Conventions Used in Presenting Technical Data

Polarity Conventions In case of alternating voltages, once the voltage direction

is selected, it is maintained throughout. The alternating
The voltage direction is given either: character of the quantity is given with the time-dependent
D By an arrow which points out from measuring to refer- change in sign of its numerical values.
ence point, or The current direction is given by an arrow head drawn on
D By a double subscript, whereby the first subscript is the line (figure 2).
termed as the measuring point, the second subscript as A I1 B A I2 = –I1 B
the reference point (figure 1).
A A A
95 11216

Figure 2.
V1 VAB V2=–V1=VBA=–VAB
The numerical value of the current is positive if the charge
of the carriers moving in the direction of arrow is positive
94 9315 (conventional current direction), or if the charge of the
B B B
carriers moving against this direction is negative.
Figure 1.
The numerical value of the current is negative if the
The numerical value of the voltage is positive, if the charge of the carriers moving in the direction of arrow is
potential at the arrow tail is higher than at the arrow head, negative, or if the charge of the carriers moving against
i.e., the potential difference from measuring (A) to this direction is positive.
reference (B) point is positive.
The general rules stated above are also valid for alternat-
The numerical value of the voltage is negative if the ing quantities. Once the direction is selected, it is
potential at the arrow tail is lower than at the arrow head, maintained throughout. The alternating character of the
i.e., the potential difference from measuring to reference quantity is given with the time-dependent change in sign
point is negative. of its numerical values.

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Arrangement of Symbols
The rules are not valid for inductance and capacitance.
Letter symbols for current, voltage and power Both these quantities are denoted with capital letters.
(according to DIN 41 785, sheet 1).
As subscripts, capital letters are used for the designation
A system of basic letter symbols is used to represent of static (dc) values, while lower case letters are used for
current, voltage and power. Capital letters are used for the the designation of small-signal values.
representation of peak, mean, dc or root-mean-square If more than one subscript is used (hFE, hfe), the letter
values. Lower case letters are used for the representation symbols are either all capital or all lower case.
of instantaneous values which vary with time.
If the subscript has numeric (single, double, etc.) as well
As subscripts, capital letters are used to represent continu- as letter symbol(s) (such as h21E or h21e’), the differenti-
ous or total values, while lower case letters are used to ation between static and small-signal value is made only
represent varying values. by a subscript letter symbol.
The following table summarizes the rules given above. Other quantities (values) which deviate from the above
rules are given in the list of letter symbols.
The following table summarizes the rules given above.
Basic Letter
Lower-case Upper-case
Basic Letter
Instantaneous values Maximum (peak)
which vary with time average (mean) Lower-case Upper-case
continuous (dc) or Electrical parameters Electrical parameters of
root-mean-square (RMS) inherent in the semicon- external circuits and of
values ductor devices except circuits in which the
inductances and capaci- semiconductor device
tances forms only a part; all
inductances and capaci-
Subscript(s) tances
Lower-case Upper-case
Varying component Continuous (without
alone, i.e., instantaneous, signal) or total Subscript(s)
root-mean-square, maxi- (instantaneous, average or Lower-case Upper-case
mum or average values maximum) values
Small-signal values Static (dc) values

Letter symbols for impedance, admittances, two-port Examples:

parameters RG Generator resistance
GP Power gain
Regarding impedance, admittance, two-port parameters,
hFE DC forward current transfer ratio in common
etc., capital letters are used for the representation of exter-
emitter configuration
nal circuits of which the device is only a part. Lower case
rP Parallel resistance, damping resistance
letters are used for the representation of electrical param-
eters inherent in the device.

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Example for Using Symbols According to DIN 41 785 and IEC 148

a) Transistor

IC dc value, no signal
ICAV Average total value
ICM; IC Maximum total value
AC value Icm ICEFF RMS total value
Ic IC; ICEFF RMS varying component
ICM; IC Maximum-varying
Icav ic component value
Collector
current iC Instantaneous total value
ICAV iC Instantaneous varying
ICM component value
IC
iC
The following relationships are valid:

ICM = ICAV + Icm

93 7795
without signal with signal t

iC = ICAV + ic
Figure 3.

b) Diode

VF VF Forward voltage
VR Reverse voltage
VFSM
VFSM Surge-forward voltage
VFRM (non-repetitive)
VFWM VRSM Surge-reverse voltage
(non-repetitive)
VFRM Repetitive peak
0 forward voltage
t
VRRM Repetitive peak
reverse voltage
VRWM VFWM Crest-working
VRRM
forward voltage
VRSM VRWM Crest-working
VR
reverse voltage
93 7796

Figure 4.

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Letter Symbols
Letter symbols for currents, voltages, power etc. are used IIO = Input zero current
according to IEC publication 27. The standards given VIO = Input zero voltage
there are applicable, except where this chapter gives II = Input current
different standards. This is the case, e.g., in phase control VM = Mains voltage
circuits and zero voltage switches. Vsat = Saturation voltage
tp = Pulse duration
tr = Rise time
e.g: tf = Fall time
V, v = Voltage (dc, ac) GV = Voltage gain
I, i = Current GI = Current gain
P = Power VICR = Common-mode voltage range
T = Temperature CMR = Common-mode rejection
TC = Temperature coefficient IHD, IL = Latching current, load current
a = Phase angle IH = Holding current

Subscripts: Use of Upper-Case Letters

AV, av = Average Upper-case basic letters should be used for the representa-
F, f = Forward tion of:
I = Input
O = Open, output or zero a) Maximum (peak) values
Ref, ref = Reference b) Average (mean) values
tot = Total
S, s, k = Short circuit or, as a second subscript, c) Continuous (dc) values
surge d) Root mean square values
T = Threshold

e.g. with subscripts:

Use of Lower-Case Letters
VS = Supply voltage (dc) Lower-case basic letters should be used for the represen-
IS = Supply current tation of instantaneous values which vary with time.
VRef, Vref = Reference voltage
Note: In data sheets
Tamb = Ambient temperature
VT = Threshold voltage RV = R1 = Series resistance, dropper resistance
VT7O = Threshold voltage 70%
CV = C1 = Series capacitance
VR = Reverse voltage
IR = Reverse current IK = (Transformer) short-circuit current
Vos = Off-set voltage = Constant current

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