Glossary of electrical and electronics engineering: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:39, 14 December 2020

Latest revision as of 14:03, 30 May 2025

(38 intermediate revisions by 20 users not shown)

Line 1:

{{shortShort description|List of definitions of terms and concepts commonly used in the study of electrical engineering and electronics}}

''Most of the terms listed in Wikipedia glossaries are already defined and explained within Wikipedia itself. However, glossaries like this one are useful for looking up, comparing and reviewing large numbers of terms together. You can help enhance this page by adding new terms or writing definitions for existing ones.''

This '''glossary of electrical and electronics engineering''' is a list of definitions of terms and concepts related specifically to [[electrical engineering]] and [[electronics engineering]]. For terms related to engineering in general, see [[Glossary of engineering]].

Line 16 ⟶ 14:

{{term|[[AC power]]}}

{{defn|Electric power where the current reverses direction periodically.}}

{{term|[[Rectifier|AC/AC-to-DC conversion converter(rectifier)]]}}

{{defn|Rectification of AC current, so that current flows in only one direction.}}

{{term|[[AC/DC-to-AC conversionconverter]]}}

{{defn|A power converter where the input and output are both {{gli|alternating current}}, but may differ in frequency or other characteristics.}}

{{term|[[AC/DC receiver design]]}}

{{defn|A radio receiver that can operate from either {{gli|alternating current}} or {{gli|direct current}} wall socket power.}}

{{term|[[AC/DC conversion]]}}

{{defn|Rectification of AC current, so that current flows in only one direction.}}

{{term|[[active rectification]]}}

{{defn|A circuit where rectifier devices are externally controlled to change AC to current flowing in one direction.}}

Line 32 ⟶ 30:

{{term|[[adjustable-speed drive]]}}

{{defn|Control for a motor that allows more than one speed to be selected.}}

{{term|[[advanced Zz-transform]]}}

{{defn|A mathematical technique used to model and analyze digital systems.}}

{{term|[[affinity laws]]}}

Line 55 ⟶ 53:

{{defn|A power transformer where the metallic core is made of metals cooled so quickly that they do not form a crystal structure; such transformers can reduce some kinds of energy loss.}}

{{term|[[ampacity]]}}

{{defn|The {{gli|current}} carrying capacity of a conductor, in the context of electric power wiring. }}

{{term|[[ampere]]}}

{{defn|The [[International System of Units|SI]] unit of electrical current.}}

Line 86 ⟶ 84:

{{term|[[apparent power]]}}

{{defn|In an {{gli|alternating current}} power circuit, the product of the magnitude of RMS {{gli|voltage}} and {{gli|current}}.}}

{{term|[[Apple ComputerInc.]] (formerly known as Apple Computer)}}

{{defn|A company that makes mobile telephones and computers.}}

{{term|[[arbitrary waveform generator]]}}

Line 102 ⟶ 100:

{{term|[[artificial intelligence]]}}

{{defn|A computer system that replicates some feature of human intelligence.}}

{{term|[[artificial neural networksnetwork]]}}

{{defn|An electricalA network of individual logic elements in multiple layers that mimics the function of a biological nervous system; a technique in artificial intelligence.}}

{{term|[[asymptotic stability]]}}

{{defn|A condition of a control system where the output eventually reaches a steady-state value in response to any input.}}

Line 137 ⟶ 135:

{{defn|The fraction of time that a power plant is available to produce power.}}

{{term|[[avalanche diode]]}}

{{defn|A diode intended for regular operation in the reverse, avalanche breakdown, mode. Used as a {{gli|voltage}} reference, noise source, and in certain classes of microwave oscillator device. }}

{{term|[[average rectified value]]}}

{{defn|The average value of an {{gli|alternating current}} waveform, taking the absolute value of the waveform. The average value is generally different from the root-mean-square value. }}

{{glossary end}}

Line 147 ⟶ 145:

{{glossary}}

{{term|[[backward wave oscillator]]}}

{{defn|A type of microwavemicowave oscillator vacuum tube.}}

{{term|[[balanced line]]}}

{{defn|A transmission line with two conductors, with equal impedances to earth ground.}}

Line 282 ⟶ 280:

{{term|[[cavity magnetron]]}}

{{defn|A vacuum tube that is a high power microwave oscillator, using a resonant cavity and electrons traveling through a magnetic field.}}

{{term|[[CCFL inverter]]}}

{{defn|A power supply to generate the voltages required to operate a cold cathode fluorescent lamp.}}

{{term|[[CD]]}}

{{defn|A "Compact Disc" used to store digital data or digitally recorded sound using an infrared laser.}}

Line 306 ⟶ 302:

{{term|[[choke (electronics)|choke]]}}

{{defn|An induction coil used to block {{gli|alternating current}} and pass {{gli|direct current}}, or to block high frequencies and pass lower frequencies.}}

{{term|[[chopper (electronicelectronics)|chopper]]}}

{{defn|A circuit that switches on and off at a high rate, used either for power conversion or to convert a DC signal to a more easily processed AC signal. }}

{{term|[[circle diagram]]}}

{{defn|A representation of the {{gli|voltage}} and {{gli|current}} characteristics of an electrical machine; the plot traces out a circle or part of a circle.}}

Line 403 ⟶ 399:

{{defn|A type of microwave amplifier vacuum tube.}}

{{term|[[crosstalk]]}}

{{defn|Objectionable presence of a signal from one circuit in another circuit sharing the same transmission path, such as a cable. }}

{{term|[[crystal oscillator]]}}

{{defn|An electronic oscillator whose frequency is stabilized by a piezoelectric crystal resonator element.}}

Line 492 ⟶ 488:

{{term|[[dipole antenna]]}}

{{defn|A simple form of antenna that consists of two conductors oriented end-to-end with a feed in between them.}}

{{anchor|direct current}}{{term|[[direct current]] (DC)}}

{{defn|Electric current that flows in one direction only.}}

{{term|[[direct on line starter]]}}

Line 546 ⟶ 542:

{{term|[[dynamic programming]]}}

{{defn|A technique for optimization of the solution of a problem by combining solutions to smaller sub-problems.}}

{{term|[[dynamic random -access memory]]}}

{{defn|A type of semiconductor memory where data is stored as electric charges on capacitors; the charges must be refreshed periodically or else they will leak away, losing the stored data.}}

{{term|[[dynamo]]}}

Line 655 ⟶ 651:

{{defn|The set of physical phenomena associated with electric charges.}}

{{term|[[electrification]]}}

{{defn|Applying electric power to a process that was previously done by other means, or, development of an electric power system in a region that previously had none.}}

{{term|[[electroactive polymers]]}}

{{defn|A polymer that significantly changes size or shape when exposed to an electric field.}}

Line 679 ⟶ 675:

{{defn|The production of current in a circuit by the change of magnetic field intersecting the circuit.}}

{{term|[[electromagnetic radiation]]}}

{{defn|Radio waves, light and other radiation that travels through space at the speed of light. }}

{{term|[[electromagnetic spectrum]]}}

{{defn|The range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation.}}

{{term|[[electromagnetic wave equation]]}}

{{defn|A a second-order partial differential equation that describes the propagation of electromagnetic waves through a medium or in a vacuum.}}

{{term|[[electromagnetism]]}}

{{defn|The science of electric fields, magnetic fields, currents, charges, and forces.}}

{{term|[[electromechanical]]}}

{{defn|A system that has both an electrical component and a mechanical component, such as a motor or a relay.}}

Line 719 ⟶ 715:

{{defn|The study of stationary electric charges and resulting forces.}}

{{term|[[embedded operating system]]}}

{{defn|The common operating environment that supports embedded software; it may be a highly tailored version of a general -purpose operating system, or written solely for the purpose of embedded system operations.}}

{{term|[[embedded software]]}}

{{defn|A firmware component of a microprocessor -controlled system.}}

{{term|[[embedded system]]}}

{{defn|A computer system that controls a device or system, with no or a minimal user interface; for example, the ignition system in a car may have a microprocessor to control it.}}

Line 788 ⟶ 784:

{{term|[[ferroelectricity]]}}

{{defn|The property of materials that spontaneously maintain an electrical polarization, as a ferromagnetic material maintains magnetic polarization.}}

{{term|[[fiber -optic cable]]}}

{{defn|A transmission medium that uses infrared energy or light to transmit information down a long thin transparent filament such as glass.}}

{{term|[[field effect transistor]]}}

Line 929 ⟶ 925:

{{defn|A flexible insulated electrical conductor designed to withstand a significant {{gli|voltage}}; "high" voltage may be hundreds or hundreds of thousands of volts, depending on the context.}}

{{term|[[high voltage]]}}

{{defn|Any voltage at which safety concerns apply; in some contexts, anything over 100 volts may be a high voltage; in electric power transmission, voltages over 66,000 volts are considered "high voltage".}}

{{term|[[high-pass filter]]}}

{{defn|An electrical network that tends to pass higher frequencies and block lower ones.}}

Line 943 ⟶ 939:

{{defn|Any electrical appliance intended for use in a home.}}

{{term|[[homopolar generator]]}}

{{defn|A generator in which {{gli|current}} and {{gli|magnetic field}} direction are constant as the machienmachine rotor revolves.}}

{{term|[[homopolar motor]]}}

{{defn|A motor that produces torque from a current and magnetic field that does not change direction.}}

Line 981 ⟶ 977:

{{term|[[induction coil]]}}{{defn|An early name for a transformer; a type of transformer for high-voltage uses.}}

{{term|[[induction cooker]]}}{{defn|A cooking appliance that heats pots with magnetic fields.}}

{{term|[[induction generator]]}}{{defn|A type of generator where the rotating field winding is excited by induction from the stationary armature winding. }}

{{term|[[induction motor]]}}{{defn|A type of motor where the rotating field winding is excited by induction from the stationary armature winding.}}

{{term|[[induction regulator]]}}{{defn|A kind of variable transformer that provides stepless control of the output by changing the coupling between two coils.}}

Line 1,036 ⟶ 1,032:

{{defn|Heating in a conductor due to passage of current.}}

{{term|[[joule]]}}

{{defn|Symbol: J, is a [[SI derived unit|derived unit]] of [[energy]] in the [[International System of Units]].<ref>{{SIbrochure8th|page=120}}</ref> It is equal to the energy transferred to (or [[work (physics)|work]] done on) an object when a [[force]] of one [[Newton (unit)|newton]] acts on that object in the direction of the force's motion through a distance of one [[metre]] (1 newton metre or N⋅m). It is also the energy dissipated as heat when an [[electric current]] of one [[ampere]] passes through a [[Electrical resistance and conductance|resistance]] of one [[ohm]] for one second. It is named after the English physicist [[James Prescott Joule]] (1818–1889).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060413141420/http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/joule American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language], Online Edition (2009). Houghton Mifflin Co., hosted by [https://web.archive.org/web/20010502171832/http://education.yahoo.com/ Yahoo! Education].</ref><ref>''The American Heritage Dictionary'', Second College Edition (1985). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., p. 691.</ref><ref>''McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Physics'', Fifth Edition (1997). McGraw-Hill, Inc., p. 224.</ref>}}

{{defn|The [[International System of Units|SI]] unit of work; one joule is of the order of the energy dissipated when an apple falls off a table top.}}

{{glossary end}}

Line 1,057 ⟶ 1,053:

==L==

{{glossary}}

{{term|[[CCFLLadder inverternetwork]]}}

{{defn|A string of many, often equally dimensioned, impedances connected between two reference voltages.}}

{{term|[[LAN]]}}

{{defn|Local Area Network, an interconnection of computers over a building or small campus.}}

Line 1,068 ⟶ 1,066:

{{defn|A semiconductor device that produces light or infrared or ultraviolet radiation when properly energized.}}

{{term|[[linear alternator]]}}

{{defn|An electrical machine that generates electric power from the relative straight -line motion of its parts.}}

{{term|[[linear motor]]}}

{{defn|An electrical machine that generates electric force in a straight line by the interaction of its moving parts and magnetic fields.}}

Line 1,102 ⟶ 1,100:

{{defn|In a satellite radio receiving system, an amplifier placed near the antenna.}}

{{term|[[low-noise block downconverter]]}}

{{defn|In a satellite radio receiving system, a device that amplifesamplifies and converts signlassignals to a lower frequency band that will have lower losses in interconnecting cables.}}

{{term|[[low-pass filter]]}}

{{defn|An electric filter network that passes lower frequencies and blocks higher ones.}}

{{term|[[LTI system theory]]}}

{{defn|The theory of systems that, over a useful range, respond proportionally to inputs and don't change characteristics while responding. }}

{{term|[[lumen (unit)|lumen]]}}

{{defn|The [[International System of Units|SI]] unit of luminous flux, the energy of visible light.}}

Line 1,140 ⟶ 1,138:

{{defn|The proportionality constant that relates the twisting torque produced on an object to the magnetic field.}}

{{term|[[magnetism]]}}

{{defn|The class of natural phenomena related to magnets and magnetic fields. }}

{{term|[[magnetization]]}}

{{defn|A property of a material that measures its response to a magnetic field.}}

Line 1,178 ⟶ 1,176:

{{defn|A hypothetical non-linear passive two-terminal electrical component relating electric charge and magnetic flux linkage.}}

{{term|[[mercury-arc rectifier]]}}

{{defn|A mercury-arc valve; a vacuum tube device that converts {{gli|alternating current}} to {{gli|direct current}} by an arc in mercury vapor; displaced by solid -state devices, but formerly much used especially in high-voltage {{gli|direct current}} transmission.}}

{{term|[[mercury vapor lamp]]}}

{{defn|A lamp that generates light from a discharge struck in mercury vapor; formerly widely used in outdoor lighting, now replaced by lamps with better efficacy.}}

Line 1,216 ⟶ 1,214:

{{defn|A theorem stating the relation between branch currents and {{gli|voltage|voltages}} for multiple sources in parallel.}}

{{term|[[mineral-insulated copper-clad cable]]}}

{{defn|Cable with an outer metal cover and insulated by powdered inorganic material, suitable for high temperature; one kind of fire -resistant cable.}}

{{term|[[mobile phone]]}}

{{defn|A handset that connects to the public switched telephone network by radio.}}

Line 1,250 ⟶ 1,248:

{{defn|Magnetic Resonance Imaging, a technique for examining the interiors of, for example, medical patients, using sensitive measurements of the magnetic fields of atomic nuclei.}}

{{term|[[multics]]}}

{{defn|An influential early time -sharing computer operating system, first released in 1969.}}

{{term|[[multimeter]]}}

{{defn|A test instrument that can measure {{gli|current}}, {{gli|voltage}}, or {{gli|resistance}} (though not concurrently).}}

Line 1,264 ⟶ 1,262:

{{term|[[nanoinverter]]}}{{defn|Grid tied inverters rated less than 100 watts, useful for connection of single solar PV panels to a building AC power system.}}

{{term|[[nanotechnology]]}}{{defn|Technology that uses devices whose principal dimensions are of the order of a few nanometres.}}

{{term|[[National ElectricElectrical Code]]}}{{defn|The United States national technical standard for building wiring installation.}}

{{term|[[National Electrical Manufacturers Association|National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)]]}}{{defn|A US trade association for electrical manufacturers that also develops technical standards.}}

{{term|[[negative feedback]]}}{{defn|Feedback from a control system output that tends to oppose the input.}}

Line 1,275 ⟶ 1,273:

{{term|[[network cable]]}}{{defn|Cables intended for use in data interconnections, with defined performance parameters.}}

{{term|[[network protector]]}}{{defn|A type of circuit breaker used to isolate a fault from a multi-transformer supply network.}}

{{term|neural network}}{{defn|An {{gli|artificial neural network}}, or one of the [[biological neural network]]s that the artificial networks are inspired by.}}

{{term|[[neural networks]]}}{{defn|A network of individual logic elements in multiple layers that emulates some of the behavior of a biological nervous system; a technique in artificial intelligence.}}

{{term|[[nodal analysis]]}}{{defn|A technique for analysis of currents in an electrical network.}}

{{term|[[node (circuits)|node]]}}{{defn|A defined point in an electrical network, with some potential relative to a reference node and where currents can be summed.}}

{{term|[[noise cancelling]]}}{{defn|A type of microphone that preferentially picks up a near bynearby sound source and rejects ambient noise.}}

{{term|[[noise reduction]]}}{{defn|The techniques used to reduce the perception of noise in a communications path.}}

{{term|[[noisy-channel coding theorem]]}}{{defn|A theorem that establishes the limits of the error-free data transmission in a noisy communication channel}}

{{term|[[nominal impedance]]}}{{defn|The rated impedance of an element of a circuit.}}

{{term|[[nonlinear control]]}}{{defn|The class of control problems relating to the control of systems that are non linearnonlinear.}}

{{term|[[nonode]]}}{{defn|Any electron device (although practically, only vacuum tubes) with nine internal active {{gli|electrode|electrodes}} controlling electron flow.}}

{{term|[[Norton's theorem]]}}{{defn|A theorem which states that any network of {{gli|current}} sources, {{gli|voltage}} sources, and {{gli|resistor|resistors}} can be simplified to an equivalent network with only a current source and shunt [[admittance]]; the dual of {{gli|Thevenin's theorem}}.}}

Line 1,359 ⟶ 1,357:

{{term|[[peak demand]]}}{{defn|The maximum rate at which energy is consumed from an electrical grid; may be either an instantaneous measure or the maximum energy transferred in some interval such as 15 minutes.}}

{{term|[[Peltier–Seebeck effect]]}}{{defn|The thermoelectric effect, movement of heat due to electric current flow.}}

{{term|[[pentagrid converter]]}}{{defn|A type of self -oscillating vacuum tube used a frequency mixer in superheterodyne receivers.}}

{{term|[[pentode]]}}{{defn|Any five-electrode electron device, but usually a kind of vacuum tube.}}

{{term|[[permanent magnet synchronous generator]]}}{{defn|An AC generator that uses a permanent field magnet instead of an electromagnet.}}

Line 1,426 ⟶ 1,424:

{{term|[[proximity effect (electromagnetism)|proximity effect]]}}{{defn|The increase in circuit resistance when the magnetic fields of multiple AC currents interact.}}

{{term|[[pulse transformer]]}}{{defn|A transformer designed to create or transmit pulses.}}

{{term|[[pulse-width modulation]]}}{{defn|Transmission of information by varying the duration of pulses, or, varying the average output voltage of a power converter by varying the duration of pulses.}}

{{term|[[pulse-amplitude modulation]] (PAM)}}{{defn|Transmission of information by varying the magnitude of a stream of pulses of fixed frequency.}}

{{term|[[pulse-code modulation]]}}{{defn|Any system for conveying analog information by altering some property of a stream of pulses.}}

Line 1,536 ⟶ 1,534:

{{term|[[serial communication]]}}{{defn|Transmission of data as a single series of bits over a communication path.}}

{{term|[[series and parallel circuits]]}}{{defn|Electrical circuits where current passes through multiple elements either one after the other, or side by side, like the rungs of a ladder, or both.}}

{{term|[[shaded-pole motor]]}}{{defn|An {{gli|alternating current}} single -phase motor that produces a rotating magnetic field by a turn of wire around part of a field pole.}}

{{term|[[shaft voltage]]}}

{{defn|An objectionable stray voltage that appears on the rotating part of an electrical machine; very deleterious to supporting bearings.}}

Line 1,570 ⟶ 1,568:

{{term|[[solid state (electronics)|solid state]]}}{{defn|Electronics that relies on current flow through crystalline lattices.}}

{{term|[[solid state physics]]}}{{defn|That branch of physics that studies arrangements of atoms in fixed arrays.}}

{{term|[[sound recording]]}}{{defn|The technology of recording sound for later reporductionreproduction.}}

{{term|[[space vector modulation]]}}{{defn|A control strategy for variable frequency motor drives.}}

{{term|[[spark spread]]}}{{defn|The difference between the revenue from selling a unit of electricity and the cost of the fuel used to make it.}}

Line 1,579 ⟶ 1,577:

{{term|[[Split phase|split phase distribution]]}}{{defn|A type of distribution system that uses a center tapped transformer to provide two voltages to a building wiring system.}}

{{term|[[Induction motor#Starting|split phase motor]]}}{{defn|A type of single phase motor that uses a resistor, inductor, or capacitor and two windings to obtain a rotating magnetic field.}}

{{term|[[Square wave (waveform)|square wave]]}}{{defn|A waveform that spends equal times at the positive and negative peak values with rapid transitions between them.}}

{{term|[[stability theory]]}}{{defn|The systematic study of control systems that deals with their response to disturbances.}}

{{term|[[stable polynomial]]}}{{defn|That class of polynomials representing the transfer functions of stable control systems.}}

Line 1,601 ⟶ 1,599:

{{term|[[sulfur hexafluoride circuit breaker]]}}{{defn|A kind of automatic circuit protection switch that breaks current in an atmosphere of pressurized sulfur hexafluoride gas to extinguish the arc.}}

{{term|[[super grid]]}}{{defn|A wide area power transmission network that allows interchange over continental distances.}}

{{term|[[supercomputer]]}}{{defn|A computer with a substantially higher level of performance than a general -purpose machine; especially adapted for high intensity calculation on large data sets.}}

{{term|[[superconducting electric machine]]}}{{defn|An experimental type of generator or motor that has part of its electric circuits in the superconducting state.}}

{{term|[[superconductivity]]}}{{defn|The loss of all electrical resistance at inconveniently low temperatures.}}

Line 1,621 ⟶ 1,619:

{{term|[[synchroscope]]}}{{defn|An instrument used to bring an {{gli|alternating current}} generator into synchronization with a grid, that uses a moving pointer or set of lamps.}}

{{term|[[system identification]]}}{{defn|The technique of development of a mathematical model of a controlled system; model identification.}}

{{term|[[system on a chip]]}}{{defn|An integrated circuit that combines multiple significant subsytemssubsystems of a product on one die, for example, analog signal processing and digital controls.}}

{{term|[[system on module]]}}{{defn|A packaging of significant functions of a complete product in a form that can be used in more than one product.}}

{{glossary end}}

Line 1,683 ⟶ 1,681:

{{term|[[transmission tower]]}}{{defn|A structure for support of overhead transmission wires.}}

{{term|[[transmitter]]}}{{defn|Apparatus that prepares a signal for emission into some medium, such as a radio transmitter or a sonar transmitter.}}

{{term|[[traveling-wave tube]]}}{{defn|A type of microwave amplifier vacuum tube. }}

{{term|[[trembler coil]]}}{{defn|A kind of high-voltage coil that includes an interrupting mechanism, formerly used in automobile ignition systems.}}

{{term|[[TRIAC]]}}{{defn|A variation of the {{gli|thyristor}} that can pass bidrectionalbidirectional (ac) current.}}

{{term|[[triangle wave]]}}{{defn|A waveform composed of straight -line segments that extend from minus peak to plus peak.}}

{{term|[[trigger transformer]]}}{{defn|A transformer that generates a pulse to initiate some other device, such as a {{gli|thyristor}} or a flash tube.}}

{{term|[[triode]]}}{{defn|An electron device, nearly always a vacuum tube, that has three active electrodes.}}

Line 1,849 ⟶ 1,847:

{{glossary}}

{{term|[[Yagi antenna]]}}

{{defn|A type of radio antenna using a feeder element, one or more parasitic reflector elements, and one or more director parasitic elements to provide a directional characteristic; the classic home TV rooftop antenna was usually a Yagi antenna .}}

{{term|[[Y-Δ transform|Y-delta transform]]}}

{{defn|A mathematical technique in circuit analysis to simplify a circuit.}}

{{glossary end}}

Line 1,857 ⟶ 1,855:

{{glossary}}

{{term|[[Zener diode]]}}

{{defn|Nickname for "voltage regulator diodes" which may rely either on the Zener effect or avalanchavalanche breakdown to maintain a roughly constant voltage; the two effects have opposite temperature coefficients of voltage.}}

{{term|[[Ziegler-Nichols tuning method]]}}

{{defn|It is a heuristic method of tuning a PID controller.}}

{{term|[[zigzag transformer]]}}

{{defn|A multiwinding three phase transformer, sometimes used for grounding.}}

Line 1,871:

*[[Glossary of mechanical engineering]]

*[[Glossary of structural engineering]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

{{Engineering fields}}

{{Glossaries of science and engineering}}

[[Category:Electrical -engineering-related lists]]

[[Category:Electronic engineering]]

[[Category:Glossaries of science|electrical and electronics engineering]]

[[Category:WikipediaGlossaries glossariesof technology|Electrical and electronics engineering]]

[[Category:Wikipedia glossaries using description lists]]