18WuD2x

saturation • scale down 609
the saturation, the narrower the bandwidth of the
electromagnetic energy. The highest possible saturation
is represented by energy at a single wavelength
[e.g., light of 700 nanometers (nm) appears
as highly saturated red, and light of 400 nm appears
as highly saturated violet]. Compare HUE.
3. The condition of a ferromagnetic material in
which it can accommodate no additional magnetic
flux. 4. The condition of a dielectric material
in which it can accommodate no additional electric
flux.
saturation current In a device, the current flowing
at and beyond the SATURATION POINT.
saturation flux 1. The magnetic flux density that
will saturate a given sample of magnetic material.
2. The electric flux density that will saturate a
given sample of dielectric material.
saturation flux density See SATURATION INDUC-
TION.
saturation induction For a magnetic material, the
maximum possible flux density.
saturation limiting Output peak clipping that occurs
when a transistor or vacuum tube is driven
into saturation during part of the input cycle.
Compare CUTOFF LIMITING.
saturation point On a voltage-current conduction
curve, the point beyond which a further increase
in voltage produces no appreciable increase in
current.
Collector/drain current
Base/gate voltage
saturation point
Saturation
point
saturation resistance The voltage-to-current ratio
for a saturated semiconductor.
saturation switching The on/off switching operation
in which a transistor is in its saturated state
when conducting.
saturation value 1. In a transistor, field-effect
transistor, or vacuum tube, the lowest level of the
input current, voltage, or power that results in
saturation. 2. The maximum obtainable output
level for a given circuit. 3. In a magnetic material,
the smallest level of magnetizing force that results
in the maximum possible flux density.
saturation voltage The (usually direct-current
output) voltage appearing across a device operating
in its saturation region (e.g., the collector volt-
age of a switching transistor in its switched-on
state).
SAVOR Abbreviation of SIGNAL-ACTUATED
VOICE RECORDER.
sawtooth An alternating or pulsating wave of current
or voltage that is characterized by a gradual
rise in amplitude followed by a rapid fall, or vice
versa; its name is derived from its graphic resemblance
to the teeth of a saw.
Amplitude
sawtooth
Time
SB 1. Abbreviation of SIDEBAND. 2. Abbreviation
of SIMULTANEOUS BROADCAST.
Sb Symbol for ANTIMONY.
S band A radio-frequency band extending from
1550 to 5200 MHz. For subdivisions of this band,
see S A BAND, S C BAND, S D BAND, S F BAND, S G
BAND, S H BAND, S Q BAND, S S BAND, S T BAND,
S W BAND, S Y BAND, and S Z BAND.
SBC Abbreviation of SINGLE-BOARD COMPUTER.
SBDT Abbreviation of SURFACE-BARRIER DIF-
FUSED TRANSISTOR.
SBT Abbreviation of SURFACE-BARRIER TRAN-
SISTOR.
SC 1. Abbreviation of SUPPRESSED CARRIER.
2. Abbreviation of SHORT CIRCUIT. 3. On drawings,
the abbreviation for silk-covered.
Sc Symbol for SCANDIUM.
sc 1. Abbreviation of SINGLE CRYSTAL. 2. Abbreviation
of SCALE. 3. Abbreviation of sine-cosine.
4. Abbreviation of science.
SCA Abbreviation of SUBSIDIARY COMMUNICA-
TION AUTHORIZATION.
SCA adapter An auxiliary tuner unit for separating
the SCA subcarrier from a main frequencymodulated
signal on which it is superimposed.
Also see SCA SUBCARRIER and SUBSIDIARY
COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORIZATION.
scalar quantity A quantity having magnitude, but
for which direction is not specified. Compare
VECTOR QUANTITY.
scale 1. A graduated line or curve for indicating
values of a quantity. 2. An ordered set of values.
3. An ordered series of quantities, such as tones,
frequencies, voltages, etc. (e.g., musical scale).
scale division The space between consecutive
graduations on a scale (see SCALE, 1).
scale down In computer operations, to adjust a
group of quantities according to a fixed factor so
that it can be accommodated by hardware or
software.