Dictionary of Electrical and Electronic Terms
"A" "B" "C", "D", "E", "F", "G", "H", "I", "J", "K", "L", "M",
"N", "O", "P", "Q", "R", "S", "T", "U", "V", "W", "X", "Y", "Z"

"S" to "Sec", "Sel" to "Series pa", "Series pe" to "Shr",
"Shu" to "Sil", "Sim" to "Skip", "Sky" to "Spe",
"Spi" to "Sta", "Ste" to "Stz", "Su", "Sw", "Sx" to "Sz"

Steady-State. A system condition reached after the response to a system upset. The normal operating condition of a circuit.

Steerable Antenna. An antenna having a main lobe that may be shifted in direction. For more information on antennas refer to the Dictionary of Antenna Terms.

Steering Diode. The application of a diode used to steer currents away from a protected line or component.

Steering diodes protecting an I/O line

Normally a Steering Diode is used as a pair of diodes with one connected to Vcc and one connected to ground, so currents are steered to either Vcc or ground and away from a data line.

Step Attenuator. A variable attenuator which may be adjusted in steps [1dB, 5dB, 10dB, 20dB], and may be programmable or manual. Devices using toggle switches are the most common, but rotary step attenuators are available. A related page covers RF Attenuators.

Step-Down Transformer. A transformer that has a secondary voltage lower than the primary voltage. Also refer to a separate Dictionary of Transformer Terms

Stepper Motor. A motor that operates in discrete angular motions of uniform magnitude. [Stepper Motor Manufacturers]

Stepping Switch. A relay or switch that operates by rotating through 360 degrees in two or more discrete steps.

Step Recovery Diode. A charge-controlled switch which ceases current conduction so rapidly that it can be used to produce an impulse. Synonym; snap-off diode or charge-storage diode.

Step-Transmission System. A data transmission system that operates on direct current. It consists of a step transmitter (rotary switch) and a step motor interconnected to transmit data (information) between remote locations.

Step-Up Transformer. A transformer that Steps up the secondary voltage compared to the primary voltage. A transformer with a higher secondary voltage. Also refer to Transformers Definitions, or Manufacturers producing Step Up Transformers.

Stereo. Short for Stereophonic, basically sound that is reproduce in two or more channels. Example Op Amp Stereo amplifier circuit.

Stereo Jack. [Phono Jack] A male connector designed to handle two channels. There are many different sizes and styles of stereo jacks, one example. Audio Connectors.

Stick Magazine. A plastic tube used to ship and store integrated circuits and other small components. A shipping tube. The physical size and shape of the tube is changed depending on the component being shipped.

Stickoff Voltage. A low voltage used in multi-speed synchro-systems to prevent false synchronizations. Refer to synchro.

Stop-Band. The frequency band that is attenuated by a filter.

Storage Area Network. [SAN] A dedicated storage system accessible to a network.

Storage Life. The minimum length of time a component or device can remain in a non-operating condition before the performance characteristic of the device changes. Also see shelf life which is a the related term.

Storage Oscilloscope. A term applied to analog scopes that describes the ability for the screen display to persist for a certain length of time after the screen was written. An obsolete term, as all digital Oscilloscopes are by definition storage scopes.

Storage Temperature. The minimum or maximum temperature a device may be safely stored while not in use. Storage temperature is normally higher or lower than a devices operating temperature range. Storage temperature is a temperature at which the device may be stored without any power being applied.

Storage Time. An increase in time required to turn off a transistor after the device was driven into saturation.

Strain Gage. A resistive transducer that produces an output that is proportional to the amount the device is deformed.

Strain Relief. A connector device that prevents the disturbance of the contact and cable terminations. Strain Relief vendors.

Stranded Conductor. A conductor composed of a group of wires. The wires in a stranded conductor are usually twisted together and not insulated from each other.

Stranded Wire. See Stranded Conductor

Strands. Fine metallic filaments twisted together to form a single wire.

Stratosphere. Located between the troposphere and the ionosphere; it has little effect on radio waves.

Stratum Clock. A clock in a telecommunications system or network that is assigned a number that indicates its quality and position in the timing hierarchy. The highest quality clocks, called stratum 1 clocks, have a frequency offset of 1 x 10-11 or less, which means that they can keep time to within about one microsecond per day. stratum clocks specifications; ANSI standards T1.101-1999 and T1.105.09-1997.

Stray Capacitance. Any capacitance that is caused [normally unintended] by the proximity to two circuits or elements. Also Capacitive Coupling and Parasitic Capacitance.

Stripline. Traces routed in inner layers and have two reference planes. In a Printed Circuit Board [PCB] stack-up, striplines are on internal layers. Related definition Microstrip.

Strobe Pulse. A gating pulse used to enable a circuit for some length of time.

Stub. A short section of a transmission line used to match the impedance of a transmission line to an antenna. Can also be used to produce desired phase relationships between connected elements of an antenna. Related pages Terminating Traces, and Dictionary of PCB Terms. A short branch off a transmission line.

Stub Cable. A short section of cable used to branch off a main cable. A short cable assembly used as a branch from a main cable.

 
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