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"B" Terms and definitions
BOB CARD. A Break-Out-Board is used to 'break out' or separate one style of interface into another via a Printed Wiring Board. For example a BOB card may hold some type of connector [D-sub], but break those lines out to different headers or separate screw terminals. So a normal system cable will still connect to the BOB card using the connector, but each of the lines are now accessible for debug off the individual terminals.
BODE PLOT. A graph of a linear, time-invariant system versus frequency.
BOLOMETER. A loading device that undergoes changes in resistance as changes in dissipated power
occur.
BOND. The permanent joining of metallic parts or circuits assuring electrical
continuity and capacity to safely conduct any current likely to be imposed.
BONDING WIRES. Fine wires connecting the bonding pads of the chip to the external leads of the
package.
Refer to terms used with PWB Definitions.
BOOLEAN. Pertaining to the operations of formal logic.
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.
BOUNCE TIME. The time interval between first make of the contact until the uncontrolled making and
breaking of the contact ceases [switch or relays]. Also refer to Debouncing Definition
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.
Braid. A fibrous or metallic group of filaments interwoven to form a protective covering over
one or more wires. Also refer to the Cable Armor Definition.
BRANCH. An individual current path in a parallel circuit.
BREAK. An interruption in a circuit is known as a 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.
Break-before-Make. Contacts which interrupts one circuit before establishing the
previous one.
BREAKDOWN. The phenomenon occurring in a reverse-biased semiconductor diode. The start of the
phenomenon is a transition from a high dynamic resistance to one of substantially lower
dynamic resistance.
BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE. The breakdown voltage is the maximum instantaneous voltage, including repetitive and
non-repetitive transients, which can be applied across a junction in the reverse direction without an external means
(circuit) of limiting the current. It is also the instantaneous value of reverse voltage at which a transition commences
from a region of high small-signal impedance to a region of substantially lower small-signal impedance.
BRIGHTNESS CONTROL. The name given to the potentiometer used to vary the brightness of a monitor. Also refer to the Potentiometer Definition, within the dictionary of resistor terms.
BROADSIDE ARRAY. An array in which the direction of maximum radiation is perpendicular to the
plane containing the elements.
BRUSHES. Sliding contacts, usually carbon, that make electrical connection to the rotating part of a motor or generator.
BUCK REGULATOR. A buck converter is a step-down DC to DC converter. Voltage Regulator Manufacturers.
BUFFER. An IC that isolates one circuit from another, as in a 7404 Glue Logic Manufacturers. A voltage amplifier used between the oscillator and power amplifier. An allocation of memory space for temporary storage. A component or circuit that compensates for a difference in data transfer rates and data processing rates.
BUFFER AMPLIFIER. An amplifier that isolates one circuit from another. A Buffer decreases the loading effect on an oscillator by reducing the interaction between the load and the oscillator.
BUFFERED DELAY LINE. An analog delay line with a buffered output. A Delay Line that is compatible with digital logic by buffering the input and output so normal digital logic may interface with the I/O. A delay line that uses a buffer to compensate for the signal lose as it passed through the delay circuit. Related terms; Tapped Delay Line, UnTapped Delay Line.
Buffered Delay Line
BUILT-IN TEST EQUIPMENT (BITE). A permanently mounted device that is used expressly for testing an equipment or system. Also refer to System Test Acronyms
BUNCHER CAVITY. The input resonant cavity in a conventional klystron oscillator.
BUNCHER GRID. In a velocity-modulated tube, the grid that concentrates the electrons in the electron beam into bunches.
BURIED VIA. A via hole which does not extend to the surface. A via that only runs between two internal layers. Additional terms related to PWB Definitions and topics.
BURN-IN. The process of screening out marginal component parts by exposing them to elevated temperatures and voltage stress. This test is performed to eliminate marginal devices or those with defects resulting from manufacturing aberrations that are evidenced as time and stress dependent failures. Without the burn-in, these defective devices would be expected to result in early lifetime failures under normal use conditions. It is the intent of this test to operate the semiconductor device at specified conditions to reveal electrical failure modes that are time and stress dependent.
BURNISHING TOOL. A tool used to clean and polish contacts on a relay.
BUS. One or more conductors or optical fibers that serve as a common connection for a group of related devices. More information on Bus Topologies. A line shared by more than one device or component so that information can be passed between devices.
Common Bus Topologies
BUS BAR. A heavy copper strap or bar used to connect several circuits together when a large current carrying capacity is required.
| BUTTERWORTH FILTER. The type of filter with a particula output response of either an active or passive filter. Refer to the definition of Filter for the different types. The graph shows the different orders of a Butterworth Filter, 1st order filter through a fifth order filter. |  Butterworth Filter |
BYPASS CAPACITOR. A capacitor used to transfer [Bypass] unwanted signals out of a circuit; for example, coupling an unwanted signal to ground. A capacitor connected across the power and ground pins of an IC. Also called a Decoupling Capacitor.
Definitions only related to Capacitor related Terms.
BYTE. A sequence of adjacent bits (usually 8) considered as a unit [character]. Ten bit bytes are also common, as in 8B/10B. BY-WIRE. A "by-wire" term denotes a control system that replaces traditional mechanical or hydraulic linkages with electronic connections between control units that drive electro-mechanical actuators. Originally used in the aerospace industry as Fly-By-Wire; [Avionic Bus Descriptions], by-wire technology is making its way into the ground transportation sector, as Drive-By-Wire; [Automotive Bus Descriptions]. Automotive by-wire includes three categories: throttle by-wire, steer by-wire, and brake by-wire.
KC-135 Tanker
"C" definitions and terms
