18WuD2x

520 peak envelope power • peak-to-peak voltage
Limiting level
peaked sawtooth
Amplitude
Time
power during a single RF cycle at the highest
peak of the modulation envelope.
peaker 1. See PEAK FILTER. 2. See PEAKING
TRANSFORMER.
peaker-notcher See NOTCHER-PEAKER.
peak factor For an alternating-current wave, the
ratio E m /E rms or I m /I rms , where E m is the maximum
voltage, E rms is the effective (root-mean-square)
voltage, I m is the maximum current, and I rms is the
effective current.
peak filter A frequency-selective circuit, such as a
bandpass filter, for producing a peak response
(see PEAK, 3).
peak inductor current In a switching regulator,
the maximum instantaneous current through the
inductor when the device is switching at its fully
rated duty cycle.
peaking The adjustment of a control or device for
maximum indication on a meter or other display.
peaking coil A small inductor used to compensate
the frequency response of a circuit, such as a
video amplifier or video detector. Both series and
shunt peaking coils are used.
peaking transformer A transformer whose output
waveform is sharply peaked (of short duration,
with respect to a cycle). The effect is obtained by
means of a special core that, because it contains
little iron, saturates easily.
peak inverse voltage Abbreviation, PIV. Often
used interchangeably with the term PEAK RE-
VERSE VOLTAGE. 1. The peak value of the voltage
applied to a rectifier diode in the reverse
direction. 2. The maximum value of reverse voltage
that a rectifier diode will tolerate according to
its specifications.
peak level lamp In audio recording and reproduction,
a bulb or light-emitting diode (LED) that
illuminates when sound peaks exceed a
predetermined amplitude.
peak limiting 1. A method of limiting the maximum
amplitude of a signal. When the instantaneous
peak amplitude, either positive or negative,
exceeds a certain value, the output is clipped at
that value. 2. In pulse-code modulation, the effect
resulting from the application of an input signal
in excess of the virtual decision value.
peak modulated power In an amplitudemodulated
wave, the maximum instantaneous
signal power (including the carrier and
sidebands). In 100-percent sinusoidal modulation,
the peak modulated power is four times the unmodulated
carrier power.
peak limiting
Limiting level
peak point The highest current point in the current-voltage
response curve of a tunnel diode.
Immediately beyond this point, the current
decreases as the applied voltage is increased,
indicating a negative-resistance region. Compare
VALLEY POINT.
peak power 1. Symbol, P p . Unit, watt. Alternatingcurrent
power that is the product of the peak voltage
(E p ) and the peak current (I p ). For E p in volts
and I p in amperes, the peak power in watts is
given by P p = E p I p . 2. The highest output power
that an amplifier or device can produce without
excessive distortion. 3. The maximum instantaneous
power that a speaker can handle without
risk of damage.
peak probe A voltmeter test probe containing a
diode circuit whose direct-current output voltage
is close to the peak value of the applied alternating-current
test voltage.
peak recurrent forward current For a semiconductor
diode, the maximum repetitive instantaneous
forward current as measured under
specified conditions of operation.
peak reverse voltage Abbreviation, PRV. In semiconductor
operations, the peak value of the voltage
applied in reverse polarity across the
junction. It is often used interchangeably with the
term PEAK INVERSE VOLTAGE.
peak signal level The maximum instantaneous
signal power or voltage specified for particular operating
conditions.
peak-to-peak Abbreviations, p-p or pk-pk. For an
alternating-current waveform, pertaining to the
arithmetic difference between the positive peak
and negative peak values of current or voltage.
peak-to-peak probe A voltmeter test probe containing
a diode circuit whose direct-current output
voltage is close to the peak-to-peak value of
the applied alternating-current test voltage.
peak-to-peak voltage The arithmetic sum of positive
and negative peak voltages in an alternatingcurrent
(ac) wave. Thus, a symmetrical sine-wave
ac voltage of 115.0 V rms has a peak value of
162.63 V and a peak-to-peak value of 325.3 V.
Also see PEAK VOLTAGE.