Glossary

D

Daisy Chain: (electrical) A cable assembly with common wires jumping three or more connections/connectors. The term is also used as a verb, implying to connect in jumper manner.
Damping: (feature/electrical) Reduction of mechanical or electrical energy by means of an energy-absorbing medium. This damping action minimizes contact bounce.
Data Acquisition: (computer) That phase of data handling that begins with the sensing of variables, and ends with the information in digital compatible form ready for the next phase – whether it be transmission, storage (recording), or processing.
Data Base: (computer) A computer application involving the ordering and manipulation of a large body of data.
Data Link: (computer/system) Equipment which permits the point-to-point transmission of information in data format.
Data Network: (computer/system) A data network usually refers to a group of remote input terminals which are tied to central data collection equipment over a communication system. This communication system could be telephone, microwave, or dedicated wire system (Data Net).
Data Processing: (computer/system) A generic term for all operations carried out with data according to precise procedural rules; a generic term for computing in general, as applied to business situations.
Data Transfer Rate: Generally associated with high speed serial data transfer systems and measured in gigabits per second (Gbit/sec).
DB: (abbreviation) See Decibel.
DC: (current) Direct current. An electrical current flowing in one direction only.
Dead Face: (product feature) The term which describes the various methods used to protect contacts when not engaged. The most common method uses a cover on the mating ends of connectors which automatically covers the contacts when the connectors are separated. Typical is a spring powered cover which automatically flips over the faces of the plug and/or receptacle when the two are separated.
Decibel: (measurement) A unit expressing the ratio of two voltages, currents, or powers. It is equal to 20 times the common logarithm of the ratio of two voltages across or two currents through equal loads, or 10 times the common logarithm of the two powers. One decibel is approximately the smallest change in audible power that can be recognized by the human ear. Indicates gain or loss.
Definition: (circuit) The fidelity of reproduction of pattern edges in the printed circuit relative to the original master pattern.
Degradation: (circuit/system) A gradual deterioration in performance. The synonym – drift – is often used for electronic equipment.
Degradation Failure: (quality/reliability) A device which is considered a failure because of a shift in a parameter or characteristic which exceeds some previously specified limit.
Deposition: (process) The process of applying a material to a base by means of vacuum, electrical, chemical, screening, or vapor methods.
Derate: (quality/reliability) To reduce the rating of a device for improved reliability, or to permit operation at high ambient temperatures.
Derating Factor: (quality/reliability) All semiconductors have a maximum temperature for proper performance. To avoid exceeding this temperature, the derating factor indicates how much the semiconductor dissipation must be decreased for an increase in ambient temperature. It is given in milliwatts per degree centigrade.
Detector: (fiber optic) A semiconductor device that is sensitive to light. The device will generate an electric current with exposure to light.
Detent: (product feature) A mechanism used to hold a part, a control, or an assembly firmly in a given position. Normally spring loaded, it can be in the form of a pawl, a ball, a boss, etc engaging with a rack, serration, indentation, etc. A multi-position control may use a detent mechanism to hold it firmly in each position. AMP-LOK* connectors, which are molded nylon, use locking detents on the plug and indents on the cap to hold the connectors together in proper mated position.
DI: (abbreviation) See Dielectric Isolation.
Diallyl Phthalate: (material) A thermosetting plastic used extensively in the manufacture of housings and programming system panels. Its outstanding qualities are dimensional stability, and resistance to most chemicals and chemical compounds and to mold growth.
Die: (tooling) See crimping dies.
Die Closure: (tooling) Term used to designate the crimping area (crimping chamber) when the dies are fully closed or bottomed. Die closure is checked with a go-no-go plug gage to ensure that the crimp produced by the tooling satisfies the crimp height specification.
Dielectric: A material that serves as an insulator. The amount of resistance to voltage in a given insulation.
Dielectric Strength: The voltage that an insulation can withstand before breakdown occurs. Usually expressed as a voltage gradient (such as volts per mil).
Dielectric Constant (K): The ratio of the capacitance using the material in question as the dielectric, to the capacitance resulting when the material is replaced by air. A low electric constant material results in a low cable capacitance for a given size.
Dielectric Withstanding Voltage: (property) Maximum potential gradient that a dielectric material can withstand without failure. Value obtained for the dielectric strength will depend on the thickness of the material and on the method and conditions of test.
Differential Mode EMI: (electrical) Interference that causes the potential of one side of a signal line to be changed relative to the other side; the type of interference in which the interference path is wholly in the signal transmission line.
DIN: (organization) Deutsches Institut fur Normung. A West German standards organization.
DIN Connector: (standard) Any connector conforming to DIN standards, although often referring to a circular DIN connector popular in audio applications. AMP products are related to over 25 different DIN standards.
Diode: (component) A two terminal, single junction semiconductor – a rectifier – which exhibits different conduction characteristics depending on the polarity of applied voltage. A forward biased conventional p-n diode has a low impedance. Reversing the polarity results in a reverse bias diode and a high impedance. A diode normally passes current in one direction only. See also Zener Diode.
Direct Capacitance: The capacitance measured directly from conductor to conductor through a single insulating layer.
Discontinuity: Rated interconnection: a broken connection (open circuit) or the loss of a specified connection characteristic. Transient phenomena: Short term (temporary) interruption or unacceptable variation in current or voltage.
Dispersion: (fiber optic) A degradation factor in a fiber that limits the bandwidth of the information transmitted by causing components of a light pulse to arrive at the end of a fiber at different times making it appear spread out.
Dissipation: Unusable or lost energy, such as the production of unused heat in a circuit.
Distortion: (circuit) An unwanted change or addition to a signal or waveform when it is amplified. This definition excludes noise which is an extraneous signal superimposed on the desired signal.
Distributed Element Filter: (component) A filter whose filtering properties, such as capacitance and inductance, are distributed uniformly along the length of the filter. See Lumped-Element Filter.
Dopant: (semiconductor) An impurity added to a semiconductor base material to achieve the electrical characteristics of p-material or n-material. Dopants have either an excess or deficiency of valence electrons.
Doping: (process) Doping is adding a controlled amount of p- or n-type elements to a semiconductor crystal in order to control its resistivity, or determine whether it is p or n. The elements are called dopants, or impurities.
Dot Coding: (quality/reliability) Imprint that a tool leaves on the 22-10 AWG PIDG* or PLASTI-GRIP* terminal. Shows whether the proper tool has been used. One dot for 22-16, two dots for 16-14, one dot for 12-10 & 16-14 H.D.
Double-Pole: (device/circuit) A contact arrangement that includes two separate contact combinations (i.e. two single-pole contact assemblies).
Drain Wire: Un-insulated wire in contact with shield to provide easier termination of shield to ground.
Drawing: In wire manufacture, pulling the metal through a die or series of dies to reduce diameter to a specified size.
Drift: (circuit) See Degradation.
Drop: (electrical) See Voltage Drop.
Dropout Value: (voltage, current, or power) (circuit) The maximum value which will de-energize a previously energized relay.
Dry Circuit: (circuit) A circuit where current and voltage are so low that there is no arcing to roughen the contacts. As a result, an insulating film can develop that prevents the closing of the circuit when contacts are brought together if the proper means are not employed to prevent the initial formation of the film.
Dual-Rated Wire: A wire product that meets more than one industry standard.
Dummy Load: (circuit) A dissipative device used at the end of a transmission line or waveguide to convert transmitted energy into heat, so essentially no energy is radiated outward or reflected back to its source.
Duplex Circuit: (circuit) A telegraph, telephone, or data communication circuit permitting simultaneous two-way operation.
Duplex, Full: (circuit) Method of operation of a communication circuit where each end can simultaneously transmit and receive.
Duplex, Half: (circuit) Permits one direction, electrical communications between stations. Technical arrangements may permit operation in either direction, but not simultaneously. Therefore, this term is qualified by one of the following suffixes: S/O for send only, R/O for receive only, or S/R for send or receive.
Duplex Plating: (terminal) The application of different platings to different sections of a contact or terminal. For example, gold at one end and tin at the other.
Durability: (connector) See Contact Durability.
Dust Cap: (connector/accessory) A device attached to a connector to provide protection against dust and foreign debris.
Duty Cycle: (general) A specified operating time of an equipment, plus a specified time of non-operation.

Glossary

D

Need a Quote?