Electronic Glossary

What’s a Microphone?   A Microphone, colloquially called a mic or mike (/maɪk/), is an electroacoustic transducer that converts sound into an electrical signal. It converts sound into a small electrical current. Sound waves hit a diaphragm that vibrates, moving …

Microsection, also called Micro-section or Specimen, is a small rectangular area punched out of the printed circuit board (PCB) in order to inspect the quality of plated through holes (PTH) or vias, and copper plating. It allows for a look at …

What Is A PCB Microstrip?   PCB Microstrip is a type of electrical transmission line which can be fabricated with any technology where a conductor is separated from a ground plane by a dielectric layer known as FR4, polyimide, PP, …

Circuitry that operates at frequencies between 3 GHz and 300 GHz. See RF. Microwave meaning “small wave,” a microwave is a radio signal in the frequency range from 300 MHz to 300 GHz or from 1 to 300 GHz, depending …

One thousandth of an inch.

From the cross reference of National Semiconductor (NSC) package type names of Texas Instruments (TI) Industry Standard Terms for package types and package families. Mini-SOIC is very-thin shrink small-outline package (VSSOP), which is another small outline IC (SOIC) variant, available …

The smallest distance between any two adjacent conductors, such as traces, in a PCB.

The smallest width of any conductors, such as traces, on a PCB.

A defect that is not likely to result in the failure of a PCB or PCBA that does not reduce its usability for its intended purpose. Also See Major Defect.

A PCB using surface mount and through-hole technology.