Terminology is the studying of the terms used to identify things. In electronics, just like any other complex human endeavour, using the proper terms helps in understanding.
Questions tagged [terminology]
288 questions
78
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3 answers
Why are they called breadboards?
Why are solderless protoboards called "breadboards"? I've used the term for decades but couldn't answer a student's question about the name.
Ellen Spertus
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2 answers
Crystals, Oscillators, and Resonators. What the difference?
I am trying to figure out the difference between crystals, oscillators, and resonators. I'm starting to grasp it but I still have some questions.
From my understanding, an oscillator is built from a crystal and two capacitors. What is a resonator…
Alexis K
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76
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5 answers
What is the name of these little plastic things that protect wires from being cut into by the sharp edges of a drilled hole?
What is the name of these little plastic things that protect wires from being cut into by the sharp edges of a drilled hole?
Zhro
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42
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8 answers
What is a pull up and pull down?
Can some one explain this terminology please I think I understand it but not completely sure.
I think pull down is where you place a resistor between +V and the other component and pull up is where you place the resistor between 0v and the…
Dean
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38
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3 answers
Help me understand the relationship between positive, negative, neutral and ground in AC and DC
This question stems from notations on schematics and seemingly conflicting information I'm seeing. I suspect that I'm seeing different vernacular for the same concepts--but I'm in a place where no one's ever told me that an "elevator" is a "lift".…
dwwilson66
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38
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3 answers
What does it mean to "assert a pin"?
From the XBee/XBeePro product manual page 24 (link to pdf):
Sleep Modes enable the RF module to enter states of low-power consumption when not in use. In order to enter Sleep Mode, one of the following conditions must be met (in addition to the…
Lucy Brennan
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36
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6 answers
What is a "digital" motor?
Dyson keeps going on about their new "digital" motor. What is a digital motor? How can a motor be digital, if it is inherently analog? Is it just marketing doublespeak?
Thomas O
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32
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6 answers
Why does 60 Hz mean 60 refreshes and not 120?
A light bulb using alternating current at 60Hz turns on and off 120 times per second but in a monitor 60Hz means 60 refreshes per second.
Why is that? Shouldn't 60Hz mean 120 refreshes?
isar
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29
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5 answers
What does the term "bias" mean?
I've see a number of terms that make reference to the word "bias". I've read the wikipedia article but I'm after are more practical answer.
Some examples of what a forward or reverse biased device is would also be well received.
Brad
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27
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13 answers
Is voltage the speed of electrons?
Current is the amount of electrons passing through a wire. Can we say that voltage is the speed of those electrons?
money-printer
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3 answers
UART & USART - What's the difference
In the office I hear these terms thrown around as if they are the same. My understanding is that USARTs can deliver the clock signal along with the data.
Are there any other differences? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
waffleman
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25
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2 answers
What's the meaning of Electrical Inches?
I was reading a PCB design notes and guidelines from Xilinx for their 7 series FPGAs and came across this sentence:
The capacitors should be placed as close as possible to the FPGA. Any
placement within two electrical inches of the device’s point…
AdoobII
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What is the name of this springy type oscilloscope probe accessory?
Exactly what it says on the tin.
How is this pictured accessory called? The obvious place to look for a name would be the probe manual, but it looks like they decided to add the accessory to the package after making the manual, since it's not on…
AndrejaKo
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What is the meaning of JK flip flop's J and K?
In D flip flop, D means DATA. In SR flip flop, S means SET and R means RESET. What is the meaning of JK flip flop's J and K?
iNdra
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Interesting/Unusual/Old Electronics nomenclature
I've recently been transliterating some old schematics for a friend of mine (Basically taking paper schematics from the 40s and drawing them in a modern EDA package) and have come across some very interesting/old electronics terms that are not in…
Connor Wolf
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