Welcome to the electronics glossary in our library!

The following glossary entries were abstracted from the book, Bebop to the Boolean Boogie (An Unconventional Guide to Electronics), with the kind permission of LLH Technology Publishing, Eagle Rock, VA, USA                          ( to return to the main glossary.)

The process of converting a digital value into its analog equivalent.

A bi-directional set of signals used by a computer to convey information from a memory location to the central processing unit and vice versa. More generally, a set of signals used to convey data between digital functions.

A well-defined function such as an adder, counter, or multiplier used to process digital data.

Base-10 numbering system.

A logic function that uses a binary value, or address, to select between a number of outputs and to assert the selected output by placing it in its active state.

Typically taken to refer to integrated circuits containing structures which are smaller than 0.5 microns.

Occurs when a composite material formed from a number of layers is stressed, thermally or otherwise, such that the layers begin to separate.

The transformation of a Boolean expression into an alternate, and often more convenient, form.

(1)An unpackaged integrated circuit. In this case, the plural of die is also die (in much the same way that "a shoal of herring" is the plural of "herring"). (2)A piece of metal with a design engraved or embossed on it for stamping onto another material, upon which the design appears in relief.

(1)An insulating layer used to separate two signal layers. (2)An insulating layer used to modify the electrical characteristics of an MCM-D substrate.

The process of separating individual die from the wafer by marking the wafer with a diamond scribe and fracturing it along the scribed lines.

A technique used in specialist applications in which several bare die are stacked on top of each other to form a sandwich. The die are connected together and then packaged as a single entity.

The surface layer of a piece of semiconductor into which impurities are diffused to form P-type and N-type material. In addition to forming components, the diffusion layer may also be used to create embedded traces.

A value represented as being in one of a finite number of discrete states called quanta. The accuracy of a digital value is dependent on the number of quanta used to represent it.

A collection of logic gates used to process or generate digital signals.

A primarily digital component used to process either digital or analog signals. In the case of the latter, the signal may first be conditioned, then converted into a digital equivalent using an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter function. The signal conditioning and A/D functions may either be external to the DSP or resident in the device. A typical DSP application might be the compression/decompression of video data.

The process of converting a digital value into its analog equivalent.

A two-terminal device that only conducts electricity in one direction; in the other direction it behaves like an open switch. The term diode is typically taken to refer to a semiconductor device, although alternative implementations such as vacuum tubes are available.

Logic gates implemented using particular configurations of diodes and bipolar junction transistors. For the majority of today's designers, diode-transistor logic is of historical interest only.

Typically taken to refer to an electronic component such as a resistor, capacitor, diode, or transistor that is presented in an individual package. More rarely, the term may be used in connection with a simple integrated circuit containing a small number of primitive gates.

A form of circuit board in which a special computer-controlled wiring machine ultrasonically bonds extremely fine insulated wires into the surface layer of the board. This discipline has enjoyed only limited recognition, but may be poised to emerge as the technology-of-choice for high-speed designers.

The technology used to fabricate discrete wire boards.

Propositions combined with an OR operator; for example, "You have a parrot on your head OR you have a fish in your ear." The result of a disjunction is true if at least one of the propositions comprising that disjunction is true.

Two very important rules in Boolean Algebra. The first rule states that the AND operator distributes over the OR operator; for example, a & (b | c) = (a & b) | (a & c). The second rule states that the OR operator distributes over the AND operator; for example, a | (b & c) = (a | b) & (a | c)

The process of inserting selected impurities into a semiconductor to create P-type or N-type material.

A printed circuit board with tracks on both sides

A memory device in which each cell is formed from a transistor-capacitor pair. Called dynamic because the capacitor loses its charge over time, and each cell must be periodically recharged if it is to retain its data.

A primarily digital component used to process either digital or analog signals. In the case of the latter, the signal may first be conditioned, then converted into a digital equivalent using an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter function. The signal conditioning and A/D functions may either be external to the DSP or resident in the device. A typical DSP application might be the compression/decompression of video data.

Logic gates implemented using particular configurations of diodes and bipolar junction transistors. For the majority of today's designers, diode-transistor logic is of historical interest only.

Base-12 numbering system

A form of circuit board in which a special computer-controlled wiring machine ultrasonically bonds extremely fine insulated wires into the surface layer of the board. This discipline has enjoyed only limited recognition, but may be poised to emerge as the technology-of-choice for high-speed designers.

A type of flexible printed circuit which is used in applications that are required to undergo constant flexing such as ribbon cables in printers.

A product whose function may be customized on-the-fly while remaining resident in the system (see also Configurable Hardware, Reconfigurable Hardware, Remotely Reconfigurable Hardware, and Virtual Hardware).

A memory device in which each cell is formed from a transistor-capacitor pair. Called dynamic because the capacitor loses its charge over time, and each cell must be periodically recharged if it is to retain its data.

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