User Manual

Extron • Matrix 200 • User’s Manual
Appendix A • Part Numbers, Glossary and Troubleshooting
DAT (Digital Audio Tape) –
A method developed by Sony and Hewlett-Packard for recording large amounts
of information in digital form on a small cassette tape. It uses a rotating helical
read/write head, similar to the technique used on a VCR.
dB (Decibel) –
The standard unit used to express gain or loss of power. It indicates the
logarithmic ratio of output power divided by input power. A power loss of 3 dB is
an attenuation of half of the original value. The term “3dB down” is used to
describe the “half power point”.
DC –
Direct Current – The flow of electrons in one direction.
D Connector –A connector with rounded corners and angled ends, taking on the shape of the
letter “D”. Commonly used in computers and video.
Decibel –See dB.
Decoder –
A device used to separate the RGBS (Red, Green, Blue and Sync) signals from
a composite video signal. Also called NTSC Decoder.
Detail –
An Extron Technologies adjustment that enhances/improves image sharpness.
Differential Audio –
See Balanced Audio.
Digital Audio Tape –See DAT.
DIN Connector –
An acronym for Deutsche Industrie Norm - a round connector with notches, or
keyed that can be in several sizes: 4-pins, 5-pins, 8-pins, etc. A convenient way
of combining all the signal lines in one connector, 4-pin DIN connectors are often
used for S-Video.
Display Device –
A projector or monitor.
Distribution Amplifier (DA) –A device that allows connection of one input source to multiple output sources
such as monitors or projectors.
DVD –(Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc) An optical disc system about the size
of a CD ROM, but capable of storing an entire movie. The technology uses
MPEG-2 compression. Typical capacity for these discs is 4.5 GB, or about 133
minutes of digital video.
FCC –
Federal Communications Commission –
A unit of the U.S. Government that monitors and regulates communications.
Field –
In interlaced video, it takes two scans on a screen to make a complete picture, or
a “Frame”. Each scan is called a “Field”. Sometimes these are referred to as
“field 1 and field 2”.
Flicker –Flicker occurs when the electron gun paints the screen too slowly, giving the
phosphors on the screen time to fade.
Frame –In interlaced video, a Frame is one complete picture. A Frame is made up of two
fields, or two sets of interlaced lines.
Frequency Range –Refers to the low-to-high limits of a device, such as a computer, projector or
monitor. Also “bandwidth”.
Gain –A general term used to denote an increase in signal power or voltage produced
by an amplifier in transmitting a signal from one point to another. Gain is usually
expressed in decibels above a reference level. Opposite of Attenuation.
Genlock –
A method of synchronizing video equipment by using a common, external sync,
or “Genlock” signal.
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