© Axis (Wujiang) Electronics Co Ltd

Pan Jing Road, Wujiang City, Jiang Su

People’s Republic of China
Tel: (+86) 0512 63438668
Fax: (+86) 0512 63438669
URL: http://www.axispower.com

Glossary of Electronic Terms

A
Alternating Current (AC) A periodic current the average value of which over a period is zero. [12]
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B
Burr This is the rough projection left on a workpiece after drilling or cutting. [3]
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C
Current Limiting (or fold- A bounding circuit designed to prevent overload of a voltage stabilizer in which, for load resistance
back) smaller than the crossover resistance, the current is limited to a preset value, while the output voltage
diminishes in proportion to the load’s resistance. [8]

Current, Peak The maximum amount of current which an output is capable of sourcing for brief periods of time. [10]

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D
Derating A reduction in the power output capacity of a power supply due to its external environment such as
altitude, airflow and ambient temperature. [10]
Dielectric Strength The maximum voltage an insulating material can withstand without breaking down. [11]
a semiconductor that consists of a p-n junction ; a thermionic tube having two electrodes; used as a
Diode
rectifier. [6]

Direct Current (DC) Direct current is produced by electrochemical and photovoltaic cells and batteries. In contrast, the
electricity available from utility mains in most countries is AC (alternating current). Utility AC can be
converted to DC by means of a power supply consisting of a transformer, a rectifier (which prevents
the flow of current from reversing), and a filter (which eliminates current pulsations in the output of
the rectifier). [16]

Drift The change in output voltage or current over a specified period of time, following a warm-up period,
with all other variables such as line, load, and ambient temperature held constant. [12]
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E
Efficiency The ratio of total output power to input power, expressed in percent. [12]

EMC Electromagnetic Compatibility. A group of requirements covering susceptibility, emissions, and

conducted electromagnetic energy. [8]

EMI, Conducted Electromagnetic Interference reflected back into the source power connection by the action of
switching circuits or other abrupt actions within a circuit connected to the source. Filters to reduce the
noise to accepted limits are tailored for expected applications, as specified in the EMC. [8]

EMI, Radiated Consisting of broad band radio frequencies and narrow band emissions, the radiated noise is generated
by the action of a switching regulator is limited by standards set by various agencies such as FCC,
VDE, CISPR, etc. It is controlled by shielding. [8]
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Glossary of Terms page 2

F
Fall Time The time required for a pulse to decrease from 90 percent to 10 percent of its maximum positive
(negative) amplitude. [12]
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H
Heat Dissipation
This is the thermal transfer of heat from the circuit assembly. [4]
Heatsink Mechanical device that is thermally-connected to a heat-producing electronic component, designed to
conduct heat away from the device. Most heat sinks are aluminum and employ fins to increase surface
area and encourage the transfer of heat to the ambient environment. [9]

Hold-Up Time The period of time during which the output voltage will stay within its specified regulation in the event
of the loss of the input power. [10]
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I
Inverter It is processor for generating AC from DC and, is, thus, a constituent of some forms of switched-mode
power supplies. [5]

IC (Integrated A component which contains a circuit using two or more components incorporated into a single
Circuit) package. [11]

Impedance The total opposition that a circuit offers to the flow of alternating current or any other varying current at
a particular frequency. It is a combination of resistance (R) and reactance (X), measured in ohms. [11]
Input Voltage Range The range of input supply voltage for which the power supply meets its specifications. [2]

Isolation Electrical separation between two circuits, or circuit elements. [2]

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L
Line Regulation (or The percentage change in output due to the input voltage varying over its specified limits load values,
static regulation) with all other factors constant. [12]

Load Regulation (or The percentage change in output voltage due to a change in output loading. This is usually a
dynamic regulation) measurement of the output deviation as the loading is changed from no load to full load. [10]
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M
Mains The utility AC power source. [12]

MTBF (Mean Time It is a rough gauge of reliability as it is computed by summing up the reciprocal of the individual
Before Failure) probabilities of failure associated with components under specified levels of stress. [11]
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N
Noise Any unwanted periodic or random deviation in the output voltage (or the supply current) of a power
converter. See Ripple [2]
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Glossary of Terms page 3

O
Output Current, The maximum output current for which the power supply was designed. [12]
Maximum
Output Power The specified level of power of which a power supply is capable. Typically, power supplies have a
continuous rating and a peak rating. These are usually a function of the ambient temperature. See
"Derating." [10]

Overvoltage The use of circuitry which will protect the user's system in the event of a failure in the power supply.
Protection [OVP] This circuit will limit the output voltage to a predetermined limit which, if exceeded, will cause the
power supply to shut down. [10]

Any compound of oxygen with another element or a radical. [6]

Oxide
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P
PCB This stands for Printed Circuit Board. This is the normally green plastic board that is imprinted with one
or more layers of circuitry. Examples of common PCBs include motherboards, PCI cards, and AGP
cards. The boards can hold microchips and other components, and are a way to link such components
together. [4]

Power Dissipation The maximum power the regulator can tolerate and still maintain operation within the safe operating
area of its active devices. [1]
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R
Rated Output Current The maximum load current that a power supply can provide under specified operating conditions. [12]

Sometimes referred to as transient response, this pertains to the time required by a transient overshoot in
Recovery Time
a stabilized output quantity to decay to within specified limits (usually within the individual effect band
of the influence quantity whose step change initiated the transient). [8]

Ripple Any periodic AC component present in the output of a DC power supply which is related either to the
input AC supply or to switching frequencies within the power supply itself. See Noise [2]
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S
Short Circuit In the event that the output is shorted, this circuit will protect the power supply by limiting the amount
Protection of current flowing through the short circuit. [10]

Switched-Mode Power Refers to switched-mode regulators and converters. [13]

Supply (SMPS)

Switched-mode A circuit which takes a DC input and provides a single or multiple DC outputs, of same or opposite
converter polarity, and lower or higher voltage. Converters use transformers, and may provide input-output
isolation. [13]

Switched-mode A circuit that takes a DC input and provides a DC output of the same or opposite polarity, and of a lower
regulator or higher voltage”. Switch mode regulators use inductors, and there is no input-output regulation. [13]

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Glossary of Terms page 4

T
Temperature,
Ambient The environmental temperature which exists unmodified by the operation of dissipative apparatus. [8]

Temperature, The specified ambient temperature over which it is safe to operate the power supply. [10]
Operating
Temperature, Storage The specified ambient temperature in which the power supply can be stored without risk of damage. [10]

Thermal Regulation The changes due to ambient variations or thermal drift. [1]
Thermal Resistance
It is defined as the temperature difference that occurs between the element and the package’s surface or
ambient atmosphere when the device consumes 1 watt [W] of power. [15]
Thermal shutdown The regulator automatically shuts down when the maximum die temperature is exceeded. [1]
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U
UPS (Uninterruptible A power converter designed to supply output power in the event of temporary loss of AC line power.
Power Supply) Usually configured as battery-backed off-line converters with integrated battery charging circuits and
automatic changeover between off-line and battery-backed operation. [2]
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V
Voltage Limiting A bounding circuit designed to prevent overload of a current stabilizer. For load resistances larger than
the crossover resistance, the voltage is limited to a preset value, while the output current diminishes in
proportion to the load’s resistance. [8]
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DISCLAIMER: This document is a compilation of electronic terms, the definition/s of which was taken from
existing sources / references. Axis (Wujiang) Electronics Co Ltd is not liable for any confusion or
misunderstanding that may arise from such definition/s. For your further reference and clarification, please refer to
the bracketed numbers (i.e., [12]), which corresponds to the source / reference of such definition.

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Glossary of Terms page 5

REFERENCES

[1] AN120: An Overview of Switched-Mode Power Supplies, Philips Semiconductors, December 1998. (http://www.web-
ee.com/primers/files/AN120.pdf)

[2] Defense Glossary, Albacom Ltd. (http://www.albacom.co.uk/albacom/localuserpage.asp?page=2100002212)

[3] Kepco’s Glossary of Terms, Kepco Inc. (http://www.kepcopower.com/gl.htm)

[4] History and Development of Switched-Mode Power Supplies Pre 1987, Steve Watkins, 1987. (http://www.steve-
w.dircon.co.uk/fleadh/mphil/history.htm)

[5] Power Conversion Terms, Condor Power Supplies. (http://www.condorpower.com/products/glossary.html)

[6] Spellman’s Glossary of Terms, Spellman High Voltage Electronics Corporation. (http://www.spellmanhv.com/tech/glossary.asp)

[7] Switch Mode Power Supplies, C.J. Hill, 15 March 1998. (http://www.hills2.u-net.com/electron/smps.htm)

[8] Tech Tip #203: Understanding Switch Mode Power Supplies, Sencore Electronics Test Instruments.
(http://www.sencore.com/custsup/pdf/TT203.pdf)
[9] HyperDictionary. http://www.hyperdictionary.com/dictionary/Printed+Circuit+Board.

[10] Maxim Integrated Products, http://www.maxim-ic.com/glossary/index.cfm/Ac/V/ID/879/Tm/HEATSINK

[11] Die.net, http://dict.die.net/burr/.

[12] Thermal Resistance, NEC Electronics Corporation, http://www.necel.com/pkg/en/mount/6/6_1/6_1_1/.

[13] Electronic Definitions, http://www.electronicdefinitions.com/definition.php?defid=906

[14] ISP Glossary, Monster ISP, http://www.monster-isp.com/glossary/PCB.html

[15] Whatis.com, http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci213659,00.html.

[16] Products Glossary, RadioShack Corporation, http://support.radioshack.com/support_tutorials/glossary/glossary.htm.

GT - 01 Axis (Wujiang) Electronics Co Ltd

10 January 2005