Dictionary of Electrical Engineering

Commonly used terms in the Electrical industry.

AC/AC converter
a power electronics device in which an AC input voltage of some magnitude, frequency, and number of phases is changed to an AC output with changes to any of the previously mentioned parameters.

AC/AC converters usually rectify the input source to a DC voltage and then invert the DC voltage to the desired AC voltage.
AC/DC converter

See rectifier
converter
a generic term used in the area of power electronics to describe a rectifier, inverter, or other power electronic device that transforms electrical power from one frequency and voltage to another.
DC-DC converter
a switching circuit that converts direct current (DC) of one voltage level to direct current (DC) of another voltage level. A typical DC-DC converter includes switches, a low pass filter (to attenuate the switching frequency ripple), and a load. The size of magnetic components and capacitors can be reduced and bandwidth can be increased when operating at high frequency. Most DC-DC converters are pulse-width modulated (PWM), while resonant or quasi-resonant types are found in some applications. Commonly used topologies include the buck converter, boost converter, buck-boost converter, and Cuk converter. Isolation can be achieved by insertion of a high frequency transformer.
direct converter
a frequency converter that converts an RF signal to a baseband signal directly in receivers. It converts a baseband signal to an RF signal directly in transmitters.
forward converter
an isolated version of a buck converter. The primary and the secondary of the transformer conduct at the same time. The transformer does not store energy. An additional winding with a diode is often used to reset the magnetizing energy when the transistor is off.
frequency converter
an equipment or circuit that converts an RF signal to an intermediate (IF) signal in receivers. It converts an IF signal to an RF signal in transmitters.
step-down converter

See buck converter
step-up converter

See boost converter
twelve-pulse converter
the combination of two 6-pulse converters connected through a Y-Y and a delta-Y transformer in order to cancel the characteristic 5th and 7th harmonics of the 6-pulse converters. The lowest characteristic harmonics with twelve-pulse converters under balanced conditions are the 11th and 13th harmonics. The converters are connected in parallel on the AC side and in either series or parallel on the DC side, depending on the required DC output voltage.
up-down converter

See buck-boost transformer
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