ADSL
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (Set-top Box).

Analog
Analog ICs are circuits that can handle input and output signals that can take any value between appropriate upper and lower limits. A typical app- lication would be in the reception of a signal from a microphone and its amplification and output to a loudspeaker. The real world functions on an analog basis and for this reason, even though digital electronics is becoming increasingly widespread, many systems still have to be analog to interface with the human end-user. Analog ICs are mainly bipolar, though MOS, CMOS and mixed types are becoming more common.
A signal that varies in amplitude continuously and without interruption. Also called linear. Contrast with digital.

Back-End (BE)
In the semiconductor industry, Back-End corresponds to the second phase of manufacturing during which the silicon chip is assembled in a package designed not only to protect it, but also to provide external connections via series of very fine wires, followed by testing, finishing and packing.

Bipolar
A type of transistor where a flow of both conduction electrons and holes de- termines the device characteristics.
A transistor noted for its speed that contains an emitter, collector and base.

Chip
A component made from a silicon wafer without any connectors. Common term for semiconductor device.

CAGR
Compounded Annual Growth Rate.

Discrete Component
Discrete components are semiconductor devices that perform one single elementary electronic function.

DRAMs
Dynamic Random Access Memory. Type of semiconductor memory (volatile memory) in which the presence or absence of a capacitive charge represents the state (0 or 1) of a binary storage element. The charge must be periodically refreshed.

DVD
Digital Versatile Disk.

EEPROM
Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory. Memories electrically erasable by elementary unit of information. It is a non-volatile memory. These replace EPROMs where in-system reprogramming is required. EPROMs are required to be removed from the system for UV erasing.

EPROM
Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory. These are non-volatile memories, i.e., they do not lose their content if deprived of electric power. They can be programmed by means of electric signals which can be erased using ultraviolet light, and can be rewritten.

Flash Memories
Flash memories combine high density and cost effectiveness of EPROMs with the electrical erasability of EEPROMs. For this reason, the Flash memory market is one of the most exciting areas of the semiconductor industry today. New applications requiring in-system reprogramming, such as cellular telephones, automotive engine management systems, hard disk drives, PC BIOS software for plug'n play, digital TV set-top boxes, fax and other modems, PC cards and multimedia CD-ROMs, offer the prospect of very high volume demand.

IGBT
Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor.
Integrated Circuits (ICs)
Unlike discrete devices, integrated circuits integrate many functions on a single physical chip. ICs may be classed as SSI (small scale integration), MSI (medium scale integration), LSI (large scale integration) or VLSI (very large scale integration). ICs may contain anything from just a few transistors (plus the diodes, resistors, and capacitors necessary to complete the circuit) to hundredth millions of transistors on the same chip. ICs can be manufactured with bipolar, MOS, CMOS or mixed manufacturing technologies.

IP
Intellectual Property.

Microcontroller
A microcontroller is an integrated circuit that combines a microprocessor with other peripheral functions, such as memories, timers and convertors.

MEMS
Micro Electro Mechanical System.

Non-Volatile Memories
Term used to describe memories that retain their data if the power supply is turned off.

OEM
Original Equipment Manufacturer.

PABX
Private Automatic Branch Exchange. A private telephone exchange.

R&D
Research and Development.

RF
Radio Frequency.

Semiconductor
Strictly speaking, a semiconductor is a material with an electrical conductivity between that of an insulator and that of a conductor. Semiconductors can be single elements such as silicon or germanium or compounds such as gallium arsenide or indium phosphide. In day to day usage, however, the term "semi- conductor" more frequently refers to components manufactured from semicon- ductor materials.

System-on-Chip
Advanced semiconductor manufacturing techniques result in silicon chips with millions of transistors available. It is also possible to put different types of functions on the same chip. So a complete system, including microprocessors, memory, analog and power can be built to put the system on a single chip.

VLIW
Very Long Instruction Word.

Wafer
A slice of silicon sliced from a 4, 5, 6 or 8 inch diameter silicon bar which is used as the foundation on which to build semiconductor products.