173)
`lisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions.
`Neither is any liability ass umed for damages resulting from
`the use of the information contained herein.
`
`International Standard Book Number : 0-672-22041-5
`
`Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 83-51223
`
`Edited by: Charlie Bujfingwri and ]udi Davis
`Illustrated by: T.R. Emric/1
`
`Primed in 1he Uniced Scaws of America.
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`I
`
`baffle plate-balanc ed c irc u it
`
`shielding device designed to reduce the
`effect of stray light on an optical system.
`b affle plate-A metal plate inserted into
`a waveguide to reduce the cross-sectional
`area for wave-co nversion purposes.
`bail-A loop of wire used to prevent per(cid:173)
`;manent separation of two or more parts
`assembled together-e.g., the bail hold(cid:173)
`ing dust-caps on round connectors.
`Bakelite - A trademark of the Bakelite
`Corp. for its line of plastic and resins.
`Formerly, the term applied only ro its
`phenolic compound used as an insulating
`material in the construction of radio
`parts .
`b ake-ou t
`an unscaled
`Subjecting
`-
`(hy brid ) ci rcuit package to an elevated
`temperature to bake out moisture and un(cid:173)
`wanted gases prior to fi nal sealing .
`balance -
`I. T he effect of blending the
`volume of vario us sounds coming over
`different microphones in order to present
`them in correct proportion. 2. The mainte(cid:173)
`nance of equal average volume from both
`speake r systems of a stereo installation . 3.
`Relative volume, as between different
`voices or instruments bass and treble, or
`left and right stereo channels. 4. Either a
`condition of sy mmetry in an electrical
`circuit, such as a Wheatstone bridge, or
`the condition of zero output from a device
`when properly energi zed. In the latter
`sense, depending upon the nature of the
`excitation , two ge neral categories of bal(cid:173)
`ance may be encountered: for de excita(cid:173)
`tion , resiHive balance; for ac excitation ,
`resistive and/ or reactive balance.
`balance control- I. On a stereo amplifi(cid:173)
`er, a differential gai n control used to vary
`the volume of one speake r system rel ative
`to the other without affecting the overall
`volume
`level. As
`t he volume of one
`speaker increases and t he other decreases,
`the sound appears to shift from left to
`cente r to right, or vice versa. 2. A variable
`
`resistor used to compensate for any slight
`loss of signal in the r ight or left channel of
`a stereo amplifier. To some extent, this
`control can compensate for unbalanced
`speakers and be used for adjustment
`when the listener is not in an equidistant
`position between the two loudspeakers. 3.
`A va riable component, such as a potenti(cid:173)
`ometer or variable capacitor, used to bal(cid:173)
`ance bridges, null circuits, or phase
`speakers.
`balanced- l . Electrically alike and sym(cid:173)
`to ground . 2.
`metrical with
`respect
`Arra nged to provide balance between cer(cid:173)
`tain sets of terminals.
`balanced ampli fier - An amplifier cir(cid:173)
`cuit with two identical signal branches,
`connected to operate in phase opposition
`and wi th their input and output connec(cid:173)
`tions each balanced to ground; for exam(cid:173)
`ple, a push-pull amplifier (sec below).
`balanced armature - An armat ure
`which is approximately in equilibrium
`with respect to both static and d ynamic
`forces.
`balanced- armature unit -The dr iving
`unit used in magnetic speakers, consisting
`of an iron arma ture pivoted between the
`poles of a permanent magnet and sur(cid:173)
`rounded by coils carrying the audio-fre(cid:173)
`quency current. Variations in t he audio(cid:173)
`frcqucnc y current ca use correspond ing
`changes in the armat ure magnetism and
`corresponding moveme nts of the arma(cid:173)
`ture with res pcct to the poles of the per(cid:173)
`mane nt magnet.
`balanced bridge - A bridge circuit with
`its components adjusted so t hat it has an
`output voltage of zero.
`balanced circuit -
`I. A circuit with two
`sides electricall y alike and symmetrical to
`reference point, usuall y
`a common
`ground. 2. A ci rcuit terminated by a net(cid:173)
`work that has infinite impedance losses.
`3. A circu it te rminated by a network
`
`Balarrced push -pull am p lifier.
`
`78
`
`ba lanced c onverter-balanced-wire circuit
`
`which (1) t he im pedance centers of the
`tank circuits arc at ground potential and
`(2) the voltages bet ween either end and
`the centers arc equal in magnitude and
`opposite in phase.
`balanced output-A 3-conductor output
`(as from a microphone) in which the sig(cid:173)
`nal voltage alternates above and belo w a
`third neutral circuit. This symmetrical ar(cid:173)
`to cancel any hum
`rangement
`tends
`picked up by long lengths of intercon(cid:173)
`necting cable.
`1. A
`balanced o utput t r ansformer -
`push-pull output
`transformer with a
`center-tapped primary winding. 2. An
`output transformer with a grounded cen(cid:173)
`ter tap on its secondary winding.
`balanced probe -A probe, used with an
`electronic voltmeter or oscilloscope,
`which has a balanced inp ut and (usuall y)
`a single-ended output.
`balanced telephone line - A telephone
`line which is floa ted wi th respect to
`groun d so that the impedance measured
`from either side of the line to ground is
`equal to that of the other side to ground.
`balanced termination-For a system or
`netwo rk having two output terminals, a
`load presenting the same impedance to
`gro und for each output terminal.
`balanced transm ission line -A trans(cid:173)
`mission line having equal conductor re(cid:173)
`sistances per unit length and equal imped(cid:173)
`ances from each conductor to earth and to
`other electrical circuits.
`balanced voltages - Also called push(cid:173)
`pull voltages. On the two conductors of a
`line , vol tages
`(relative
`to
`balanced
`ground) which arc equal in magnitude
`and opposite in polarity at every point
`along the line.
`balanced-wire circuit - A circuit with
`two sides electrically alike and symmetri(cid:173)
`to gro und and other conductors.
`cal
`Commonly refers to a circuit t he two
`sides of which differ only by chance .
`
`" """" impedance balances that of the
`''"' . 1 ""ii ting in negligible return losses .
`t 1\ , 1n.:uit whose electrical midpoint is
`1•1 "'"'dc·J , as op posed to the single-ended
`, •I • 1111 , which has one side grounded . 5. A
`1>11ilrd bridge circuit . 6. Telephone circuit
`'" wl1i ch the two conductors are electri(cid:173)
`• ii Iv ha lanced
`to each other and to
`p 11 111u d.
`l•ulu nccd converter-See Balun.
`1 .. 1luuced currents - Also called push-
`1•11 11 currents. In the two conductors of a
`l•nlJ111ccd line, currents which arc equal in
`"'" "" and opposite in direction at every
`1••11 111 along the line.
`1 .. 1la 11ccd detector -A demodulator for
`l><·q11cncy-mod ulation systems . In one
`ln1111 , the output consists of t he rectified
`.l ilkrcncc of the two voltages produced
`.1• ,..," two resonant circuits, one circuit
`"" " 1~ tuned slightly above the carrier fre(cid:173)
`'l"l' ncy and the other slightly below.
`t ••• ianced line-A line or circuit utilizing
`1 wo identical conductors. Each conductor
`'" operated so that the voltages on them at
`.11 1y transverse plane are equal in magni(cid:173)
`' >1 dc and opposite in polarity with respect
`10 ground. Thus , the currents on the line
`.11 c equal in magni t ude and opposite in
`direction. A balanced line is preferred
`where minimum noise and crosstalk arc
`de, ired.
`ha lanced-line system - A system con(cid:173)
`"'"t ing of a ge nerator, balanced line, and
`load adjusted so that rhe voltages of the
`1 wo cond uctors at all transverse planes
`arc equal in magnitude and opposite in
`polarity with respect to ground .
`hala nced low-pass filter - A low-pass
`fi lter designed to be used with a balanced
`line.
`ha lanced m ag ne tic switch-A magnetic
`'witch that is operated by a balanced
`magne tic field in such a man ne r as to re(cid:173)
`sis t defeat with an external magnet. It
`signals an alarm when it detects either an
`in crease or decrease in magnetic field
`strength.
`halanced m ethod - A met hod of meas(cid:173)
`urement in which the reading is taken at
`ze ro. lt may be a visual or audible read(cid:173)
`ing, and in the latter case the null is the
`no-sound setti ng.
`balanced modulator - An amplitude
`modulator in which the control grids of
`two tubes arc connected for parallel opera(cid:173)
`tion, and the screen grids and plates for
`push-p ull operation. After mod ulation,
`the output contains the rwo sidebands
`without the carrier.
`balanced network-I. A hybrid network
`in which the im pedances of the opposite
`branches arc equal. 2. A network in which
`the corresponding series impedance cle(cid:173)
`ments arc identical and symmetrical wit h
`res pect to ground .
`balanced oscillator - Any oscillator in
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`balancer-ba lli stocardiograph
`
`balancer-In a direction finder , that por(cid:173)
`tion used for improving the sharpness of
`the direction indication. It balances out
`the capacitance effect between the loop
`and ground .
`balance stripe-A magnetic sound stripe
`placed on the edge of a motion-picture
`film opposite the main stripe; it provides
`mechanical balance for the film.
`balance-to-unbalance transformer-A
`device for matching a pair of lines, bal(cid:173)
`anced with respect to earth, to a pair of
`lines not balanced with respect to earth .
`See also Balun.
`balancing network- !. An electrical net (cid:173)
`work designed for use in a circuit in such
`a wav that two branches of the circuit are
`made substantially conjugate (i .e., such
`that an electromotive force inserted into
`one branch produces no current in the
`other). 2. Electronic circuitry used to
`match two-wire to four-wire facilities,
`sometimes called a hybrid. Balancing is
`necessary to maximize power transfer and
`minimize echo .
`balancing unit - An antenna-matching
`device used to permit efficient coupling
`of a transmitter or receive r having an
`unbalanced output circuit to an antenna
`hav ing a balanced transmission line. 2. A
`device for converting balanced to unbal(cid:173)
`anced transmission lines , and vice versa,
`by placing suitable discontinuities at the
`junction between the lines instead of
`using lumped components.
`ball -
`In face bonding, a method of pro(cid:173)
`viding chips with contact.
`ballast-A device used with an electron(cid:173)
`ic-discharge lamp to obtain the neces sa ry
`circuit conditions (voltage, current, and
`waveform) for starting and ope rating.
`ballasting-An IC design technique that
`prevents current hogging.
`ballast lamp-A lamp which maintains a
`nearly constant current by increasing its
`resistance as the current increases .
`ballast resistor-A special type of resis(cid:173)
`tor used to compensate for fluctuations in
`alternating-current power-line voltage. It
`is usually connected in series with the
`power supply to a receiver or amplifier.
`The resistance of a ballast resistor in(cid:173)
`creases rapidly with increases in current
`through it, thereby tending to maintain
`an esse ntially constant current despite
`variations in the line voltage.
`ballast tube -A current-controlling re(cid:173)
`sistance device designed to maintain a
`substantially constant current over a spec(cid:173)
`ified range of variations in the applied
`voltage to a series circuit.
`ball bond- I . A type of th ermocompres (cid:173)
`sion bond in which a gold wire is flame(cid:173)
`cut to produce a ball-shaped end which is
`then bonded to a metal pad by pressure
`and heat . 2. A bond formed when a ball(cid:173)
`shaped end
`interconnecting wire
`is
`
`80
`
`ti 1
`
`ballistocardiography-band-gap energy
`
`deformed by thermocompression against
`a metallized pad. The bond is also called a
`nail-head bond from the appearance of
`the flattened ball.
`ball bondi ng - A bonding technique that
`uses a capillary tube to feed the bonding
`wire . The end of the wire is heated and
`melts , thus forming a large ball. The
`capillary and ball are then positioned on
`the contact area and the capillary is
`lowered. This forms a large bond. The
`capillary is then removed and a flame is
`applied, severing the wire and forming a
`new ball.
`
`~~~~~~
`GOLD
`WIRE
`
`ALL
`
`BONDE
`CAPILLARY ~
`\
`
`HYDROGEN
`FLAME
`
`WITHDRAWING
`TH E TOOi.
`
`~il~:l%\
`
`Ball bonding.
`
`ballistic galvanometer-An instrument
`that indicates the effect of a sudden rush
`of electrical energy, such as the discharge
`current of a capacitor.
`ballistic-missile early-warning system
`- An elect ronic system for providing
`detection and early warning of attack by
`enemy intercontinental ballistic missiles.
`Abbreviated BMEWS.
`ballistics - A general term used to de(cid:173)
`scribe the dynami c characteristics of a
`meter movement-most notably, response
`time, damping, and overshoot.
`ballistic trajectory-In the trajectory of
`a missile, the curve traced after the pro(cid:173)
`pulsive force is cut off and the body of the
`missile is acted upon only by gravity,
`aerodynamic drag, and wind.
`balli stocardiog ram-A waveform of the
`impulse imparted to or incurred by the
`body as a result of the displacement of
`blood upon each heartbeat. The period of
`the cycle of this waveform is the time
`interval between heartbeats. Typically
`taken in one of two ways-by measuring
`the seismic disturbance imparted to the
`table upon which the patient is lying
`supine, or by measuring the deflection of
`a heavy metal bar placed across the
`patient's ankles while he is lying supine.
`ballistocardiograph - An
`instrument
`used to record the movements imparted
`to the body by the beating of the heart.
`
`'"'ll" locardiography - T he recording
`"'"I interp retation of the movements
`'"'l"'n cd to the body by the beating of the
`111 '"' and the movement of the blood .
`h .. lop - Contraction of balopticon, an
`• l'l'""tt us for the projection of opaque
`in conjuction wi th a television
`1111 .q•,cs
`' 11111cra.
`liidopl icon-See Balop.
`h11l1111 -1. Also called balanced converter
`'" " bazooka." An acronym from BAL(cid:173)
`•11" nl to UNb alanced. A device used for
`111a1d1ing an unbalanced coaxial transmis(cid:173)
`"'"" li ne to a balanced two-wire system.
`l J,ua lly a transformer designed to
`!
`'"•"Pt 75-ohm unbalanced input (coaxial
`• 11l1k) and deliver the signal at 300-ohm
`l11tl:111ccd (twin lead). Usable in the con(cid:173)
`,.,. ,"' sense, and sometimes necessary for
`111"1..:hing a tuner with 300-ohm balanced
`11111c11 na terminals to a 75-ohm coaxial
`luu· .
`l•ion:ina jack - A jack that accepts a
`l11111ana plug . Generally designed
`for
`11. 11 1cl mounting.
`hona na p lug - A plug with a banana(cid:173)
`·, liapcd spring-metal tip and with elon-
`1:11 1 ~cl springs to provide a low-resistance
`• "mpression fit.
`l. Any range of frequencies which
`l• 1111tl -
`1 ... , hetwcen two defined limits. 2. A
`1:1 oup of radio channels assigned by the
`l·t :(:to a particular type of radio service.
`1ny low freq.
`(vlf) 10- 30 kH2
`low l'req.
`(If) 30- 300 kHz
`
`medium freq .
`high freq.
`very high freq.
`ultrahigh freq.
`superhigh freq.
`
`(m f) 300-3000 kHz
`(hf) 3-30 MHz
`(vhf)30-300 MHz
`(uhf)3 00-3000 MHz
`(s hf) 3000-30,000
`MHz
`
`extremely high
`(ehf)30-300 GHz
`freq.
`3. A group of tracks or channels on a
`magnetic drum in an electronic computer.
`(Sec also Track, 2.) 4 . In instrumentation,
`a range of values that represents the scope
`of operation of an instrument.
`bandage-Rubber ribbon, about 4 inches
`wide, used as a temporary moisture pro(cid:173)
`tection for a splice in telephone or coaxial
`cable.
`band center -The geometric mean be(cid:173)
`tween the limits of a band of frequencies.
`banded cable - Two or more cables
`banded
`together
`by
`stai nless-s teel
`strappi ng .
`I. Also called
`band-elimination filter -
`band-stop filter . A wave filter with a
`sing le-atten uation band, neither of the
`cutoff frequencies being zero or infinite.
`T he filter passes frequencies on either
`side of this band. 2. A filter that attenu(cid:173)
`ates frequencies within its rejection band,
`but passes frequencies above and below
`this band. See illustration below .
`band gap - The energy difference be(cid:173)
`tween the conduction band and the val(cid:173)
`ence band in a material.
`band-gap energy - The difference in
`
`"' ~
`"' ;;;
`w
`"'
`..-----1~ ...
`"' ...
`
`!:.
`
`FREQUENCY -
`
`Band-elimination filte r s.
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