Some Important Definitions From Basic Electronics by Malvino

         Some Important Definitions  From Basic Electronics by Malvino

Formula
A rule that relates quantities.
Definitions
Are formulas that a researcher creates and based on scientific observation.
Law
It summarizes a relationship that already exists in nature.
Derivation
A formula that we can get other formulas.
First Approximation
Sometimes called the first approximation, is the simplest approximation equivalent circuit for a device.
Second Approximation
Adds one or more components to the ideal approximation.
Ideal dc Voltage Source
Produces a load that is constant.
dc Current Source
Produces a constant load current for different load resistances.
Stiff Current Source
A current source whose internal resistance is at least 100 times larger than the load resistance.
Theorem
A statement  that we can prove mathematically.
Thevenin Resistance
Defined as the resistance that an ohmmeter measures across the load terminals.
Norton Current IN
Defined as the load current when the load resistor is shorted.
Duality Principle
It states that for any theorem in electrical circuit analysis there is a dual (opposite) theorem in which.
Troubleshooting
Means finding out why a circuit is not doing what is supposed to do.
Two facts about an open devices:
1. the current through an
open device is zero.
2. the voltage across it is unknown
Two facts about a shorted devices:
1. the voltage across a shorted device is zero.
2. the current through it is unknown
Centrifugal
The reason why electrons are not pulled into the nucleus.
Semiconductors
An element with electrical properties between those of a conductor and those of an insulator.
Germanium
An example of a semiconductor and has four electrons in the valence orbit.
Silicon
Another example of semiconductor  and became the most practical in most electronics applications.
Crystal
An orderly pattern formed when silicon atoms combined their self to form a solid.
Covalent Bond
A bond between the opposite cores.
Doping
One way to increase conductivity of a semiconductor by adding impurity atoms.
Extrinsic  Semiconductor
A doped semiconductor.
Pentavalent Atom
It is added to molten silicon to increase the number of free electrons.
Atom with five electrons in valence orbit and also called donor impurities.
Trivalent
Atom with three valence electrons and also called acceptor atom.
N-Type Semiconductor
Silicon that has been doped with a pentavalent impurity.
P-Type Semiconductor
Silicon that has been doped with a trivalent impurity.
Junction
It is the border where the p-type and n-type regions meet.
Junction Diode
Another name for pn crystal.
Dipole
The pair of positive and negative ions at the junction.
Depletion Region
Charge empty region.
Barrier Potential
The electric field between the ions is equivalent to difference of potential.
Forward Bias
It is when the negative source terminal is connected to the n-type material and the positive is connected to the p-type material.
Reverse Bias
The negative battery terminal is connected to the p side and the positive battery terminal to the n side.
Saturation Current
The reverse current caused by the thermally produced minority carriers.
Ambient Temperature
The temperature of the surrounding air.

Linear Device

A device where the graph of its current versus voltage is a straight line.

Nonlinear Device

A device where the graph of its current versus voltage is not straight line.

Knee Voltage

In the forward region, the voltage at which the current starts to increase rapidly.

The  0.7 V knee voltage of a silicon diode.

Bulk Resistance

The ohmic resistance of a semiconductor material.

Power Rating

The maximum power the diode can safely dissipate without shortening its life or degrading its properties.

Ideal Diode

A diode acts like a switch that closes when forward-biased and opens when reverse-biased.

Breakdown Region

It is a region where either avalanche or zener effects occurs.

Breakdown Voltage

The maximum reverse voltage a diode can withstand before  avalanche or the zener effect occurs.

Load Line

A tool used to find the exact value of a diode current and voltage.

Power Supply Rectifiers

Electronic device that converts the ac input voltage to an almost perfect dc output voltage.

Half-Wave Rectifier

A rectifier with only one diode in series with the load resistor.

Step-Up

A transformer that  will produce a secondary voltage that is higher than a primary.

Step-Down

A transformer that will produce a secondary voltage that is smaller than the primary.

Full-Wave Rectifier

A rectifier that is equivalent to two half-wave rectifiers.

Bridge Rectifier

Type of rectifier circuit that has four diode, two of which are conducting at the same time.

Choke-Input Filter

Used to filter the output of a rectifier.

Super Position Theorem

It states that, if you have two or more sources, you can analyze the circuit for each source separately and then add the individual voltages to get the total voltage.

Ripple

The fluctuation in load voltage caused by the charging and the discharging of capacitor input filter.

Switching Regulator

A regulator that uses a transistor that switches between saturation and cut-off.

Capacitor-Input Filter

A filter that produce a dc output voltage equal to the peak value of the rectified voltage.

Peak Inverse Voltage

The maximum voltage across the non-conducting diode of a rectifier.

Surge Current

The initial rush of current when the power is turned on.

IC Voltage Regulator:

This device not only reduces the ripple, it also holds the output voltage constant.

Rectifier Diodes

The diodes used in low-frequency power supplies.

Small-Signal Diodes

This diodes are optimized for use at high frequencies and have power ratings less than 0.5W.

Clipper

A circuit that removes either positive or negative parts of a wave form.

Positive Clipper

The circuit removes all the positive parts of the input signal.

Stiff Clipper

The series resistance must be 100 times greater than bulk resistance and 100 times smaller than the load resistance.

Negative Clipper

The circuit removes all the negative parts of the input signal.

Clamper

It adds a dc voltage to the signal.

Peak Detector

The same as a rectifier with a capacitor input filter used for output voltage of the peak detector.

Cascaded Stage

Connecting two or more stages so that the output of one stage is the input to the next.

Voltage Doubler

A redesign of the peak-to-peak detector, it uses rectifier diodes instead of small-signal diodes.

Zener Diode

A diode designed to operate in reverse break over with a very  stable voltage drop.

Also called voltage regulator diode.

Zener Regulator

Circuit used when you want a dc output voltage that is less than the output of a the power supply.

Zener Effect

Sometimes called high-field emission, this occurs when the intensity of the electric field becomes high enough to dislodge valence electrons in reverse biased diode.

Zener Voltage

The breakdown voltage of a zener diode.

Temperature Coefficient

It is defined as the change in breakdown voltage per degree of increase of temperature.