Vilius PALENSKIS, Vytautas VALIUKĖNAS ir Valerijonas ŽALKAUSKAS

Vilniaus universitetas

ON THE USE OF CERTAIN RADIOELECTRONICS TERMS

The “Dictionary of Radioelectronics Terms (Lithuanian, English, French, German, and Russian)” has now been submitted for publication; it contains approximately 18,000 terms. The authors of the dictionary are Dr. Kazimieras Gaivenis, Habil. Dr. Gytis Juška, Dr. Vidas Kalesinskas, Dr. Angelė Kaulakienė, Dr. Stasys Keinys, Dr. Jonas Matukas, Dr. Vilius Palenskis (editor-in-chief), Dr. Antanas Petravičius, Habil. Dr. Stanislavas Sakalauskas, Habil. Dr. Algirdas Stabinis, Dr. Vytautas Valiukėnas (deputy editor-in-chief), and Dr. Valerijonas Žalkauskas (computer processing editor).

Some of the terms in this dictionary have already been discussed in various publications devoted to terminology [1, 2]. Here we will discuss several more very important terms.

Taking into account international and Lithuanian standards on physical quantities and their units [3], the use of the term factor is considerably extended. According to the requirements of these standards, the term coefficient (English coefficient ‖ French coefficient m ‖ German Koeffizient m ‖ Russian коэффициент m) should be used only when the multiplier k relating two quantities A and B (A = kB) is a dimensional quantity, for example: Hall coefficient ‖ Hall coefficient ‖ coefficient m de Hall ‖ Hall-Koeffizient m ‖ коэффициент m Холла; diffusion coefficient ‖ diffusion coefficient ‖ coefficient m de diffusion ‖ Diffusionskoeffizient m ‖ коэффициент m диффузии; linear expansion coefficient ‖ coefficient of linear expansion ‖ coefficient m de dilatation linéique ‖ linearer Ausdehnungskoeffizient m ‖ коэффициент m линейного расширения; recombination coefficient ‖ recombination coefficient ‖ coefficient m de recombinaison ‖ Rekombinationskoeffizient m ‖ коэффициент m рекомбинации;

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self-induction coefficient ‖ coefficient of self-induction, self-inductance ‖ coefficient m d’auto-induction, self-inductance f ‖ Selbstinduktionskoeffizient m ‖ коэффициент m самоиндукции, собственная индуктивность f;

temperature coefficient of resistance ‖ temperature coefficient of resistance ‖ coefficient m de température de résistance ‖ Temperaturkoeffizient m des Widerstandes, Widerstandstemperaturkoeffizient m ‖ температурный коэффициент m сопротивления;

magnetoresistive coefficient, absorption coefficient, expansion coefficient, proportional effect coefficient, attenuation coefficient, temperature coefficient, thermoelectric voltage coefficient, etc.

The examples given here show that the specific terms for types of coefficients most often reflect a phenomenon or the way a particular quantity changes, or are named after the researchers who studied a particular phenomenon.

The term factor (English factor ‖ French facteur m ‖ German Faktor m ‖ Russian коэффициент m множитель m) is proposed for use when the quantity k (A=kB or k=A/B) is dimensionless, that is, when quantities A and B have the same units of measurement but do not have the same meanings, for example:

dielectric dissipation factor ‖ dielectric dissipation factor, dielectric loss factor ‖ facteur m de pertes diélectriques ‖ dielektrischer Verlustfaktor m ‖ коэффициент m диэлектрических потерь;

power factor ‖ power factor ‖ facteur m de puissance ‖ Leistungsfaktor m ‖ коэффициент m мощности;

quality factor ‖ quality factor, figure of merit ‖ facteur m de qualité, facteur m de mérite ‖ Gütefaktor m, Gütezahl f ‖ коэффициент m добротности, добротность f;

correlation factor ‖ correlation factor ‖ coefficient m de corrélation ‖ Korrelationsfaktor m ‖ коэффициент m корреляции;

reliability factor ‖ reliability factor ‖ facteur m de fiabilité ‖ Zuverlässigkeitsfaktor m ‖ коэффициент m надёжности;

coincidence factor ‖ coincidence factor ‖ facteur m coïncidence ‖ Koinzidenzfaktor m ‖ коэффициент m совпадения;

pulse duty factor, distortion factor, demagnetization factor, feedback factor, overload factor, scattering factor, noise factor, etc.

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The examples given here also show that the names of specific types of factor terms most often reflect a phenomenon or the degree of its effect, the degree of commonality or occurrence of certain phenomena, and so on. Although the quantity described by the term factor differs fundamentally from the quantity expressed by a coefficient—the latter is a dimensional quantity—many such quantities have until now been called coefficients in Lithuanian scholarly literature. Moreover, although the “Dictionary of Contemporary Lithuanian” [5] assigns the word factor only the meaning of factor, in other languages this word is most often used in science and technology to mean a numerical multiplier or number indicating the degree of a particular effect. Therefore, when preparing a new edition of this dictionary [5], the aforementioned meaning of factor should also be included.

As noted, a factor can also be expressed as the ratio of certain quantities, but this term should not be confused with the term ratio. Ratio (English ratio || French rapport m || German Verhältnis n || Russian отношение n, соотношение n) is a dimensionless quantity (k=A₁/A₂), when quantities A₁ and A₂ have not only the same units of measurement but also the same meaning; that is, a ratio shows how many times the values of a given quantity are greater or smaller than one another. Let us list a few examples:

concentration ratio || concentration ratio || rapport m des concentrations || Konzentrationsverhältnis n || отношение n концентраций;

doping impurity density ratio || doping density ratio || rapport m des dopants || Dotantenverhältnis n || отношение n плотностей легирующих примесей;

logical one-to-zero signal ratio || one-to-zero ratio || rapport m signal un – signal zéro || Null-Eins-Verhältnis n || отношение n сигналов логических 1 и 0;

mixture component ratio || mixture component ratio || rapport m des composants au mélange || Mischungsverhältnis n || соотношение n компонентов в смеси;

signal-to-noise ratio || signal-to-noise ratio || rapport m signal/bruit || Signal/Rausch-Verhältnis n || отношение n сигнал/шум;

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stoichiometric ratio ‖ stoichiometric ratio ‖ rapport m stoechiométrique ‖ stöchiometrisches Verhältnis n ‖ стехиометрическое отношение n;

height-to-width ratio, etch-rate ratios, mobility ratios, magnetoresistance ratio, carrier-to-noise ratio, attenuation ratio, thermal-capacity ratios, etc.

If the specific terms for coefficient and factor usually were not related to the names of quantities A and B, the specific terms for ratio directly indicate the names of quantities A and B. In cases where the ratio k=A/B is less than one, and quantity A is a part of quantity B (A is included in the composition of B), the term part should be used (English part ‖ French partie f ‖ German Teil m ‖ Russian часть f, доля f):

active part ‖ active part ‖ partie f active ‖ Akivteil m, Wirkteil m ‖ активная часть f;

imaginary part ‖ imaginary part ‖ partie f imaginaire ‖ Ima-ginärteil m ‖ мнимая часть f;

real part ‖ real part ‖ partie f réelle ‖ Realteil m ‖ вещественная часть f, действительная часть f;

weight part ‖ weight part ‖ partie f de poids ‖ Gewichtsteil m ‖ весовая часть f, весовая доля f,

volume part ‖ volume part ‖ partie f de volume ‖ Volumenteil m, Raumteil m ‖ объёмная часть f,

It is regrettable that in the scientific and technical literature of both Lithuanian and other languages, the terms coefficient, factor and ratio are often confused; only recently have these terms begun to be systematized [3, 4]. For example, the term amplification coefficient (although in meaning it should be amplification factor) is so widely used that it is probably not worth changing it now.

Combinations of physical quantities formed from certain coefficients and factors are often regarded as new quantities, sometimes called parameters, e.g., the Grüneisen (Grüneisen) parameter. The use of this term should not be extended, since the term parameter is most often used in the sense of a property or characteristic, when certain quantities are used to describe a device, apparatus, or other product, e.g.:

large-signal circuit parameters ‖ large-signal parameters ‖ paramètres m pl en signal fort ‖ Großsignalparameter m pl ‖ пара-

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meters m pl under large-signal conditions;

integrated circuit parameters || integrated circuit parameters || performances m pl de circuit intégré || IC-Leistungsparameter m pl || parameters m pl of integrated circuits;

technological parameters || technological parameters || French plural form || Fertigungsparameter plural form || Russian plural form of “technological process”.

The logarithm of the ratio of a physical quantity A to its reference value A₀ (L=lg(A/A₀)) is called the level (usually expressed in decibels):

detection level || detectable level || French masculine form of “detectable” || Nachweisbarkeits-niveau neuter form || Russian masculine form of “detection”;

signal level || signal level || French masculine form of “signal” || Signalpegel masculine form || Russian masculine form of “signal”;

noise level || noise level || French masculine form of “noise” || Rauschniveau neuter form, Rauschpegel masculine form || Russian masculine form of “noise”.

However, the term level is also widely used to denote specified values of physical quantities, e.g.: reference level, maximum signal level, power level, permissible irradiation level, zero level, limiting level, threshold level, etc. The term level should not be confused with energy level, the latter being used to describe energy levels: acceptor level, donor level, degenerate level, laser level, unexcited level, unfilled level, ground energy level, recombination level, shallow donor level, empty level, etc.

The terms constant, or constant quantity, also belong to the group of terms mentioned above.

A quantity that has the same value under all conditions is called a universal constant or simply a constant:

electric constant || electric constant || French constant f || dielectric constant f, permittivity constant f || electrical constant f;

magnetic constant || magnetic constant || French magnetic constant f || magnetic field constant f, vacuum permeability constant f || magnetic constant f;

Planck constant || Planck’s constant || French Planck constant f || Planck constant f || Russian constant f Planck.

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For other quantities that have the same values under certain conditions, and for which other languages use terms such as constant, constante, Konstante and so on, Lithuanian should give preference to the term konstanta rather than the translation of the Russian term постоянная, pastovioji (the latter term is not in dictionary [5]):

galvanometer constant ∥ galvanometer constant ∥ constante f de galvanomètre ∥ Galvanometerkonstante f ∥ постоянная f гальванометра;

charging time constant ∥ electric charge time constant ∥ constante f de temps de la charge ∥ Ladezeitkonstante f ∥ постоянная f времени заряда;

arbitrary constant ∥ arbitrary constant ∥ constante f arbitraire ∥ willkürliche Konstante f ∥ произвольная постоянная f;

decay constant ∥ decay constant ∥ constante f de désintégration ∥ Zerfallkonstante f ∥ постоянная f распада;

damping constant ∥ damping constant ∥ constante f d'amortissement ∥ Dämpfungskonstante f ∥ постоянная f успокоения.

It is proposed that the term way be used much more broadly. This term was not even included in the “Dictionary of Physics Terms” [6], although in many contexts it can replace the term method—that is, in cases where a type of being, manifestation, making, or operation is meant, for example:

way ∥ approach, method, technique ∥ mode m, méthode f, technique f ∥ Method f, Verfahren n, Technik f ∥ способ m, метод m;

testing method ∥ testing technique ∥ technique f d'essai ∥ Prüftechnik f ∥ способ m испытания;

pattern formation method ∥ patterning technique ∥ technique f de définition de dessin ∥ Strukturabbildungsverfahren n ∥ способ m формирования рисунка;

mode synchronization method ∥ mode-locking technique ∥ méthode f de synchronisation des modes ∥ способ m синхронизации мод;

basic method ∥ basic approach ∥ méthode f de base ∥ Basisverfahren n ∥ базовый способ m;

error compensation method ∥ error compensation method ∥

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error-compensation method ‖ Fehlerkompensationsverfahren n ‖ способ m компенсации погрешности;

self-alignment method ‖ self-aligned approach ‖ méthode f d'auto-alignement, technique f d'auto-alignement ‖ способ m самосовмещения;

multistage diffusion method, double-gate method, foil-etching method, manufacturing method, evaporation method, pulse compression method, crystal-pulling method, quantization method, measurement method, splitting method, optical-fiber splicing method, propagation method, excitation method, etc.

However, this does not mean that the term method should always be replaced with the term approach, for example, when the term is associated with authors’ surnames or other proper nouns:

Bridgman method ‖ Bridgman method ‖ méthode f de Bridgman ‖ Bridgman-Methode f ‖ метод m Бриджмена;

Czochralski method ‖ Czochralski method ‖ méthode f de Czochralski ‖ Czochralski-Methode f ‖ метод m Чохральского;

Monte Carlo method ‖ Monte-Carlo method ‖ méthode f Monte-Carlo ‖ Monte-Carlo-Methode f, Monte-Carlo-Verfahren n ‖ метод m Монте-Карло.

In cases where we wish to express a set of approaches or a generalization, a research or operating principle, the term method should also be used without hesitation, for example:

approximation method ‖ approximative method ‖ méthode f approximative ‖ Annäherungsverfahren n ‖ приближённый метод m;

loop method ‖ loop method ‖ méthode f de boucle ‖ Schleifenmethode f ‖ метод m loop, method m of the line;

beat method ‖ beat method ‖ méthode f de battements ‖ Schwebungsverfahren n ‖ метод m beat;

null method ‖ null method ‖ méthode f de zéro ‖ Nullmethode f, Nullabgleichmethode f ‖ нулевой метод m;

difference method ‖ differential method ‖ méthode f différentielle ‖ Differentialmethode f ‖ разностный метод m, дифференциальный метод m;

variational method ‖ variational method ‖ méthode f des variations ‖ Variationsmethode f, Variationsverfahren n ‖ вариационный метод m;

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gradient method, charge and discharge method, harmonic balance method, discharge method, mesh-current method, nodal-potential method, similarity method, symbolic method, superposition method, bridge method, three-ammeter method, delayed-potential method, stepwise method, etc.

Next, we will discuss the usage of the terms sensor, transducer, and converter.

Sensor is [7] 1) an element or device that responds to physical influences such as heat, light, sound, pressure, a magnetic or electric field, motion, etc., and produces a certain signal; 2) a device or means that increases the intrinsic sensitivity of the primary element; 3) a device that uses the energy or particle radiation of certain objects, or reflection from them, to detect, indicate, or display these objects or their actions. We list a few examples:

sensor ∥ sensor, sensing element ∥ senseur m, capteur m ∥ Fühler m, Fühelelement m, Geber m ∥ чувствительный элемент m, датчик m;

bolometric light sensor ∥ bolometric light sensing element ∥ capteur m bolométrique de lumière ∥ bolometrischer Lichtgeber m ∥ болометрический датчик m света;

photoelectric sensor ∥ photoelectric sensing element ∥ capteur m photoélectrique ∥ photoelektrischer Geber m ∥ фотоэлектрический датчик m;

inductive sensor ∥ inductive sensor ∥ capteur m inductif ∥ induktiver Geber m ∥ индуктивный датчик m;

magnetostrictive sensor ∥ magnetostrictive sensor ∥ capteur m à magnétostriction ∥ magnetostriktiver Geber m ∥ магнитострикционный датчик m;

pressure sensor ∥ pressure sensor, pressure pickup ∥ capteur m de pression ∥ Druckfühler m ∥ датчик m давления;

light sensor ∥ light sensor, photosensor ∥ photosenseur m, photorécepteur m ∥ Photosensor m, lichtempfindliches Element n, Lichtempfänger m ∥ фотодетектор m, фоточувствительный элемент m;

moisture sensor, electronic sensor, Hall sensor, strain sensor, optoelectronic sensor, piezoelectric sensor, fiber-optic sensor, capacitive sensor, temperature sensor, ultrasonic sensor, image sensor, vibration sensor, etc.

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Transducer (transducer || capteur m, transducteur m || Geber m || датчик m) is a device or component that converts one type of energy into another while accurately preserving the information carried by the original energy, its derivative, or its integral. In some cases, the functions performed by a transducer and a sensor are very similar (French, German, and Russian often even use the same terms), but a transducer is not intended for detection. A transducer may be 1) a microphone, which converts sound waves into an electrical signal (current or voltage), 2) a modulated laser, which converts an electrical signal (usually current) into modulated light, 3) a light receiver, which converts modulated light into an electrical signal, and so on, for example:

electromagnetic transducer || electromagnetic transducer || capteur m électromagnétique || elektromagnetischer Geber m || электромагнитный датчик m;

power transducer || power transducer || transducteur m de puissance || Leistungsgeber m || датчик m мощности;

Hall transducer || Hall transducer || capteur m de Hall || Hall-Geber m || датчик Холла;

magnetostrictive transducer || magnetostriction transducer || transducteur m de magnétostriction || Magnetostriktionsgeber m || магнитострикционный датчик m;

telemetry transducer || telemeter transducer || transducteur m de télémesure || Fernmeßgeber m || датчик m телеизмерения;

displacement transducer || displacement transducer || capteur m de déplacement || Weggeber m || датчик m смещения.

Converter (converter, changer || convertisseur m, changeur m || Wandler m, Umsetzer m, Umformer m || преобразователь m) is a device that usually changes one parameter of a particular type of energy into another, one function into another, one form of information into another, and so on. A converter may be 1) part of a radio receiver that changes the input signal frequency to a lower one, i.e., to an intermediate frequency, 2) an electric generator that converts alternating current into direct current or vice versa, 3) a device that changes the form in which data is presented without changing its meaning, and so on:

analog-to-digital converter || digital-analogue converter || convertisseur m digital-analogique || Digitalanalogumsetzer m, Digital-

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Analog-Wandler m ‖ цифрово-аналоговый преобразователь m; voltage-frequency converter ‖ voltage-frequency converter, voltage-to-frequency converter ‖ convertisseur m tension-fréquence ‖ Spannung-Frequenz-Umsetzer m, Spannungs-Frequenz-Wandler m ‖ преобразователь m напряжение-частота;

frequency converter ‖ frequency converter ‖ convertisseur m de fréquence ‖ Frequenzumsetzer m, Frequenzwandler m ‖ преобразователь частоты;

line-count converter ‖ scan converter device ‖ convertisseur m de nombre de lignes ‖ Zeilenzahlumsetzer m ‖ преобразователь числа строк;

electronic converter ‖ electronic converter ‖ convertisseur m électronique ‖ elektronischer Umformer m ‖ электронный преобразователь m;

digital-to-analog converter ‖ analog-digital converter ‖ convertisseur analogique-numérique ‖ Analog-Digital-Wandler m ‖ аналого-цифровой преобразователь m;

acoustic converter, frequency-up-converting converter, coaxial phase converter, multistage image converter, decimal-to-binary converter, electro-optical image converter, information converter, voltage converter, temporary amplitude converter, parametric converter, solar energy converter, current converter and so on.

The usage of the terms test (test, testing ‖ essai m, épreuve f, test m ‖ Prüfung f, Versuch m, Test m ‖ испытание n) and inspection (testing, checking, control ‖ test m, essai m, contrôle m, inspection f ‖ Prüfung f, Kontrolle f ‖ проверка f, контроль m) is often confused, especially when translating from English or German. This can only be explained by the fact that their meanings are sometimes very close. When it is intended to emphasize that devices are kept (usually, the device parameters are not measured during this time) for a certain period under high voltage, high pressure, high humidity, or high or low temperature, the term test should be used, for example:

climatic tests ‖ environmental tests ‖ essais m pl climatique ‖ klimatische Versuche m pl ‖ климатические испытания n pl; humidity-resistance test ‖ humidity test ‖ test m de résistance à l'humidité, épreuve f en humidité ‖ Feuchtigkeitsprüfung f,

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Feuchtigkeitstest m ∥ test n for moisture resistance; high-voltage test ∥ high-voltage test ∥ essai m sous haute tension ∥ Hochspannungsversuch m ∥ высоковольтное испытание n;

insulation test ∥ insulation test ∥ test m d'isolation ∥ Isolationsprüfung f ∥ испытание n изоляции;

no-load test ∥ no-load test, open-circuit test ∥ essai m à vide, essai m à circuit ouvert ∥ Leerlaufversuch m ∥ испытание n на холостом ходу;

heat-resistance test, cold-resistance test, cyclic temperature test, wear test, failure-rate test, pulse test, breakdown test, aging test, etc.

In cases where certain parameters of a device or apparatus are to be measured, the term checking should be used:

performance checking ∥ performance test ∥ test m de fonction ∥ Funktionsprüfung f ∥ проверка f работоспособности;

phase-sequence checking ∥ phase-sequence testing, phase-sequence checking ∥ test m d'ordre de phases ∥ Phasenfolgeprüfung f ∥ проверка f порядка чередования фаз;

error checking ∥ error checking ∥ contrôle m des erreurs ∥ Fehlerprüfung f, Fehlerkontrolle f ∥ проверка f погрешностей, контроль m погрешностей.

In this article, we have discussed only a few important terms included in the Radioelectronics Dictionary; those interested will find the others when the dictionary is published.

Received 1998 09 03

Literatūra

1. Palenskis V., Valiukėnas V. Nauji fizikos terminai // Terminologija ir dabartis. Mokslo darbai. K.: Technologija, 1997. P. 144–147.

2. Palenskis V., Valiukėnas V., Žalkauskas V. Dėl darbo, veikimo, veikos ir veiksenos // Terminologija. 1997. Nr. 4. P. 32–36.

3. Dydžiai ir vienetai. Lietuvos standartai LST ISO 31-0 – 31.13. 14 dalių. V.: Lietuvos standartizacijos departamentas, 1996.

4. Quantities and units. International standards ISO 31-0 – 31.13, 14 parts. 1992.

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5. Dabartinės lietuvių kalbos žodynas. V.: Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidykla, 1993.

6. Fizikos terminų žodynas. Red. P. Brazdžiūnas. V.: Mokslas, 1979.

7.Weik M. H. Communications standard dictionary. Third edition. New York: Chapman & Hall, 1996.

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