Filtered Connector Glossary
What is a Filtered Connector?
Filter connectors use internal capacitors and inductors (optionally) and diodes (for EMP applications) to “strip off” unwanted noise or transient voltages from the signal. There are several types of filtered connectors including - tubular, planar array, chip on flex/board, and EE seal - and basically any standard connector can be outfitted with filtering technology.
Below are terms and definitions for words associated with filtered connectors and EMI/EMP. If you want to learn more, just contact us and we will do our best to answer your question. Click on Live Chat at the top of the page to start!
A
Absorption Loss
That part of shielding effectiveness dealing with energy absorption through a metal barrier.
Attenuation
Reduction in the quality or magnitude of an electrical signal. Suppression of EMI noise in the interconnect transmission path.
Aperture Leakage
Compromise in shielding effectiveness from holes, slits, and slots from braid, windows, cooling openings, and joints of metal boxes where EMI can get in or out.
B
Bandwidth
The frequency interval between the upper and lower 3 dB down response of a receiver.
Broadband EMI
Electrical disturbances whose frequency spectrum cover several octaves or decades in the frequency spectrum or exceed the receiver bandwidth.
C
Capacitance
The measure or ability of a multilayer ceramic planar array to capture and store electrical energy.
Common Mode (CM)
As applied to two or more wires, all currents flowing therein with the same polarity .
Conducted Interference
EMI transmitted along an unshielded conductor or cable.
Coupling Path
The conducted or radiated path by which interfering energy gets from a source to a victim.
Cross Modulation
Energy from one transmitter that causes the modulation to change on a received signal from another transmitter.
Crosstalk
Electromagnetic energy bleed across dielectric materials, for example, in twisted pair cable sets or across adjacent connector contacts, disrupting the electrical signals in each respective circuit.
D
Differential Mode (DM)
Voltages or currents on a wire pair that are of opposite polarity.
Dielectric Withstanding Voltage (DWV)
Rating, expressed in volts at a given frequency at ambient temperature defining the maximum voltage a dielectric material can withstand before failing.
Drain
Path by which charges absorbed by a conductor move to ground in a properly grounded system.
E
Electric Field
A radiated wave's potential gradient in volts per meter (V/m).
Electrical Gasket
A compressible bond used between two mating metal members to secure a low-impedance path between them.
EMC
Electromagnetic compatibility, the conditions under which all components of a system do not interfere with each other or with their environment.
EMI
Electromagnetic interference (opposite of EMC). Electromagnetic disturbance that degrades performance of electronic equipment.
EMP
Electromagnetic pulse. A broadband, high-intensity, short-duration burst of electromagnetic energy such as might occur as a result of a nuclear explosion.
ESD
Electrostatic discharge. A momentary (and unwanted) discharge of built-up electrical energy, usually from an electrically insulated object to an object with a different electrical potential.
Emission
Unwanted electromagnetic signal emanating from a piece of equipment.
F
Ferrite
Powdered magnetic material in form of beads, rods, and rings used to absorb EMI on wires and cables.
Field Strength
Radiated voltage or current per meter corresponding to electric or magnetic fields.
Filter
A device to block the flow of EMI while passing the desired signal frequencies.
G
Glenair
One of BTC's franchised manufacturers; Glenair is known for their commitment to complete coverage of popular filter technologies and connector styles.
Grounding
A conductive path to earth designed to eliminate electrical shock by shunting away dangerous currents.
I
Impulse Noise
A transient electrical disturbance, usually repetitive.
Inductors
Used with capacitors to form tuned circuits to filter out specific signal frequencies.
M
Magnetic Field
A radiated wave's current gradient, expressed in amperes per meter (A/m).
Multilayer Planar Array
Multi-layer ceramic EMI filter device housed in a connector. The most widely applied type of EMI filter.
N
Narrowband
EMI Interference whose emission bandwidth is less than the bandwidth of the EMI measuring receiver or spectrum analyzer.
P
Power Conditioning
Reduction of EMI pollution on power mains by inserting filters, isolators, regulators, or an uninterruptible power supply (UPS).
R
Radiated Interference
EMI or noise transmitted from any electrical system, from power-lines to mobile telephones.
Radio Frequency Interference (RFI)
A special class of electromagnetic interference in which radio frequency transmissions cause unintentional problems in equipment operation.
Reflection Loss
Shielding effectiveness due to energy reflection from impedance mismatch between incident field and metal barrier.
Roll-Off
The frequency in an attenuation curve at which a filter begins to reduce the quality or magnitude of an electrical signal.
S
Shielding Effectiveness (SE)
The ratio of field strengths (absorption and reflection losses) before and after installing a shield.
Shot Noise
The noise caused by random fluctuations in the motion of charge carriers such as electrons in a conductor.
Skin Depth
The calculated metal layer thickness through which some 63 percent of the surface current flows.
Spectrum Control
One of BTC's franchised/authorized filtered connector manufacturers. The Spectrum Control line of coaxial EMI components are found in a wide array of markets including defense, aerospace, industrial, energy, commercial and consumer applications.
Surge: A sudden voltage increase on the power mains.
T
TEMPEST
Transient Electromagnetic Pulse Surveillance Technology.
Transfer Impedance (Z,)
The quality of cable shield performance calculated by the ratio of the coupled voltage to the surface current, in ohms per meter (12/m).
Transient
A short-duration voltage surge due to a lightning strike or other dynamic event.
U
UPS
Uninterruptible power supply.
W
Waveform
For lightning events, measure of electrical transient exposure level and surge severity.