Electronics Glossary – P
Distributors of Commercial, Industrial, Medical, Automotive, and Hi-Rel Electronic Components
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| P1dB | (See “1 dB Compression Point”) |
| PA | power amplifier – An amplifier intended to increase the power of a signal enough to drive a load such as an antenna. Typically, power amplifiers also have large values for P1dB, indicating low distortion at high output power. |
| Package | Container for a semiconductor die that protects it and has electrodes that facilitate electrical connection of the die to the external circuit. |
| Packaging | The process of physically locating, connecting, and protecting devices or components. |
| Packet | (1)A logical grouping of information that includes a header and (usually) user data. (2) Continuous sequence of binary digits of information is switched through the network and an integral unit. |
| Packet Switched Network | A network in which data is transmitted in units called packets. The packets can be routed individually over the best available network connection and reassembled to form a complete message at the destination. |
| packet switching | (systems) A data transmission process, using addressed packets of data, whereby the communication channel is occupied only for the duration of the transmission of the packet. |
| pad | (1) On printed circuit boards, the portion used for making electrical connections to the conductive pattern, such as the enlarged areas where component leads are soldered. See also land, and terminal area. On integrated circuits, the bonding pad. (2) Attenuator, or to attenuate. |
| Pair Gain | The multiplexing of x phone conversations over a lesser number of physical capabilities. “Pair gain” is the number of conversations obtained, divided by the number of wire pairs used by the systems. |
| PAL | Programmable Array Logic : PAL is an AND gate array whose outputs are Ored together in a way determined by the manufacturer of the device. |
| PAN | personal area network |
| Panel | The side or front (usually metal) of a piece of equipment on which connectors are mounted. |
| panel mount | A method of fixing a connector to a board, panel, or frame. The mounted connector is usually the receptacle or female connector. The plug or male connector is usually the removable portion. |
| parallel circuit | A circuit in which two or more loads are connected to a single voltage source, at a common point. |
| parallel operation | (1) In computers, the simultaneous transmission of data on separate lines. For example, all bits of an 8-bit word are sent simultaneously on eight separate lines. Parallel operation is much faster than serial operation, but requires more circuitry. (2) Operating Mode in which two or more power supplies are connected in parallel. The output currents are summed together into a single load, providing a higher level of output power than that available from a single DC-DC. Parallel operation requires DC-DCs speed specifically designed to share loads. Also see Master-Slave Operation. |
| parallel splice | A splice wherein two wires are joined together side-by-side, either from the same end of the splice, or from opposite ends of the splice. |
| Parameter | A measurable electrical characteristic. |
| PARD | Periodic and Random Deviation – Noise and ripple voltage superimposed on a converter’s DC output. Typically specified at full load, it is expressed in peak-to-peak or RMS volts over a given bandwidth. |
| parity | A method by which binary numbers can be checked for accuracy. An extra bit, called a parity bit, is added to numbers in systems using parity. If even parity is used, the sum of all 1’s in a number and its parity bit is always even. If odd parity is used, the sum of 1’s in a number and its parity bit is always odd. |
| parity bit | A binary digit appended to an array of bits to make the sum of all the bits always odd or always even. |
| parity check | A technique for detecting errors. It consists of summing the 1’s in a specific length of data and recording whether the sum was odd or even in a parity bit line. A single error would change the sum and thus be detected. Stated another way: a check that tests whether the number of 1’s (or 0’s) in an array of binary digits is odd or even. |
| parts density | The number of parts per unit volume. |
| Pascal | A high-level, highly structured, general-purpose programming language. Named after Blaise Pascal. |
| Passband | The frequency interval that is propagated through a filter with minimum insertion loss. |
| Passband Ripple | The amplitude variation within the passband of filter. |
| Passivation | A layer of material on a semiconductor die that protects it from external contamination and chemically ties up any unbound charges that may exist on the surface as a result of the discontinuation of the semiconductor crystal at the surface. For silicon devices, the passivation is often a layer of silicon dioxide (Si02) that is formed by oxidizing the surface of the silicon at temperatures around 1000 °C. For gallium arsenide devices, a layer of silicon nitride (Si3N4) is often deposited on the surface of the GaAs for passivation. |
| Passive | Unable to amplify or produce energy. |
| Passive Aging Test | A test described in Raychem’s PS300 publication in which the resistance of a PolySwitch device at room temperature is measured before and after aging at an elevated temperature (e.g., 70¡C or 85¡C) for an extended time (e.g., 1000 hours). |
| Passive Components | Devices that do not amplify or produce a signal. Components which have no gain characteristics, such as capacitors and resistors. |
| Passive Device | Devices that do not amplify or produce a signal. Components which have no gain characteristics, such as capacitors and resistors. |
| passive element | Devices that do not amplify or produce a signal. Components which have no gain characteristics, such as capacitors and resistors. |
| Passive Network | Devices that do not amplify or produce a signal. Components which have no gain characteristics, such as capacitors and resistors. |
| passive substrate | A support made of insulating material used as a base for the deposition of film components. |
| Patch cord | A cable assembly with (usually) a plug on each end, used to make a cross connection. |
| Patch panel | A rack-mountable panel (usually 19″ wide) containing connecting hardware.Used to patch between groups of cables and equipment. |
| patchcord programming system | A switching device that can be programmed by using patchcords to complete the desired circuits. Basically, these systems are general purpose manually operated switches, which permit, through proper patchcord selection and placement, nearly infinite switching combinations. Further, because the patchboards are removable, any program can be retained and stored. |
| path | That portion of a printed circuit pattern which carries current between two pads or between a pad and the terminal area (printed contact, edge pad). See also pad, and terminal area. |
| Path Loss | The reduction in transmitted power as measured at a receiver due the distance the signal traveled from the transmitter, atmospheric absorption and other factors. |
| PBX | Private Branch Exchange.The premises telephone switch.Handles telecom functions. |
| PC | Production Control – Group responsible for directing and regulating the movement of goods through the entire manufacturing cycle, from the requisitioning of raw materials to the delivery of the finished products. |
| PCB | Printed Circuit Board – An insulating board serving as a base for a printed circuit. When the printing process is completed, the board may include printed components, as well as printed wiring. |
| PCCL | Pulse-coupled complementary logic. |
| PCI-SIG | The Peripheral Component Interconnect Special Interest Group is an electronics industry consortium responsible for specifying the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI), PCI-X, and PCI Express (PCIe) computer buses. |
| pcm | Pulse code modulation. A scheme by which an analog signal is sampled and converted to a digital signal for transmission. |
| PCN | Personal Communications Network. |
| PCS | Personal Communications Services. A term used in the United States for any mobile telephone services in the 1900 MHz frequency band. |
| Pd | The power (in watts) dissipated by a PolySwitch device in its tripped state. The power dissipation is the product of the current flowing through the device and the voltage across the device, in the tripped state. |
| PDOP | Position DOP |
| Peak On-state Surge Current | Current through the device in the on-state condition. |
| Peak Power | The maximum instantaneous power of a signal. |
| Peak Pulse Current | Rated maximum value of peak pulse current of specified amplitude and waveshape. |
| peaks | Momentary high amplitude levels occurring in electronic equipment. |
| Peak-to-Peak | The magnitude of the arithmetic difference between the maximum and minimum values for a varying quantity. |
| Peak-to-Peak Amplitude | The magnitude of the arithmetic difference between the maximum and minimum values for a varying quantity. |
| Percent Bandwidth | The bandwidth divided by the center frequency of the band, expressed as a percentage. |
| Percent Ripple | The percentage of ripple or AC flux to total flux, or in an inductor, the percentage of alternating current to average current. |
| Percent Saturation | The 100% permeability minus the percent of initial permeability. ie 20% saturation = 80% of initial permeability. |
| Period | Duration. |
| Periodic and Random Deviation | PARD – Noise and ripple voltage superimposed on a converter’s DC output. Typically specified at full load, it is expressed in peak-to-peak or RMS volts over a given bandwidth. |
| peripheral equipment | Equipment separate from the main computer; includes all forms of attachments to main computer systems. |
| Peripheral Seal | A seal provided around the periphery of connector inserts to prevent the ingress of fluids or contaminants at the perimeter of mated connectors. |
| peripheral seal | A design feature which provides an environmental seal between the forward end of plug and forward end of the receptacle even though they are not fully engaged. It generally consists of a piece of rubber fastened around the inner sidewall of the receptacle front opening skirt or around the outer sidewall of the plug engagement section. |
| Permanent Virtual Circuit | PVC – A defined virtual link with fixed end-points that are set-up by the network manager. A single virtual path may support multiple PVCs. |
| Permeability | (1) The passage or diffusion (or rate of passage) of a gas, vapor, liquid, or solid through a barrier without physically or chemically affecting it. (2) The measure of how much better a given material is than air as a path for magnetic lines of force; The ratio of the changes in flux density to changes in the magnetizing force. The permeability of a magnetic material is the characteristic that gives the core the ability to concentrate lines of magnetic flux. The core material, as well as the core geometry, affects the core’s effective permeability. For a given core shape, size, and winding, higher permeability materials result in higher inductance values as opposed to lower permeability materials. The symbol for permeability is “µ”. For free space, µ = 1. |
| Permittivity | (also K) The ratio of the capacitance between two electrodes with a solid, liquid, or gaseous dielectric, to the capacitance with air between the electrodes. Also called permittivity and specific inductive capacity.Generally low values are desirable for insulation. |
| peta | A prefix that indicates a factor 1015, abbreviated as “P.” |
| PGA | pin grid array – A ceramic substrate with rows of short round pins extending out the bottom in an x-y or fence array. |
| Phase | In a periodic function, the fraction of a period that has elapsed since some arbitrary reference point. |
| Phase Angle | The angle obtained by multiplying the phase of a periodic function by 360 if the angle is to be expressed in degrees, by 2p if the angle is expressed in radians, or by 400 if the angle is expressed in grads. |
| phase control | A circuit technique for proportional control of an output signal by conduction only during certain phases of an ac line voltage. |
| Phase Lock | The technique of forcing the phase of an oscillator to follow the phase of a second, highly stable reference oscillator by comparing the phase angle between the two signals and applying an appropriate correction signal to the oscillator that is to be controlled. |
| phase locked loop | In communications, a circuit technique by which a local oscillator is synchronized in phase and frequency with a signal being received. |
| Phase Modulation | PM – The modification of the phase of a higher frequency, constant magnitude carrier signal controlled by the amplitude and phase of a lower frequency baseband or audio signal. |
| Phase Modulator | A circuit that produces phase modulation of a carrier signal. |
| Phase Noise | A measure of the random phase instability of a signal. |
| Phase Shift | The change in phase of a periodic quantity. |
| Phase Shifter | A circuit or system that is designed to produce phase shift. |
| phase splitter | A circuit which generates – out of an ac input signal – two equal-amplitude outputs, one of which is 180 out of phase with the other (ie one is the other inverted). The dc levels may not be identical. |
| phenolic | A thermosetting plastic material available in many combinations of phenol and formaldehyde. Often there are fillers added to provide a broad range of physical, electrical, chemical, and molding properties. Commonly used for housings, inserts, and programming system panels. |
| photodetector | A device that is sensitive to light and will produce an electric current in its presence. |
| photoresist | A lightsensitive organic coating that can be selectively deposited to resist the action of the etchant (etching solution) and produce the desired circuit pattern. |
| PHS | Personal Handy Phone System |
| pi | A lumped-element filter using, for low pass, two parallel capacitive elements and a series inductive element between them. |
| Pick | The number of crossovers of braiding units per inch of cable. |
| pickup value | The minimum value which will energize the contacts of a relay. |
| pico | A prefix meaning 10-12, or one trillionth, abbreviated as “p.” |
| Pi-Filter | A filter consisting of two capacitors connected in parallel with a series inductor. These fileters arc commoonly found near DC-DC converters to filter ripple curent and voltage. |
| pigments | Coloring matter, often in powder form, having a wide range of colors and physical properties. |
| Pigtail | (1) A short conductor or wire extending from an electrical or electronic device to serve as a jumper or ground connection. (2) A source or detector that is permanently joined to a short length of fiber in manufacturing with epoxy enabling the fiber to be brought very close to the semiconductor chip for maximum efficiency. |
| Pigtail | A short length of fiber permanently attached to a component, such as a source, detector, or coupler. |
| pin contact | A male type contact, usually designed to mate with a socket or female contact. It is normally connected to the “dead” side of a circuit. |
| p-i-n Diode | A three-layer semiconductor diode consisting of an intrinsic layer separating heavily doped P and N layers. The charge stored in the intrinsic layer in conjunction with other diode parameters determines the resistance of the diode at RF and microwave frequencies. This resistance typically ranges from kilohms to less than 1 ohm for a given diode. A PIN diode is typically used as a switch or attenuator element. |
| pin grid array | PGA – A ceramic substrate with rows of short round pins extending out the bottom in an x-y or fence array. |
| Pin photodiode | A photodiode having a large intrinsic layer sandwiched between p-type and n-type layers. |
| Pinch-Off | The cessation of drain-source current flow in a field effect transistor. |
| Pinch-Off Voltage | The gate-source voltage required to stop drain-source current flow in a field effect transistor. |
| pinholes | Small holes occurring as imperfections, which extend through the printed element to the base. (Examples: holes in screened resistors, thin film elements, screened epoxy masks.) |
| Pistoning | The movement of a fiber axially in and out of a ferrule end, often caused by changes in temperature. |
| pits | Small holes occurring as imperfections which do not penetrate entirely through the printed element. |
| planar | (1) Of, pertaining to or contained in a single geometric plane. (2) A process for fabricating semiconductor devices and monolithic integrated circuits that uses silicon dioxide as a masking agent. The result is lower density than MOS, but faster switching speeds. The lower density – from having all components on a single plane – makes this process impractical for LSI. |
| plastic | High polymeric substances, including both natural and synthetic products, but excluding the rubbers, that are capable of flowing under heat and pressure at one time or another. |
| Plastic Deformation | Change in dimensions under a load that does not recover when the load is removed. |
| Plastic fiber | An optical fiber having a plastic core and plastic cladding. |
| Plastic-clad silica fiber | An optical fiber having a glass core and plastic cladding. |
| plasticizers | Chemical materials incorporated in a plastic to increase its workability during processing, and to impart flexibility and other desirable properties, such as flame retardance and increased electrical insulating properties, to the finished product. |
| plated-thru hole | A drilled hole in a printed circuit board which has been plated to establish electrical continuity from one side of the board to the other. |
| Plating | The overlaying of a thin coating of metal on metallic components to improve conductivity, facilitate soldering, or prevent corrosion. |
| PLD | Programmable Logic Device |
| Plenum | The air space between walls, under structural floors, and above drop ceilings, which can be used to route intrabuilding cabling. Plenum-rated cable is required in such locations. |
| Plenum cable | A cable whose flammability and smoke characteristics allow it to be routed in a plenum area without being enclosed in a conduit. |
| Plug | The part of a connector that is normally “removable†from the other, permanently mounted part; usually that half of a two-piece connector that contains the pin contacts. |
| plug | In coaxial rf connectors the plug is normally the movable portion and is usually attached to a cable or removable subassembly. In shell type multiple-contact connectors the plug usually contains the socket contacts and is mounted on the “hot” (rack) side of the system. Plugs mate with receptacles, jacks, outlets, etc. |
| Plug Connector | An electrical connector that is intended to be attached to the free end of a conductor, wire, cable, or bundle, and that couples or mates to a receptacle connector. |
| PM | Phase Modulation – The modification of the phase of a higher frequency, constant magnitude carrier signal controlled by the amplitude and phase of a lower frequency baseband or audio signal. |
| PMOS | P-channel metal-oxide semiconductor. A MOS IC using p-type material for the channels. |
| PNP (p-n-p) Transistor | A bipolar transistor with a p-type emitter, n-type base and p-type collector. |
| pnp transistor | A bipolar transistor having an n-type base between a p-type emitter and a p-type collector. The emitter should be positive with respect to the base, and the collector should be negative with respect to the base. |
| Point Contact | The original “microwave diode” made in the 1950’s by Microwave Associates. Microwave Associates started a major new product program in August 1952 to manufacture microwave diodes. These diodes, now universally known as point contact diodes, were the first widely used high frequency semiconductors, and were used as mixer or detector diodes in all high frequency receivers (radars and radio links). Microwave Associates manufactured these by pressing a pointed tungsten wire whisker against a small silicon chip. |
| point-to-point connection | A network configuration in which a connection or transmission channel is established between two, and only two, circuits. |
| Poke Through | A term describing stray wires in a solder joint that poke through the insulation. |
| Polarity | Ability of a converter to produce an output that is positive or negative referenced to ground. Also see Floating Output. |
| polarization | That feature of a housing, shell, or insert that permits the mating of plug and receptacle in only one specified alignment. Under certain circumstances, polarization and keying may be combined in a connector design. Mechanical features on mating components to prevent incorrect mating. |
| polarizing pin | A device incorporated in a connector to accomplish polarization. |
| pole | Elements of a device that control one path of the circuit; an output terminal of a switching device (eg switch or relay); a combination of mating contacts – normally open, normally closed, or both. |
| poly | A prefix meaning many. Thus, polymer means many mers, signifying a repeated structural unit. |
| Polyamide | A polymer formed by the reaction of a diamine and a diacid. Nylons are commercial polyamides characterized by toughness, solvent resistance, and sharp melting point. |
| polybutadiene | A family of thermosetting molding compounds offering good physical properties, excellent electrical properties, and outstanding resistance to water and aqueous liquids. |
| polyethylene | A thermoplastic material composed of polymers of ethylene. A variety of types of polyethylene are used in wires and cables in very large amounts. Polyethylene has excellent electrical properties for wire and cable insulation plus superior abrasion and solvent resistance, moisture resistance, light weight, low brittle point, and durability. |
| polyimide | Available for wire insulation in both film form and as a magnet wire enamel. It is chemically inert and is radiation resistant. |
| polymer | A compound formed by polymerization which results in the chemical union of monomers or the continued reaction between lower molecular weight polymers. |
| polymerize | To unite chemically two or more monomers or polymers of the same kind to form a molecule with higher molecular weight. |
| Polyolefin | A family of polymers (such as polyethylene and polypropylene) made from olefin monomers. |
| polypropylene | A plastic similar to polyethylene but is lighter and offers even better heat resistance, tensile strength, abrasion resistance, and lower dielectric constant. |
| PolySwitch Resettable Devices | PolySwitch is a trademarked term that applies to our PTC resettable devices. |
| polyurethane | This material is primarily of interest as a magnet wire enamel for wires which can be soldered without prior removal of the film. |
| polyvinyl butyral | A thermoplastic material derived from butyraldehyde. Tough, colorless, flexible solid, used in laminates, adhesives, coatings, and crosslinked with ureas, phenolics, and other materials. |
| polyvinyl chloride | pvc – Thermoplastic compound composed of vinyl chloride polymers. Blended with other polymers or copolymerized with monomers to give abrasion resistance, heat stability, short molding cycles, and low shrinkage. |
| POP | point of presence |
| Port | A port is a connector that serves as an interface on a computer, motor, appliance, telephone, or other electrical device and serves as a connection point to another device or power source. |
| Positive feedback | Recycling of a signal that is in phase with the input to increase amplification. Used in digital circuits to standardize the wave forms in spite of any anomolies in the input. |
| positive lock | A type of latch or locking mechanism that engages in such a way that the parts cannot be unlocked accidentally. Used to hold die sets in tools, inserts in shells, connectors in mated position, contacts in certain pc board disconnects, etc. |
| positive logic | Digital logic is termed positive when logic 1 is assigned the more positive level (ie higher voltage level than logic 0). Logic 0 is assigned the lower (more negative) level. |
| Positive Temperature Coefficient | A term used to describe a material whose resistivity increases as temperature increases. PolySwitch devices make use of conductive polymers that show nonlinear PTC behavior. |
| Post Regulation | Output circuit that uses a linear regulator to prove line/load regulation and reduce ripple and noise. In PWM controlled converters, post regulation adds expense and degrades converter supply efficiency. |
| Post Tuning Drift | PTD – For a voltage controlled oscillator, it is the change in frequency of the oscillator after it has been driven to and attained a new frequency and after the tuning voltage has reached a stable state. |
| Postal, Telegraph and Telephone Company | PTT – Generic term for a provider of these services. A governmental agency in many countries. |
| Post-Reflow Resistance | The resistance of a PolySwitch device at room temperature one hour after it has been connected to a circuit board by reflow soldering under specified conditions. |
| Post-Reflow Resistance | The resistance of a PolySwitch device at room temperature one hour after it has been connected to a circuit board by reflow soldering under specified conditions. |
| Post-Trip Resistance | The resistance of a PolySwitch device at room temperature one hour after the device has been tripped for the first time, under specified conditions. |
| Post-Trip Resistance | The resistance of a PolySwitch device at room temperature one hour after the device has been tripped for the first time, under specified conditions. |
| pot | To embed a component in a material within a casing that becomes part of the product, primarily for protection. |
| potentiometer | (1) A precision instrument used for measuring dc potential (and thereby current or resistance). A null method is used so that no power is transferred to or from the unit under test. (2) A popular term for a variable resistor. |
| POTS | Plain Old Telephone Service |
| potting | The sealing of a component (eg, the cable end of a multiple-contact connector) with a plastic compound or material – to exclude moisture, prevent short circuits, provide strain relief, etc. |
| Powdered Iron Core | Powdered iron is a magnetic material that has an inherent distributed air gap. The distributed air gap allows the core to store higher levels of magnetic flux when compared to other magnetic materials such as ferrites. This characteristic allows a higher DC current level to flow through the inductor before the inductor saturates. Powdered iron cores are made of nearly 100% iron. The iron particles are insulated form each other, mixed with a binder (such as phenolic or epoxy) and pressed into the final core shape. The cores are cured via a baking process. Other characteristics of powerdered iron cores include: they are typically the lowest cost alternative and their permeabilities typically have a more stable temperature coefficient than ferrites (Also see Saturation Current) |
| Power | The rate of doing work. The unit of power is the watt, abbreviated as “W” and equal to 1 joule per second (see “joule”). |
| Power Amplifier | PA – An amplifier intended to increase the power of a signal enough to drive a load such as an antenna. Typically, power amplifiers also have large values for P1dB, indicating low distortion at high output power. |
| Power Density | Ratio of converter output power to converter volume. |
| Power Dissipation | (1) The amount of electrical power converted to heat by a device. (2) The power (in watts) dissipated by a PolySwitch device in its tripped state. The power dissipation is the product of the current flowing through the device and the voltage across the device, in the tripped state. |
| Power Divider | A circuit that splits the power of an input signal into two or more locations without producing impedance mismatch. |
| Power Factor Correction | Design technique usually applied ot the input of off-line converters that improves the converter;s power factor and minimizes harmonics generated by the converter onto the AC power line. |
| Power Good | Signal (typically a visible LED) that indicates the DC output of the primary channel of a converter is still present. |
| Power Loss Density (mW/cm3) | The power absorbed by a body of ferromagnetic material and dissipated as heat. |
| Power Rating | Specified power available at the converter output pins. |
| Power sum | A mathematical addition of noise from multiple disturbers. Applied to NEXT and ELFEXT requirements. |
| Power Switch | MOSFET-based switch that controls the flow of power through its output using an enable (EN) signal from a system controller. Advanced designs will include integrated pull-up resistors and capacitors to minimize board space and cost. |
| Power Transformer | Magnetic-core transformer for operation at 60 hertz, with nearly zero source impedance, to transfer power from line voltage to some required voltage. |
| PPS | Precise Positioning Service (see also SPS). The GPS service provided for the US military usage. |
| PPTC Device | (Polymeric Positive Temperature Coefficient) Resettable device used to protect against overcurrent faults in electronic circuits. |
| PPTC Technology | PPTC stands for Positive Polymeric Temperature Coefficient. This is the technology that is used in our PolySwitch devices. |
| precision formed contact | A contact which is stamped from a flat sheet of metal and then formed through a progressive die. |
| Pre-etching | The act of surface preparation before encapsulating. |
| Preform | Usually, the solder ring in a SolderSleeve device. |
| pressure differential | The difference in pressure between one side of a connector and the other, as in a bulkhead mounting. Or the pressure difference between the inside and outside of a sealed connector. |
| Pretinned | Description of an electrical component to which solder has been applied prior to soldering. |
| Pretinned Solder Cup | Solder cup whose inner surfaces have been precoated with a small amount of solder. |
| Primary Circuits | Input side of an isolated. |
| Primary Current | Input side of an isolated DC-DC converter. See Secondary Circuit. |
| Primary Insulation | The inner member of a dual-wall wire insulation. The insulation applied directly on the conductor. Also referred to as the core. See also Core. |
| Primary Winding | The winding in a transformer that supplies the exciting MMF to the core. |
| printed circuit | A conductive pattern, that may or may not include printed components, formed in a predetermined design on the surface of an insulating base in an accurately repeatable manner. The two most common types of printed circuits are etched and plated. |
| printed circuit assembly | A printed circuit on which separately manufactured parts have been added (eg ceramic substrate with screened conductors, screened resistors, screened inductors, and separable miniaturized capacitors). |
| printed circuit board | PCB – An insulating board serving as a base for a printed circuit. When the printing process is completed, the board may include printed components, as well as printed wiring. |
| printed circuit edge connector | A connector designed specifically for making removable and reliable interconnections between the terminal area (edge pads) of a printed circuit board and the external wiring. |
| printed components | See printed element. |
| printed contact | The portion of a printed circuit pattern (path, land) extending to the edge of a printed circuit board to provide a contacting surface for some type of connector. Also referred to as terminal area and edge pad. |
| printed element | An element in printed form, such as a printed inductor, resistor, capacitor, or transmission line. Printed elements are formed on printed circuit boards along with connections. Also called printed components. |
| printed wiring | A type of printed circuit intended primarily to provide point-to-point electric connections and shielding. |
| printed wiring board | An insulating board serving as a base for printed wiring, completely processed as far as the printed portion is concerned, and consisting almost entirely of point-to-point connectors or posts, and shielding. |
| printing | The act or art of reproducing a pattern on a surface by any of various processes, such as vapor deposition, photo etching, embossing, diffusion, or screening. |
| PRN | Pseudo Random Noise |
| processor | That portion of a digital computer which performs the arithmetic, logic, and system control operations. |
| Production Control | PC – Group responsible for directing and regulating the movement of goods through the entire manufacturing cycle, from the requisitioning of raw materials to the delivery of the finished products. |
| production model | A model in its final mechanical and electrical design form, and manufactured using production tooling and methods. |
| program | The set of instructions that the computer is directed to carry out in a specified sequence. The program sets down the procedure the computer is to follow in solving the problem at hand. It is, basically, a large problem solving algorithm made up of many simpler algorithms that are within the “scope” (instructions in memory) of the computer. In a larger sense, the program would include any other functions necessary to the integration of a computer in a system. |
| programmable memory | A memory whose locations are addressable by the computer’s program counter, ie a program within this memory may directly control the operation of the arithmetic and control unit. |
| programming | Selection of the desired circuit pattern from the variety of circuit options afforded by a given device. AMP offers a number of programmable products, such as: pin boards, programming systems, matrix rotary switches, bcd rotary switches, slide switches, card readers, etc. In addition, programming is sometimes done by interconnecting (jumpering) appropriate contacts on one side of a panel or a connector plug. |
| programming system | The programming language, the computer program, and the computer’s means (processor) of convertingthe language into absolute coding. |
| PROM | Programmable read only memory. A ROM that can be programmed by the user, but that cannot be reprogrammed. |
| propagation delay | Time required for an electronic digital device, or transmission network, to transfer information from its input to its output. |
| Propagation delay skew | The difference in propagation delay between the slowest and fastest pairs in a cable or system. |
| propagation delay time | The time between the application of a digital input waveform and the corresponding change in output waveform. It is measured between reference points on the waveforms. The time is generally different for positive-going and negative-going waveforms. |
| protocol | A formal set of conventions or rules governing the format, timing, and error control to facilitate message exchanges among electronic equipment. |
| prototype | A model suitable for use in complete evaluation of form, design, and performance. |
| PS ELFEXT | See power sum and ELFEXT. |
| PS NEXT | See power sum and NEXT. |
| psi | Pounds per square inch, normally used for measuring air pressure. |
| PTC | A term used to describe a material whose resistivity increases as temperature increases. PolySwitch devices make use of conductive polymers that show nonlinear PTC behavior. |
| PTD | Post Tuning Drift – – For a voltage controlled oscillator, it is the change in frequency of the oscillator after it has been driven to and attained a new frequency and after the tuning voltage has reached a stable state. |
| p-type | Semiconductor material that has been doped with an excess of acceptor impurity atoms that produce free holes in the material. Conduction mode is by holes. |
| p-type conductivity | The conductivity associated with holes in a semiconductor, which is equivalent to a positive charge. |
| P-type Material | A semiconductor material that has had acceptor atoms added, thereby imparting a net positive charge. |
| p-type semiconductor | An extrinsic semiconductor in which the hole density exceeds the conduction electron density, therefore the majority carriers are holes. The net ionized impurity concentration is acceptor type. |
| pull out | Force required to separate a cable from a connector by pulling them apart. See also contact retention. |
| pull strength | See bond strength. |
| pull test | The application of longitudinal stress for the purpose of testing. See also tensile strength. |
| pulse | A change in the level, over a relatively short period of time, of a signal whose value is normally constant. Example: The voltage level of a point shifts from 0 to 12 volts, with respect to ground, for a period of 2 microseconds. Pulses represent the 1’s and 0’s of digital logic. |
| pulse broadening | The spreading or lengthening of a light pulse due to modal or spectral dispersion. |
| Pulse spreading | The dispersion of an optical signal with time as it propagates through an optical fiber. |
| Pulse Transformers | Transformers designed for excitation that consists of short duration pulses repeated at a specific rate. |
| pulse width | The length of time that the pulse voltage is at the transient level. Electronic pulse widths normally are in the millisecond (10-3), microsecond (10-6), or nanosecond (10-9) range. See also pulse. |
| Pulse Width Modulation | (PWM) Circuit used in converters to regulate output voltage. Regulation is achived by varying the conduction time of the transistor switches. |
| Pulse-coded modulation | A technique in which an analog signal, such as a voice, is converted into a digital signal by sampling the signal’s amplitude and expressing the different amplitudes as a binary number. The sampling rate must be twice the highest frequency in the signal. |
| pulseforming network | A device to store electricity and release it in pulses at specified time intervals (frequency). |
| Punchdown | Refers to IDC connectors and the method used to terminate them. |
| Pure Inductors | Used at all frequencies to provide an electronic circuit with inductive reactance. |
| purple plague | A gold-to-aluminum combination – at high temperatures – forms a gold-aluminum intermetallic compound. This compound, called purple plague because of its purple color, weakens the bond. On the chip, pads are normally aluminum and when the wire to be bonded is gold, this condition may occur. Plague can be prevented by avoiding processes involving high heat, or by using aluminum-to-aluminum (or even gold-to-gold) junctions. |
| Push-back | That property of a braid or shield that allows the braid or shield to be pushed back easily along the cable core. |
| Push-Pull | A switching power supply topology where power is delivered to the load during the whole input cycle. These can achieve power levels in excess of 1000VA. Push-pull transformers are practical at low input voltages and higher output power. They are not advisable for off line converters because the power switches operate at collector stress voltages of twice the supply voltage. |
| Push-Pull Converter | Converter topology usually configured as a forward converter, but uses two transistor switches and a center tapped transformer. The transistor switches turn on and off alternately. Also see Boost Regulator, Buck Regulator, Bridge Converter, Flyback Converter and Resonant Converter. |
| PVC | Polyvinyl chloride – A polymer compound used as wire insulation. |
| PVDF | Polyvinylidene fluoride. |
| pwb | An insulating board serving as a base for printed wiring, completely processed as far as the printed portion is concerned, and consisting almost entirely of point-to-point connectors or posts, and shielding. |