Electrical Engineering 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"

Z. Symbol used to indicate impedance [definition].

Z-Axis. In a gyro, an axis through the center of gravity and mutually perpendicular to both the X (spin) and Y axes.

Zener Breakdown. Refer to Zener Diode terms.

Zener Diode. A PN-junction diode designed to operate in the reverse-bias breakdown region. More Zener Diode terms. Also see Zener Diode Manufacturers.

Zener Effect. A reverse breakdown effect in diodes in which breakdown occurs at reverse voltages below 5 volts. The presence of a high energy field at the junction of a semiconductor produces the breakdown.

Zener Voltage. The break-down voltage of a zener diode.

Zero Adjustment. The process of Nulling out a circuit or system. Setting a circuit to a zero output condition. Related term Null.

Zero-bit Insertion. A transmission process when additional zeros are inserted after a fixed number of ones in a transmission sequence to ensure that data will not be misinterpreted as controlling information.

Zero-Buffer DDR. [ZB-DDR] A type of Double-Data-Rate [DDR] memory. Related topic; DDR Memory Manufacturers.

Zero Crossing Detector. A circuit that detects when an input signal crosses zero volts. A comparator with one input tied to ground. An operational amplifier can also be configured into a Zero Crossing Detector.


Zerofill. To fill unused storage locations with the representation of the character denoting 0 [memory]. To insert zeros into a data stream [protocol].

Zeroing. The process of adjusting a synchro or some other component to its electrical zero position.

Zero Insertion Force Socket. A ZIF socket requires no force to install an IC into the socket. A spring actuated level is used to clamp the device in place once it has been installed. Also refer to Socket Manufacturers. ZIF sockets are used with processors mounted on personal computer mother boards and with EPROM programming devices so the components can be easily inserted and removed with out soldiering. Read more on ZIF Sockets and their usage, an example is shown to the right.

Zeroize. To fill a storage location with zeros.

Zero Potential. Earth ground, earth potential.

Zig Zag Package. A component package style that has parallel, alternating terminals which are off-set from one another. Refer to Zig Zag package drawing. A style of thru-hole component package.

Zinc. Symbol Zn. Atomic Number 30. Melting Point 419.50C.

Zip-Cord. A two-fiber cable consisting essentially of two single-fiber cables having their jackets conjoined by a strip of jacket material, so that they may be easily furcated [divided] by slitting or tearing the two jackets apart, permitting the installation of optical connectors.







ZIP Drive. A floppy drive system developed by Iomega which had a much larger storage capacity than normal floppy disk drives. This style drive was widely used, along with floppy drives, before the advent of larger memory USB thumb drives.

External ZIP Drive
ZIP Drive

Zone of Mutual Visibility. The area where the satellite can be seen by both the up- and down-link earth terminals.

Zone of Silence. Skip zone. The region between alternate reflections of a radio wave, in which no signal is detectable.

Zone Plate. A flat glass plate with concentric opaque rings that forms an image caused by diffraction rather than reflection.

Z-parameters. Impedance parameters that describe or characterize a two port system.

Zulu Time. [Coordinated Universal Time]. Formerly a synonym for Greenwich Mean Time. Abbreviation; Z Time.

 
PC motherboard
Home

Distributor rolodex Electronic Components Electronic Equipment EDA CDROM Software Engineering Standards, BOB card Cabled Computer Bus Electronic Engineering Design Table Conversion DB9-to-DB25.
DistributorsComponents Equipment Software Standards Buses Design Reference