Op Amp: A high-gain dc amplifier that provides usable voltage gain for frequencies from 0 to over I MHz.

Ohmic Region: The part of the drain curves that starts at the origin and ends at the proportional pinchoff voltage.

Octave: A factor of 2. Often used with frequency ratios of 2, as in an octave of frequency referring to a 2:1 change in frequency.

Notch Filter: A filter that blocks a signal with at most one frequency.

Norton's theorem: Derived from the duality principle, the Norton theorem states that the load voltage equals the Norton current times the Norton resistance in parallel…

Normalized Variable: A variable that has been divided by another variable with the same units or dimensions.

Nonlinear Device: A device that has a graph of current versus voltage that is not a straight line. A device that cannot be treated as…

Noninverting Input: The input to a diff amp or an op amp that produces an in-phase output.

Negative Feedback: Feeding a signal back to the input of an amplifier that is proportional to the output signal. The returning signal has a phase…

N-Type Semiconductor: A semiconductor where there are more free electrons than holes.

Multivibrator: A circuit with positive feedback and two active devices, designed so that one device conducts while the other cuts off. There are three types:…

Medium-scale integration (MSI): Circuits with 10 to 100 integrated components.

MPP value or Output Voltage Swing: Also called the output voltage swing. This is the maximum unclipped peak-to-peak output of an amplifier. With an op…

Motorboating: A low-pitched putt-putt sound that comes out of a loudspeaker. It indicates that an amplifier is oscillating at a low frequency. The cause is…

Monolithic IC: An integrated circuit that is entirely on a single chip.