Neets Master Glossary

1-8 BLIP—See PIP [18]. BLOCK DIAGRAM—A diagram in which the major components of an equipment or a system are represented by squares, rectangles, or other geometric figures, and the normal order of progression of a signal or current flow is represented by lines [4]. BLOCKED-GRID KEYING—A method of keying in which the bias is varied to turn plate current on and off [12]. BLOCKING—A condition in an amplifier, caused by overdriving one or more stages, in which the amplifier is insensitive to small signals immediately after reception of a large signal [18]. BOLOMETER—A loading device that undergoes changes in resistance as changes in dissipated power occur [16]. BONDING WIRES—Fine wires connecting the bonding pads of the chip to the external leads of the package [14]. BOOLEAN—(1) Pertaining to the process used in the algebra formulated by George Boole. (2) Pertaining to the operations of formal logic [13]. BOOLEAN ALGEBRA—A system of logic dealing with on-off circuit elements associated by such operators as the AND, OR, NAND, NOR, and NOT functions [13]. BOOLEAN LOGIC—See BOOLEAN ALGEBRA [13]. BOUNDARY CONDITIONS—The two conditions that the E-field and H-field within a waveguide must meet before energy will travel down the waveguide. The E-field must be perpendicular to the walls and the H-field must be in closed loops, parallel to the walls, and perpendicular to the E-field [11]. BRANCH—An individual current path in a parallel circuit [1] [4]. BREAK—In a switch, the number of breaks refers to the number of points at which the switch opens the circuit; for example, single break and double break [3]. BREAKDOWN—The phenomenon occurring in a reverse-biased semiconductor diode. The start of the phenomenon is observed as a transition from a high dynamic resistance to one of substantially lower dynamic resistance. This is done to boost the reverse current [7]. BRIGHTNESS CONTROL—The name given to the potentiometer used to vary the potential applied to the control grid of a CRT [6]. BROADSIDE ARRAY—An array in which the direction of maximum radiation is perpendicular to the plane containing the elements [10] [18]. BRUSHES—Sliding contacts, usually carbon, that make electrical connection to the rotating part of a motor or generator [5]. BUFFER—A voltage amplifier used between the oscillator and power amplifier [12]. BUFFER AMPLIFIER—An amplifier that isolates one circuit from another. It decreases the loading effect on an oscillator by reducing the interaction between the load and the oscillator [9] [18].