Electronic Definitions (S)

[S] Presenting a list of electronic terms starting with letter s that are available for more detailed lookup for their definitions or abbreviation explanation. All terms are listed in alphabetical order for easy browsing.

Electronic Acronyms And Terms For [S]	Description	Other Electronic Terms Somewhat Related;
S100 Bus	- Is a standard bus specification usually used in small personal microcomputers so called because it can link a maximum of 100 components
Safety Factor	- The leeway between the actual operating current, voltage, etc. and the maximum rating specified on a data sheet
SAMBA	"SAmsung cpu embedded Microcontroller Bus Architecture"
SAR	"Small Aperture Radar" "Synthetic Aperture Radar" "Specific Absorption Rate"	sarbe
SARBE	"Search And Rescue Beacon Equipment"
Satellite Radio	- A technology for streaming audio from satellites to stations on the Earth (or in the air) for reception
Saturated Current Gain	- The current gain of a transistor in the saturation region. This value is less than the active current gain. For soft saturation, the current gain is slightly less than the active current gain. For hard saturation, the current gain is approximately 10.
Saturation Point	- Approximately the same as the upper end of the load line. The exact location of the saturation point is slightly lower because the collector-emitter voltage is not quite zero
Saturation Region	- The part of the collector curves that starts at the origin and slopes upward to the right until it reaches the beginning of the active or horizontal region. When a transistor operates in the saturation region, the collector-emitter voltage is typically only a few tenths of a volt.
SAW	"Surface Acoustic Wave"
SCADA	"Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition"
Scalar Feed	- The wide flare corrugated horn antenna feed now standard in 4GHZ hoMe TV110
Scart	- European 21 pin connector now commonly used by European TVs videos and satellite receivers. Sonic receivers have as many as four scart sockets.
SCFM	"Sub Carrier Frequency Modulation"
Scheduling	- Is the method by which central processing unit time is allotted in a multi access system
Schmitt Trigger	- A comparator with hysteresis. It has two trip points. This makes it immune to noise voltages, provided their peak to-peak values are less than the hysteresis.
Schottky Diode	- A special-purpose diode with no depletion layer, extremely short reverse recovery time, and the ability to rectify high-frequency signals.
SCO	"Synchronous Connection Orientated"
SCPI	"Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments"
SCRAM	"Static Cmos Random Sccess Memory"
Scratch	- Is to release a storage area for subsequent reuse	scratch file, scratch pad, scratch tape
Scratch File	- Is a temporary storage area usually held in backing store for use by a program during execution. Also called a workfile.
Scratch Pad	- Is a section of immediate access store reserved for temporary information for immediate use. Also called a working store.
Scratch Tape	- Is a magnetic tape used for a scratch file
Screen Editing	- Is the process of changing stored data or programs by the alteration of characters displayed on a VDU using a cursor to indicate position
Scrolling	- Is the action of a VDU when displaying text of `rollingup` the screen. As each new line of text appears at the bottom a line of existing text disappears from the top.
SCSI	"Small Computer System Interface"	SCSI Port
SCSI Port	- The port on the back of the instrument to which SCSI devices are connected
SDH	"Synchronous Digital Hierarchy"
SDK	"Software Development Kit" - A programming package that enables a programmer to develop applications for a specific platform. Typically an SDK includes one or more APIs, programming tools, and documentation.
SDLC	"Synchronous Data Link Control"
SDM	"Space Division Multipilex"	sdma
SDMA	"Space Division Multipilex Access"
SECAM	"System Essentially Contrary to American Method"
Second Approximation	- An approximation that adds a few more features to the ideal approximation. For a diode or transistor, this approximation includes the barrier potential in the model of the device. For silicon diodes or transistors, this means 0.7 V is included in the analysis.
Second Generation	- Is the generic term used to describe those machines in which the transistor replaced the valve as the basic component	tia/eia 136
Second Hand Kit	- The alternative to buying new
Secondary Assembly	- Operations following the primary assembly process
Secondary Hot Air Process	- Reflow of solder with heated air or gas for mounting devices following the primary assembly process
Secondary Wave Solder	- The soldering of leaded and epoxy attached devices in a liquid wave of molten solder alloy
Secrecy	- A pushbutton on a telephone which disconnects the microphone temporary to allow the user to hold a conversation without the other party overhearing	mi6, polygraph
Sector	- Is the smallest addressable portion of the track on a magnetic tape or drum store	storage
Security	- Is the establishment and application of safeguards to protect data software and computer hardware from accidental or malicious modification destruction or disclosure
Segmentation	- Is the process of dividing the program into sections (segments or modules) which can be independently executed or independently changed. Can also refer to the use of comments statements meaningful variable names and other helpful features written into a program.	paging
Self Bias	- The bias you get with a JFET because of the voltage produced across the source resistor
Self Centering	- An alignment to the center location on the land pattern during the reflow solder process
Semantics	- Is the meaning attached to words or symbols in programming statements. Semantics is not concerned with the way words are combined in a single statement.	syntax programming language
Sequential (serial) Access	- Is the process of storing or retrieving data items by first reading through all previous items to locate the one required
Series Regulator	- This is the most common type of linear regulator. It uses a transistor in series with the load. The regulation works because a control voltage to the box of the transistor changes its current and voltage as needed to keep the load voltage almost constant.	linear regulator
Series Switch	- Is a type of JFET analog switch where the ]FET is in series with the load resistor
Shaped Beam	- Flame of irregular cross section produced by multiple feed or shipped reflector techniques.	zone beam
Shaped Reflector	- Techniques for controlling beam pattern aperture illumination noise and sidelobe power and for increasing antenna efficiency by variation of antenna (and sul)reflector) shape from the true paraboloid hyperboloid
SHF	"Super High Frequency"
Shift	- Is an operation that moves the bits held in a store location to the left or right as specified
Short	- One of the common troubles that may occur. A short occurs when an extremely small resistance is approaching zero	short circuit output current, short circuit protection
Short Circuit Output Current	- The maximum output current that an op amp can produce for a load resistor of zero
Short Circuit Protection	- A feature of most modern power supplies. It usually means the power soppy has some form of electronic current limiting that prevents excessive load currents undo shorted-load conditions
Shunt Switch	- A type of JFET analog switch where the JFET is in shunt with the load resistor
SIA	"Semiconductor Industry Association"
Side Loading	- Stress introduced to the component or substrate from one or more sides
Side Lobe	- Undesirable characteristic of clish to reflect or receive signal off axis of the main transmit or receive lobe
SIGE	"SIlicon GErmanium"	sigec
SIGEC	"SIlicon GErmanium Carbon"
Sign and Magnitude	- Is a method of representing numbers by allocating one bit of a binary word usually the most significant bit to represent the sign of the number held in the remaining bits of the word
Sign Bit	- Is a single bit used to indicate the sign of a number usually 0 for positive 1 for negative	shift
Signal to Noise Ratio	- A method of indicating the strength of a signal compared with that of the noise accompanying it. Usually expressed in decibels.
SILEX	"Semiconductor Laser Inter Satellite Link Experiment"
Silicon	- The most widely used semiconductor material. It has 14 protons and 14 electrons in orbit. An isolated silicon atom has four electrons in the valence orbit. A silicon atom that is part of a crystal has eight electrons in the valence orbit because the four neighbors share one of the electrons.	silicon controlled rectifier, silicon disk
Silicon Controlled Rectifier	- A thyristor with three external leads called the anode, cathode, and gate. The gate can turn the SCR on, but not off.
Silicon Disk	- Is RAM that is addressed as if it were a very fast random access disk
SIMM	"Single In Line Memory Module"
Simpkx	- A circuit which carries information in only one direction
SINAD	"Signal Noise And Distortion"
Sink	- It is the point that allows current to flow into ground or out of ground
SIP	"Single In Line" pin (leaded) module
SIS	"Sound in Syncs"
SIV	"Sound In Video"
Skew	- Fine tuning of polariser to take account of differing plane of signal polarisation due to each satellite`s offset relative to the receive site
Sky Noise	- Electromagnetic radiation from galactic sources and thermal agitation of atmospheric gases and particles
SLA	"Semiconductor Laser Amplifier"	slant range
Slant Range	- Path length between satellite and earth station
Slew Rate	- The maximum rate that the output voltage of an op amp can change. It causes distortion for high frequency large-signal operation.
SLIC	"Subscriber Line Interface Circuit"
SM	"Surface Mount"	small signal operation, small signal transistor, smart cards, smatv, smd, smds, smema, smobc, smpte, smqroc, smt, smta
Small Signal Operation	- This refers an input voltage that produces only small fluctuations in the current and voltage. Our rule for small signal transistor operation is a peak to-peak emitter current less than 10 percent of the do emitter value.
Small Signal Transistor	- A transistor that can dissipate 0.5 W or less
Smart Cards	- A plastic card with a built-in microprocessor, used typically to perform financial transactions
SMATV	"Satellite Master Antenna Television"
SMD	"Surface Mount Device"	smds
SMDS	"Switched Multi-megabit Data Service"
SMEMA	"Surface Mount Equipment Manufacturer`s Association"
SMOBC	"Solder Mask Over Bare Copper"
SMPTE	"Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers"
SMQORC	"Staggered Modified Quadrature Overlapped Raised Cosine"
SMT	"Surface Mount Technology"	smta
SMTA	"Surface Mount Technology Association"
SNA	"Systems Network Architecture"
SNR	"Signal Noise Ratio"	snr - s/n
SNR S/N	"Signal To Noise Ratio"
SO	"Small Outline" - Miniature surface mounted integrated circuit package
SOAP	"Simple Object Access Protocol" - Provides a way for applications to communicate with each other over the Internet, independent of platform
SOC	"System On Chip"
SODIMM	"Small Outline Dual In-line Memory Module"
Soft Keys	- Buttons on telephone apparatus which can be programmed to perform specific functions
Soft Saturation	- Operation of the transistor at the upper end of the load line with just enough box current to produce saturation
Soft Sectored Disk	- Is one that is formatted by designating sectors by information written on the disk by a program
Software	- Consists of programs routines procedures and their associated documentation which can be implemented on a computer system	software package
Software Package	- Is a fully documented program or set of programs designed to perform a particular task (eg a word processor)
SOIC	"Small Outline IC"
SOJ IC	"Small Outline IC with J-Lead Configuration"
Solder Buildup	- Excessive solder at the connection of a device to the substrate circuit
Solder Connection	- Termination of device contacts to the substrate circuit with tin-lead alloy	fillet junctions
Solder Fillet	- The tin lead junction interconnection of the surface mounted component contact to the land pattern of the substrate
Solder Mask	- Dielectric material applied to the substrate surface for masking of circuit traces during solder processing	solder mask barrier
Solder Mask Barrier	- Applies to the solder mask material reserved for containment of solder paste on land patterns during the reflow process
Solder Paste	- A tin/lead alloy powder mixed with flux, solvent, and binders for application to SMT land patterns on the circuit substrate	conformal coatings, fixtures, infrared, profiling, reflow, solder mask barrier, solder screen, vapour phase
Solder Plating	- Electroplating of solder alloy to copper conductors or features on a substrate
Solder Screen	- A pattern masked steel mesh used to deposit solder paste to contact land patterns on the substrate surface
SONET	"Synchronous Optical NETwork"
SOP	Small Outline IC Package (japan) "System On Package"
SOS	"Silicon On Sapphire"
SOT	"Small Outline Transistor/Diode Package"	sot 23, sot 24, sot 89
SOT 23	"Three Lead Small Outline Transistor/Diode Package"
SOT 24	"Four Lead Small Outline Transistor/Diode Package"
SOT 89	"Higher Power Surface Mounted Transistor Package"
Source Code	- A collection of commands in a programming language that humans can understand, which is then translated into the computers language by a compiler	reverse engineered code
Source Follower	- The leading JFET amplifier. You see it used more than any other ]FET amplifier.
Source Language	- Is the language in which the source program is written	program statement
Source Program	- Is the program as written by the programmer using a programming language; it must be assembled compiled or interpreted before it can be executed.
Source Regulation	- The change in the regulated output voltage when the input of source voltage changes from its minimum to its maximum specified voltage
Space Analysis	- Calculation of component area requirement and circuit density
Sparklies	- Also known as impulse noise. Shows on picture as small black and white comet shape dots on screen. Commonly caused by dish being too sinall which causes the C/N ratio to be lower than the receiver`s FM detector threshold.
SPC	"Stored Program Control"
Speech Recognition	- Is the process of analysing a spoken word and comparing it with those known to the computer system
Speech Synthesiser	- Is an output device that generates sound similar to human speech on receipt of digital signals
Speed Dial	- Is a feature found both on PABXs and other equipment devices (telephone devices) allowing users to dial long or frequently used numbers by pressing just two or three buttons. Also called Abbreviated dialling.
Spillover	- Usable (but often unwanted) signal reaching locations beyond defined Edge of Coverage.
Spooling	- Is the temporary storage of input or output data on magnetic disk or tape as a means of compensating for the slow operating speeds of peripheral devices or when queuing different output streams to one device
Spot Beam	- Beam of circular cross section covering a defined region of the Earth`s surface small in relation to global beam
Spring Action	- Automatic retraction or return to normal position
Spring Loaded Test Probes	- Test probe contacts designed to mate with leads or contact points provided on the circuit substrate surface
Sprite	- Is an object in computer graphics. Typically a computer graphics system will allow the programmer to define the sprite`s shape speed and direction of movement and the system will be responsible for moving the sprite around the screen without further intervention from the programmer.
SRIC	"Synchronous Rectification IC"
SSB	"Single Side Band"	ssbsc
SSBSC	"Single Side Band Suppressed Carrier"
SSI	"Small Scale Integration" - Refers to integrated circuits with 10 or fewer integrated components
SSL	"Secure Socket Layer"
SSMA	"Spread Spectrum Multiple Access"
SSSA	"Security Systems Suppliers Association"
SSTDMA	"Satellite Switched Time Division Multiple Access"
Stack	- Is a list where items are added to or deleted from the same end of the list	reverse polish notation
Stand Off Voltage	- This is a rating used in zener diode transient voltage suppressors
Standard Function	- Is a subprogram provided by a compiler or other translator which carries out a task such as the computation of a mathematical function
Station Protectors	- Designed for residential and small commercial telephone systems where a PBX or other switch is not in use
Stay Wiring Capacitance	- The unwanted capacitance between connecting wires and ground
STD	"Subscriber Trunk dialling"
Stepdown Transformer	- A transformer with more primary turns than secondary turns. This results in less secondary voltage than primary voltage.
Stepped Solder	- Solder paste deposited in multiple thickness to accommodate multistep soldering of selected devices
Stiff Current Source	- A current source whoa internal resistance is at least 100 times larger than the load resistance
Stiff Voltage Divider	- A voltage divider whose loaded output voltage is within 1 percent of its unloaded output voltage
Stiff Voltage Source	- A voltage source which internal resistance is at least 100 times smaller than the load resistance	voltage regulator
STN	"Super Twisted Nematic"
Storage	- Often called Memory or Store. Is the part of a computer system where data and instructions are held.	mass storage device
Store Location	- Is the basic unit within a computer store capable of holding a single item of data. Also called a cell.	address, address calculation, immediate addressing, shift, symbolic addressing
Stray Wiring Capacitance	- The unwanted capacitance between connecting wires and ground
String	- Is textual data in the form of a list of characters	stringy floppy
Stringy Floppy	- Is a backing storage device consisting of a continuous loop of magnetic tape. This allows data recorded anywhere on the tape to be accessed eventually and hence some semblance of random access facilities can be offered.
Structured Programming	- Is an orderly approach to programming which emphasises breaking large and complex tasks into successively smaller sections. Sometimes referred to as top down programming.	algol 68, comal, modular programming
Sub Carrier	- An information carrying wave which in tum modulates the main carrier in a communications system. Subcarriers are used for colour information TV audio independent audio and data transmission.	scfm
Sub Program	- Is a set of program instructions performing a specific task but which is not a complete program
Sub Satellite Point	- The place on earth surface directly beneath a geostationary satellite
Subscriber	- A telephone customer	CDSL, dsl, dslam, idsl, ioca, isd, local loop, std, uadsl
Summer	- An op amp circuit whose output voltage is the sum of the two or more input voltages
Super Computer	- Is a very fast computer using parallel and massive multi processing (MMP), more memory, and sophisticated operating systems. Often used as a server in many industries.
Superposition	- When you have several sources, you can determine the effect produced by each source acting alone and then add the individual effects, to get the total effect of all sources acting simultaneously	mixer
Surface Leakage Current	- A reverse current that flows along the surface of a diode. It increases when you increase the reverse voltage.	collector cutoff current
Surface Mounted Technology	- The materials and process for contact attachment of electronic devices directly to the substrate surface
Surge Current	- The large initial current that flows through the diodes of a rectifier. It is the direct result of charging the filter capacitor, which initially is uncharged.
Surge Protector	- A device connected to a telephone line to prevent the voltage across the Me or between each wire of the line and earth from rising to a harmful level (also called `Surge Arrester`.)
Surveillance	- Close observation, especially of a suspected spy or criminal
SVC	"Switched Virtual Circuit"
SVGA	"Super Video Graphics Array"
Swamped Amplifier	- A CE stage with a feedback resistor in the emitter circuit. This feedback resistor is much larger than the ac resistance of the emitter diode.
SWF	- Macromedia Flash (SWF) Macromedia Flash is a file format for creating and displaying vector-based images and animation
SWG	"Standard Wire Gauge"
Switching Regulator	- A linear regulator uses a transistor that operates in the linear region. A switching regulator uses a transistor that switches between saturation and cutoff.
Sylda	- Dual payload launch adapter for Ariane
Symbian	- Owned by ericsson matsushita motorola nokia psion - is responsible for developing epoc mobile OS for phones and pda`s.	OPL
Symbol Table	- Is the table maintained by it compiler or assembler relating names to machine addresses. Also called a name table.
Symbolic Addressing	- Is a technique used in assembly language programming where the address of a store location is identified by means of a symbol rather than an absolute machine address
Syn/Sync	"Synchronism Synchronising"
Syntax Analysis	- Is the second stage during compilation where language statements are checked for compliance with the rules of the language
Syntax Programming Language	- Is the set of rules for combining the elements of a characters) into permitted constructions (e.g. program statements)
Synthesizer	- A device that creates sounds electronically through the use of voltage controlled amplifiers and filters. The settings for each sound are usually saved as presets.	ADSR
System	- The portion of the operating system that deals with access to and management of files and programs stored on disk	system crash, system x, systems analyst, systems program, systems programmer
System Crash	- Occurs when the operating system ceases to be able to control the operation of the computer and human intervention is necessary in order to restart
System X	- Type of digital telephone exchange in common use by BT as part of the PSIN
Systems Analyst	- Is the person responsible for the analysis of a business system to assess its suitability for computer application
Systems Program	- Is one of the programs that control the performance of a computer system (e.g. compiler or monitor)	systems programmer
Systems Programmer	- Is a programmer who writes systems software