Glossary - EPCOS AG

Glossary



		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



		Actuator
			In control engineering, the opposite of a sensor. An actuator transforms sensor signals into motion, such as opening or closing valves.





		Aluminum electrolytic capacitor
			In principle, aluminum electrolytic capacitors are designed like all capacitors and consist of two mutually insulated conductive surfaces. One conductive surface consists of aluminum foil and the other of an absorbent material impregnated with an electrically conductive liquid (electrolyte). The insulating layer between them is a thin layer of aluminum oxide formed on the surface of the aluminum foil (dielectric).





		Ampere
			The base unit of electric current.





		Amplifier
			An electronic device that amplifies an incoming signal before outputting it. A distinction is made between current, voltage and power amplification.





		BAW
			Innovative RF filters in bulk acoustic wave (BAW) technology that – thanks to their performance features and compact dimensions – are predestined for use in communications applications that use frequencies higher than 2,000 megahertz. Just like SAW filters BAW technology uses acoustic waves to select frequencies. The waves here, however, propagate within the bulk of the piezo-electric material, rather than on the surface as is the case for SAW filters. With BAW technology EPCOS combines the benefits of SAW and microwave ceramic technologies.





		Bluetooth
			A standard for short-range wireless connections between mobile phones and headsets or between PCs and printers, for example. Bluetooth allows these devices to communicate with each other without using cables or wires.





		Blu-ray
			Brand name of a designated successor to the DVD with increased storage capacity, for example, to save films with high-definition image quality on a single medium.







		CAN bus
			A Controller Area Network (CAN) interconnects the various electronic components in an automobiles.





		Capacitance
			The capacity of a capacitor to store electric charges. Capacitance is given in farads. The farad is a rather large unit of measurement; most capacitors have capacitances between several trillionths (pico) and several millionths (micro) of a farad.





		Capacitor
			A component that can very quickly store and release electric charges. A capacitor basically consists of two mutually insulated conductive plates. Capacitors are needed in virtually all electronic circuits.





		Carbon dioxide
			A chemical compound of carbon and oxygen. After water vapor, it is the greenhouse gas that – because of its proportionate amount in the atmosphere – contributes most to global warming and thus to climate change.





		CDMA
			Code Division Multiple Access is a mobile communication standard. Signals from multiple sources or transmitters are transferred simultaneously over the same frequency. Wideband CDMA is used for UMTS, for example.





		Choke
			An inductive component used in switch-mode power supplies, for example. Chokes ensure that the ripple of rectified AC voltages is smoothed and high frequency interference is suppressed.





		COMPETE
			Launched in 2002, the COMPETE program stands for cost management, process excellence and time efficiency.





		Copper
			A relatively soft, readily malleable metal. Since it is a good conductor of electrical current, copper is widely used to manufacture wires, printed connections and electronic components.





		CSSP
			Chip-sized SAW package. A packaging technology developed by EPCOS for further miniaturization of surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters. The area of a CSSP component is virtually identical with that of the bare die and not enlarged by the package. Filters in CSSPs are primarily found in mobile radio applications.





		Det Norske Veritas
			A leading provider of management system services. DNV audits and certifies environmental management systems, for instance (www.dnv.com).





		Dielectric
			A dielectric is an electrically nonconductive, insulating material. The capacitance of a capacitor depends considerably on the dielectric used. The higher the associated dielectric constant, the more energy can be stored in the capacitor. Another characteristic is dielectric strength, i.e. the threshold voltage at which the dielectric loses its insulating properties.





		Distributor
			A company that buys complete products from EPCOS, among others, and sells them to end customers. Distributors are used especially to sell small and mid-sized quantities of standard components or in countries in which EPCOS does not have its own sales offices.





		DSL
			Digital Subscriber Line technology allows access to the Internet via the wireline network at high speeds.





		DSSP
			Die-sized SAW package is the latest generation of packaging technology for surface acoustic wave or SAW filters. With this technology the footprint of the filter component can be miniaturized even further than with the conventional CSSP technology.





		Duplexer
			A filter component used in SAW or BAW technology. In mobile phones, for example, duplexers separate the transmit signal from the receive signal, enabling the simultaneous transmission and reception of radio frequency signals.





		DVB
			Digital Video Broadcasting: Global standard for the digital transmission of television and radio signals. Digital TV broadcasting makes better use of transmission bandwidth than analog technology, as multiple channels can be transmitted via a single frequency range.





		DVD
			Digital Versatile Disk. A storage medium with the same dimensions as a compact disk (CD) but substantially higher memory capacity. The DVD can therefore be a suitable medium for storing the data of a full-length movie, for example, complete with supplementary information.





		Electronic ballast
			A device required to ignite and control fluorescent lamps.





		EMC
			Electromagnetic compatibility describes the mutual effects of electrical equipment by the fields that they generate.





		EMI
			Electromagnetic interference, also known as radio frequency interference (RFI), is high-frequency electromagnetic radiation emitted by electrical circuits that process fast-changing electrical signals. It can produce undesired disturbances in other electronic circuits that manifest in forms such as noise.





		ESD
			An electrostatic discharge is an electric current pulse triggered by a large voltage difference and can also flow via a material that is normally an electrical insulator. It may occur when someone walks on a carpeted floor, a process that can charge a human being up to several thousand volts. Electrostatic discharges can cause damage in electronic equipment, and are one of the most frequent causes of failure in integrated semiconductor components.





		Ferrite
			A ferromagnetic material of nonconductive metal oxides. It is sintered (baked) under heat into ferrite cores, which are used in inductive components.





		FlexRay bus
			Like the CAN bus, the FlexRay bus is an electronic system for networking automobile electronics. However, it can transfer significantly higher data rates up to 10 million bits per second. The system will be used to control electrical brakes or steering systems in future generations of vehicles.





		Frequency converter
			A device that converts an AC voltage of specific frequency to a voltage with a different frequency. This converted voltage is then used to operate an electrical load, usually an electric drive.





		Front end
			In wireless terminals, the system unit that processes radio-frequency signals in the send and receive directions. A front end basically comprises radio-frequency filters (usually in SAW technology), intermediate-frequency filters, and duplexers, which permit switching between send and receive frequencies. It includes demodulators and amplifiers.





		Front-end module
			Combines all front-end functions in one unit. The functions of several dozen electronic components such as inductors, capacitors, resistors and varistors are integrated into the ceramic layers of a single unit or module. Other components such as SAW filters or semiconductors, which for technological reasons cannot be integrated, can be mounted on the surface of the ceramic block. The result is a module whose edges are just a few millimeters in length. Thanks to front-end modules from EPCOS, front-end space requirements can be reduced by as much as 90 percent.





		GPS
			Global Positioning System: a satellite-based navigation system to determine positions anywhere on Earth. Originally intended for military uses, GPS is now firmly established in a number of civilian applications too, for example in vehicles, open terrain, and a variety of surveying applications. Assisted GPS (A-GPS) was developed specially for use in mobile phones.




		GPRS
			The General Packet Radio Service is an extension of the GSM mobile phone standard to data transmission. The data is converted at the transmit end into packets, then transmitted before being reconstituted again at the receive end. GPRS is essentially an adaptation of the Internet data protocol to mobile communication services.





		GSM
			Global System for Mobile Communications is a mobile communications standard that is used in about 200 countries.





		HDTV
			High Definition Television: A collective term for a series of standards for high-definition television.





		IEC
			International Electrotechnical Commission: an international organization that defines electrical engineering and electronic engineering standards (www.iec.ch).





		Inductor
			An inductor (also known as an induction coil or inductive component) stores energy in the form of its magnetic field. An inductor basically consists of a wire helically wound around a core. The electrical properties of an inductor are used in virtually all electronic circuits.





		Integrated circuit
			A component based on a semiconductor material such as silicon, on which the functions of numerous discrete components such as transistors, resistors, capacitors and diodes are integrated and interconnected.





		Keyless entry
			A security and convenience feature with which more and more automobiles are being equipped. Pressing a button on the car key activates a miniature radio transmitter that locks or unlocks the car doors from a distance of several meters.





		Lithium
			The lightest of all metals. Highly reactive lithium bonds readily with other substances and therefore does not occur naturally in its pure form on Earth.




		Lithium niobate
			A transparent, crystalline material that does not occur in nature and is usually fabricated from a molten mix of lithium oxide and niobium pentoxide.




		Lithium tantalate
			A transparent, crystalline material that does not occur in nature and is usually fabricated from a molten mix of lithium oxide and tantalum pentoxide.




		LTCC
			Low-temperature co-fired ceramics: LTCC technology is vital to EPCOS. Mastering this technology is vital if dozens of components such as inductors, capacitors, resistors and varistors are to be integrated in the individual layers of a multilayer ceramic module.





		Micrometer
			A unit of length equal to one millionth of a meter, or one thousandth of a millimeter. A micrometer (or micron) cannot be perceived by the human eye, which is able only discern objects that measure at least around 100 micrometers.




		MP3
			The MP3 data format can be used to greatly compress musical data. MP3 technology is used in compact MP3 players, mobile phones and computers.





		Multiband
			Multiband mobile phones are designed for several frequency bands. Triband handsets, for example, can operate in three networks, namely GSM-900 (900 MHz), GSM-1800 (1800 MHz) and GSM-1900 (1900 MHz).





		Multimode
			Multimode mobile phones are designed for several transmission standards. Thus, UMTS phones support not only WCDMA but as a rule also GSM.





		NAFTA
			North American Free Trade Agreement or Area comprises the US, Canada and Mexico.





		Passive integration
			Passive integration is based on ceramic multilayer technology. It allows the complete integration of semiconductors and passive electronic components in miniaturized modules. The functions of several dozen passive electronic components such as resistors, capacitors and inductors are embedded in wafer-thin layers. Several SAW filters and diodes may be additionally mounted on the surface. This solution saves up to 90 percent space compared with the use of discrete components.





		Piezo actuator
			The key component of piezoelectric fuel injection systems in diesel and gasoline engines. With their low mass and short switching times, piezo actuators are far superior to the conventional solenoid valves used to actuate the injection needles in fuel injection valves. Thanks to piezo technology, the injection process can be divided into seven injection events at four times the switching speed. Whereas solenoid valves have a fixed displacement, that of a piezo actuator can be varied. Key benefits are lower fuel consumption, and reduced exhaust and noise emissions. The piezo actuator uses the inverse piezo effect. If a voltage is applied to a piezoelectric crystal, its dimensions change. But this effect cannot be exploited and no significant displacement obtained until several hundred layers of piezoelectric material are superimposed. Depending on type, piezo actuators contain up to 1,800 ceramic layers in a stack up to 60 mm high. This results in a displacement of 65 micrometers – enough to operate the needle in the injection nozzle and inject fuel into the cylinder.





		Piezoelectric
			Materials are piezoelectric if their surface becomes electrically charged when mechanical stress is applied. This phenomenon is known as the »direct piezoelectric effect«. Conversely, piezoelectric materials change their shape when electric voltage is applied - a phenomenon known as the »inverse piezoelectric effect«.





		Piezoresistiv
			In piezoresistive materials the specific electric resistance changes when mechanical stress is applied.




		Power factor correction
			Electrical circuits for power factor correction can considerably reduce the reactive power of electrical loads. Because reactive power must be supplied by power utilities via the power grid, power factor correction systems can decrease the load on industrial grids, power utility installations, power lines and transmission equipment. As a result power customers can save energy and reduce their costs.





		Pupin coil
			Improved the quality of voice transmission in telephony, making long-distance communication possible. Named after the physicist and technologist Mihajlo Pupin (1854 to 1935).





		Quadband
			Quadband mobile phones can operate in GSM networks with different frequency bands, e.g. 850, 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz.





		RF-MEMS
			Radio frequency micro-electro-mechanical systems are tiny mechanical elements that can be controlled and activated with electronic circuits.





		SAW
			Surface acoustic waves: SAW components are key components, especially in information and communication technology. SAW components are indispensable for selecting desired signal frequencies. They have helped make outstanding picture and sound quality reality in mobile phones and other mobile devices, in TV, DVD and audio equipment.





		Sensor
			A component that can detect certain physical or chemical properties such as temperature, thermal radiation, humidity, pressure, brightness or acceleration as measurable quantities. Physical or chemical effects are used to take these measurements and convert them to other properties - usually electrical signals.




		Set-top box
			An entertainment electronics device that is usually connected to a television set to provide additional uses such as TV reception via alternative channels (satellite or cable) or in different forms (digital or encrypted).




		SIM card
			A chip card inserted into a mobile phone to identify the user in the mobile phone network. The acronym stands for Subscriber Identity Module.





		Silicon
			A metalloid element used on a large scale as a basic material in the semiconductor industry.





		Sintering
			A manufacturing process for formed parts, for instance from ceramic and metallic powders. The powders are first formed and compacted giving the powder particles a minimal degree of cohesion. The resulting mass, known as a "green compact," is then compressed and hardened by heat treatment at a temperature below its melting point.





		Splitter
			In DSL-ISDN subscriber lines, the DSL and ISDN signals are superimposed. The splitter separates the low-frequency ISDN signals for telephony from the high-frequency DSL signals for Internet access.





		Surge arrester
			Lighting strikes can induce enormously high voltages that can have devastating effects on telecommunications, datacom and power lines, and especially to equipment connected to them. This damage is prevented by gas-filled surge arresters.




		Switching spark gap
			The discharge space (or gap) between two electrodes and containing gas. When the electric voltage between the electrodes reaches ignition voltage, the resultant electrical field ionizes the gas in the discharge space. The gas becomes conductive and a spark shortcircuits the gap within far less than a thousandth of a second. Probably the largest spark gaps occur between two clouds or between a cloud and the Earth during a storm, resulting in flashes of lightning.





		Thermistor
			A nonlinear resistor whose resistance varies with temperature. Thermistors measure and monitor temperature, protect against excessive current and are also used for heating.





		Thyristor
			A semiconductor component used at high currents of 10,000 amps and above – for instance in the controllers of powerful electric motors.





		Tansformer
			An electric device comprising two or more coils of wire wound around a common iron or ferrite core. Voltages can thus be increased or reduced, e.g. 230 volts from the AC line can be stepped down to 12 volts for a tungsten-halogen lamp. In telecommunications they also couple circuits in the equipment used.





		Triband
			Triband mobile phones can operate in GSM networks with different frequency bands, e.g. 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz.





		Ultra pure water
			Unlike ordinary water, which contains minerals and organic substances, ultra pure water contains virtually no foreign substances.





		UMTS
			The Universal Mobile Telecommunications System is a third-generation mobile radio standard. Its high bandwidth makes not only audio and video telephony possible, but also multimedia services such as Internet access and e-commerce.





		Varistor
			Voltage-dependent resistor. Varistors protect power supply and data systems, for example, against dangerous overvoltages.





		Wafer
			A wafer is a disk made from a material such as silicon and having a diameter of up to 30 centimeters. In the manufacture of the new BAW filters from EPCOS, a silicon substrate is used for the filter structures.





		WCDMA
			A wideband CDMA technique for mobile telephony that is less susceptible to narrowband interference than other transmission methods. CDMA stands for Code Division Multiple Access, in which the signals from several sources or transmitters are transmitted simultaneously at the same frequency. Wideband CDMA is used in UMTS, for example.





		WLAN
			Wireless local area network. WLANs have a range up to 300 meters and transmit data from WLAN-enabled terminals such as notebooks in a license-free radio-frequency band.






		ZVEI
			Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie in Deutschland (the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association). This organization repressents the economic, technological and environmental policy interests of the German electrical and electronics industry on a national, European and international level. For more information, visit www.zvei.org.