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	INTERCONNECTION GLOSSARY Download a printable version of the Interconnection Glossary. We'd like to hear from you! Email us with any additions, updates or changes  you would like to see made to the glossary. Select from the following:
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D

DA	Distribution Area
DAC	Digital to Analog Converter; Discretion Access Control
DACS	Digital Access and Cross-Connection System
DAL	Dedicated Access Line
DAMA	Demand Assigned Multiple Access
D-AMPS	Digital Advanced Mobile Phone System/Service
DAVIC	Digital Audio Video Council
DAT	Digital Audio Tape
dB	Decibel
dBc	Decibel Carrier
dBd	Decibel Dipole
dBi	Decibel Isotropic
dBm	Decibel Milliwatt
DBMS	Data Base Management System
DBN	Data Base Node
DBS	Direct Broadcast Satellite
DC	Direct current
DCA	Dynamic Channel Allocation; Defense Communications Agency. (Now DISA)
DCCH	Dedicated Control Channel
DCE	Data Communications Equipment
DCE	Distributed Computing Environment
D-Channel	Delta/Data Channel
DCOM	Distributed Component Object Model
DCN	Data Communication Network
DCS	Defense Communications System; Digital Cross-connection System
DCS 1800	Digital Cordless Standard 1800
DCT	Digital Consumer Terminal; Discrete Cosine Transform
DCT 900	See CT3
DDCMP	Digital Data Communication Message Protocol
DDD	Direct Distance Dialing
DDL	Data Definition Language; Data Description Language
DDN	Defense Data Network
DDS	Dataphone Digital Service; Digital Data Service
DE	Discard Eligible
DEA Key	Data Encryption Algorithm Key
DECCO	Defense Commercial Communication Office
DCT	Digital European Cordless Telephone/ Telecommunication/ Technology
DEK	Data Encryption Key
DEMUX	Demultiplex
DES	Data Encryption Standard
DF	Distribution Frame
DFE	Decision Feedback Equalizer
DFSK	Double-Frequency Shift Keying
DFT	Discrete Fourier Transform
DHCP	Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
DHTML	Dynamic Hypertext Makeup Language
DID	Direct Inward Dialing
DISA	Defense Information Systems Agency
DISA	Direct Inward System Access
DISC	Disconnect Command
DL	Dial Level; Downlink
DLC	Data Link Control; Digital Loop Carrier
DLCI	Data Ling Connection Identifier
DLE	Data Link Escaper character
DLL	Dynamic Link Library
DM	Delta Modulation
DMA	Direct Memory Access
DMI	Digital Multiplexed Interface
DMOPRP	Switch Profile Loading procedure for a Nortel DMS-250 programmable switch, which accomplishes Network Database Updates
DMT	Digital Media Platform; Discrete Multi-Tone
DMZ	Demilitarization Zone
DN	Directory Number
DNA	Digital Network Architecture
DNC	Distributed Network Computing
DNIC	Data Network Identification Code
DINS	Dialed Number Identification Service
DNPA	Data Numbering Plan Area
DNS	Domain Name System/ Service/ Server
DOCSIS	Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification
DOD	Direct Outward Dialing
DOM	Document Object Model
Domstat	Domestic communications satellite
DOS	Disk Operating System
DP	Dial Pulsing; Dialing Plan
DPCM	Differential Pulse-Code Modulation
DPM	Digital Phase Modulation
DPNSS	Digital Private Network Signaling System Standard
DPSK	Differential Phase-Shift Keying
DQDB	Distributed Queue Dual Bus
DQPSK	Differential Quadrature Phase-Shift Keying
DS	Data Set; Digital Signal/System/Service; Direct Sequence; Directory Server
DS-0	Digital Signal Level Zero (Also DSO)
DS-1	Digital Signal Level 1 (Also DS1)
DS-1C	Digital Signal Level 1C (Also DS1C)
DS-2	Digital Signal Level 2 (Also DS2)
DS-3	Digital Signal Level 3 (Also DS3)
DSA	Dial Services Assistance; Distributed System Architecture
DSB	Double-Sideband transmission
DSB-RC	Double-Sideband Reduced Carrier
DSB-SC	Double-Sideband Suppressed-Carrier
DSL	Digital Subscriber Line
DSLAM	Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplixer
DSN	Defense Switched Network; Distributed System Network
DSP	Digital Signal Processing/Processor
DSR	Digital Signal Rate
DSS	Decision Support Signal; Dial Selective Signaling; Digital Satellite Service; Digital Signature Standard
DSSS	Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum
DLSw	Data Link Switching
DSU	Digital Service Unit
DS-x	Digital Signal X
DSX 1 /DSX 3-	A DS-1/DS-3 crossconnect
DSX-1	DS-1 Crossconnect
DT	Data Terminal; Dial Tone
DTAP	Direct Transfer Application Part
DTE	Data Terminal Equipment
DTMF	Dial Tone Multi-Frequency
DTV	Digital Television
DTX	Discontinuous Transmission
DUA	Direct User Agent
DUKPT	Derived Unique Key Per Transaction
DVB	Digital Video Broadcasting
DCB-MHB	Digital Video Broadcasting-Multimedia Home Platform
DVB Project	Digital Video Broadcasting Project
DVD	Digital Versatile Disk
DWDM	Dense Wave Division Multiplexing
DWMT	Discrete Wavelet Multi-Tone
DWT	Discrete Wavelet Transform
DXI	Data Exchange Interface
DIN Connector	Usually refers to DIN 41612, the standard developed by the German Institute for Standardization, and the Association of German Electrical Engineers. It covers a variety of connector styles and is based on a family of 64- and 96- position, 2-piece PC board connectors having contact tails for soldering on 0.100 or 0.200” centers.
DIP	Abbreviation for Dual In-Line Package.
Dead Face	The term that describes the various methods used to protect contacts when not engaged. The most common method uses a cover on the mating ends of connectors that automatically covers the contacts when the connectors are separated.
Dead Front	Mating surface of a connector designed so that the contacts are recessed below the surface of the connector insulator body to prevent accidental short-circuiting of the contacts.
Deflection Temperature	Formerly called heat-distortion temperature (HDT).
Degradation	A gradual deterioration in performance. (Also called Drift.)
Deionized Water	Water that has been treated to remove ions, required in certain electronic applications to prevent contamination of parts coming in contact with the water. (See Demineralized Water.)
Delamination	A separation between any of the layers of a base material of the PC board or between the laminate and the conductive foil, or both.
Demineralized Water	Water that has been treated to remove the minerals that are normally present in hard water. Demineralized water is required in some electronic applications where extreme precautions must be taken to prevent contamination. (See Deionized Water.)
Demodulation	The process of separating a data (digital) signal from an analog carrier signal.
Dendritic Growth	The electrolytic transfer of metal from one conductor to another, similar to electroplating except the dendritic growth usually (though not always) forms from cathode to anode. The dendrite resembles a tree in appearance, and when it touches the opposite conductor, there is an abrupt rise in current.
Deposition	Process of applying a material to a base via vacuum, chemical, electrical, screening or vapor methods.
Depth of Crimp	The distance the indentor penetrates into the barrel. It is measured by gauging thickness of the crimped portion of a contact between two opposite points on the crimped surface. (See “T” Dimension.)
Desoldering	Process of disassembling soldered parts in order to repair, replace, inspect or salvage them, Typical desoldering methods are wicking, pulse vacuum (solder sucker), heat and pull, and solder extraction.
Detector	A transducer that provides an electrical output signal in response to an optical signal. The current is dependent on the amount of light received and the type of device. (See also Receiver.)
Detent	(1) A bump or raised section projecting from the surface of a spring or other part. (2) A device that holds a part, control, or assembly in a given position.
Device	An individual electrical element, usually in an independent body, which cannot be further reduced without destroying its stated function.
Dewetting	A condition that results when molten solder has coated a surface and then receded, leaving irregularly shaped mounds of solder separated by areas covered with a thin solder film; base metal is not exposed.
Diallyl Phthalate (DAP)	A thermosetting plastic that offers outstanding dimensional stability and resistance to most chemicals and chemical compounds. It is used in the production of connector housings.
Die Closure	The crimping chamber when the dies are fully closed or bottomed.
Dielectric	(1) Any insulating medium that intervenes between two conductors. (2) A material that, having the property required to establish an electric field, is recoverable in whole or in part as electric energy.
Dielectric Constant	That property of a dielectric that determines the electrostatic energy stored per unit volume for a unit potential gradient. (Permittivity is the preferred term.)
Dielectric Strength	The maximum voltage that a dielectric material can withstand, under specified conditions, without rupturing, It is usually expressed as volts/unit thickness. (Also called Disruptive Gradient or Electric Strength.)
Dielectric Withstanding Voltage	Maximum potential gradient that a dielectric material can withstand without failure.
Digital Signal	A signal that is zero (off), one (on), or one “something,” rather than as a continuum of voltages.
Dip Solder Terminal	The terminals on a connector that are inserted into holes in the PC board and then soldered in place.
Dip Soldering	A process whereby items to be soldered are brought in contact with the surface of a static pool of molten solder for the purpose of soldering the entire exposed conductive pattern in one operation.
Diphenyl Oxide Resins	Thermosetting resins based on diphenyl oxide and possessing excellent handling properties and heat resistance.
Direct Capacitance	The capacitance measured directly from conductor to conductor through a single insulating layer.
Direct Mounting	Method of mounting terminal blocks; the blocks are solder-mounted using the bottom terminals. Direct mounting is also possible with current base models using press-on retaining clips.
Directional Coupler	A passive device used in a cable system to divide or combine unidirectional RF power sources.
Disconnect	Conductive device designed to be separated from its mated part.
Discontinuity	(1) A broken connection, or the loss of a specific connection characteristic. (2) The temporary interruption of variation in current or voltage.
Discrete Element	An element or component manufactured in such a manner that it may be individually measured and transported.
Dispersion	The cause of bandwidth limitations in a fiber. Dispersion causes a broadening of input pulses along the length of the fiber.
Dissipation	The undesired loss of energy, usually by conversion into heat.
Dissipation Factor	A measure of the AC loss.
Distortion-Limited Operation	The condition prevailing when distortion of a received signal, rather than its amplitude (or power), limits performance.
Dot Coding	Process of tool imprinting a 22-10 AWG PIDG or PG terminal, indicating whether the proper tool has been used.
Double-Grip Terminal	Solderless terminal with a metal sleeve added to the barrel to provide area for double crimp. Double crimp, one over the wire and one over the insulation, prevents strains from reaching the barrel crimp. Double-grip terminals are used when vibration is a problem.
Double-Pole	A contact arrangement of two separate contact combinations.
Drag Soldering	A process whereby supported, moving assemblies are brought in contact with the surface of a static pool of molten solder.
Drain Conductor	A conductor in continuous contact with a shield for ground termination.
Drain Wire	In a cable, the uninsulated wire laid over the component or components and used as a ground termination.
Dressed Contact	A contact with a permanently attached locking spring member.
Dross	Oxide and other contaminants that form on the surface of molten solder.
Dry Circuit	A circuit where current and voltage are so low that there is no arcing to roughen the contacts. A dry circuit can develop an insulating film that prevents circuit closing when contacts are brought together.
Dual Cable	A two-cable system in broadband LANs in which the coaxial cable provides two physical paths for transmission (one for transmit and one for receive), instead of dividing the capacity of a single cable.
Dual In-Line Package (DIP)	A component that terminates in two straight rows of pins of lead wires.
Dummy Connector/Plug	An item specifically designed to mate with another connector to perform one or more special functions. It is not designed to attach directly to a cable, and cannot be used as an electrical connector plug. Normally, a shorting plug is supplied that performs electrical functions within itself and affects the circuits of the receptacle into which it is plugged.
Dummy Connector/Receptacle	An item specifically designed to mate with a plug connector to perform one or more special functions. It does not have provisions for attaching a cable. This is frequently called a stowage plug and is used to provide a station on a piece of equipment into which a plug can be attached, maintaining the environmental integrity when not in use. Dummy receptacles normally have no inserts or contacts present and are usually simple receptacle shells.
Dummying	The process of removing metallic impurities from a plating solution with a large area dummy cathode.
Duplex	Characteristic of data transmission (i.e., either full or half duplex). Full duplex permits simultaneous, two-way communication. Half duplex means only one side can talk at once.
Duty Cycle	The specified operating and non-operating time of equipment.
Dynamic Gap	The minimum distance between opposing contacts in a connector when a PC board is removed rapidly.

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