18WuD2x

workout • wrong color 757
workout 1. A dry run; a test. Example: checking a
computer’s processing power using a set of
benchmark programs. 2. An exacting test of
equipment; a burn-in procedure.
workpiece The object heated by an induction or dielectric
heater.
worm A cylindrical gear whose spiral “teeth” resemble
a screw thread.
worm drive A mechanism for transferring motion
from a tuning-knob shaft through a right angle to
the shaft of an adjustable component, such as a
potentiometer or variable capacitor. The knob
turns a threaded shaft that mates with a gear
wheel.
To
control
knob
To
component
worm drive
Threaded
shaft
Gear
wheel
worst-case circuit analysis Analysis that seeks
the worst possible effects of variations in circuit
parameters on circuit performance—especially
variations in component characteristics.
worst-case noise pattern See DOUBLE-CHECK-
ERBOARD PATTERN.
worst-case design The design of electronic equipment
in such a way that normal operation is obtained—even
though the characteristics of circuit
components might vary widely.
woven resistor A resistance element made of
strands of resistance material woven in the form
of gauze.
wow Slow, periodic variations in the pitch of reproduced
sound because of variations in the speed of
the drive mechanism. Its name is derived from its
characteristic sound. Compare FLUTTER.
wow meter An instrument that indicates the
amount of wow produced by a turntable or other
moving part.
Wpc Abbreviation of watts per candle.
wpm Abbreviation of words per minute.
wrap See WIRE-WRAP CONNECTION.
wrap-around 1. The extent of curvature in magnetic
tape passing over the heads during recording
or playback. 2. An enclosure that resembles a
sheet (wrapped around a piece of electronic
equipment). 3. In computer and data-processing
operations, a technique in which the display is
cleared of data once it is filled (all available lines
are occupied) and additional data is traced from
top to bottom.
wrap joint See WIRE-WRAP CONNECTION.
wrapper A paper or tape wound around a component,
such as a coil or capacitor, for insulation
and protection.
wrapping 1. See WRAPPER. 2. Insulating a wire or
other conductor by wrapping insulating tape
around it.
wrap post A terminal post, tip, pin, or lug used in
a wire-wrap connection.
wrap-up The (usually successful) completion of a
design, fabrication, test, or investigation.
Wratten filter A light filter for separating colors. It
is available in transparent sheets of various colors
and is useful in photography and in several
phases of electronics, including the operation of
color meters and color matchers.
wrinkle finish A pattern of fine wrinkles created by
special paint when it dries on a surface, such as
that of a metal cabinet for a piece of electronic
equipment.
wrist-force sensor In robotics, a set of strain
gauges that detects the various forces in the joint
connecting an end effector to an arm, and sends
signals back to the robot controller. The controller
can use the signals to direct the movements
of the arm and end effector.
write 1. In computer operations, to transfer data
from one form of memory or storage to another
form. Example: To transfer data in a computer
from random-access memory (RAM) to the hard
disk. Compare READ. 2. To produce an image on
the storage mesh in the cathode-ray tube of a
storage oscilloscope.
write enable ring See WRITE PERMIT RING.
write gun See WRITING GUN.
write head In a magnetic memory or in a tape
recorder or wire recorder used for recording data,
the head that magnetizes the drum, tape, disk, or
wire. Compare READ HEAD.
write pulse In computer operation, the pulse that
causes information to be recorded in a magnetic
cell, or sets it to the one-state. Compare READ
PULSE.
write time The time taken to write data to a storage
device.
writing gun In a storage oscilloscope, the electron
gun that produces the image electronically on the
storage mesh. It is mounted in the rear of the
cathode-ray tube. Compare FLOOD GUN.
writing head See WRITE HEAD.
writing rate In photographing the image on a cathode-ray
tube screen, the highest spot speed at
which an acceptable picture can be made.
writing speed See WRITING RATE.
writing telegraph See TELAUTOGRAPH.
wrong color The instance of an undesired color
(e.g., purple instead of red) in a color-television
picture. The condition is often caused by a malfunction
of the chroma demodulator(s).