Dialog Semiconductor Plc | Annual report and accounts 2012 |  Section 6 | Additional information 117 Glossary ASIC  An Application Specific Integrated Circuit is an integrated chip,  custom-designed for a specific application. ASSP  An Application Specific Standard Product is a semiconductor device  integrated circuit (IC) dedicated to a specific application and sold to more  than one user. Audio CODEC  The interface between analog signals (such as the human  voice) and the digital data processing inside a mobile phone, determining  voice quality. BCD process platform  The incorporation of analog components (Bipolar),  digital components (CMOS) and high-voltage transistors (DMOS) on  the same die to reduce the number of components required in the bill  of materials, minimise board space, costs and the parasitic losses in  comparison to a non-integrated solution. Buck converter  A DC-to-DC buck converter accepts a direct current  input voltage and produces a direct current output voltage to a plurality  of channels.  CAD  Computer Aided Design usually refers to a software tool used for  designing electronics hardware or software systems. CDMA  Code Division Multiple Access is an alternative to GSM technology  for mobile wireless networks. Chips  Electronic integrated circuits. CMOS  Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor: the most popular  class of semiconductor manufacturing technology. Digital  A type of signal used to transmit information that has only discrete levels of some parameter (usually voltage). Fabless  A company that designs and delivers semiconductors by  outsourcing the fabrication (manufacturing) process. FET  A Field Effect Transistor uses an electric field to control the shape  and hence the conductivity of a channel of one type of charge carrier in a semiconductor material. Foundry  A manufacturing plant where silicon wafers are produced. Hi-Fi  High-Fidelity is the reproduction of sound with little or no distortion. IC  Integrated Circuit: an electronic device with numerous components  on a single chip. Imaging  The capture and processing of images via an image sensor for  use by an electronic device to send to a display for viewing by a user. Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)  A display technology found in many  portable electronics products, including personal organisers, cellular  handsets and notebook computers. LDO  Low dropout voltage regulators are used in battery operated systems,  where the output voltage is typically lower than the input voltage. LED  A Light Emitting Diode is a semiconductor device that emits light  when charged with electricity, often used for LCD display backlights. Mixed signal  A combination of analog and digital signals being  generated, controlled or modified on the same chip. OEM  An Original Equipment Manufacturer that builds products or  components that are used in products sold by another company. Power Management  The management of the power requirements  of various subsystems, important in handheld and portable  electronics equipment. PMIC  Power Management IC. Semiconductor  A base material halfway between a conductor and  an insulator, which can be physically altered by mixing in certain atoms.  Semiconductors form the basis for present-day electronics. Silicon  A semi-metallic element used to create a wafer – and the most common semiconductor material – in about 95% of all  manufactured chips. Smartphone  A mobile phone offering advanced capabilities, often with  pc-like functionality (PC-mobile handset convergence). A smartphone runs  complete operating system software providing a standardised interface  and platform for application developers. Smart Mirror™  A technology patented by Dialog Semiconductor which  simplifies circuit design and provides very low current consumption in  Power Management circuits. SmartPulse™  A wireless sensor network connectivity solution based on the  DECT ULE (Ultra Low Energy) standard for home automation applications.  SmartXtend™  A technology patented by Dialog Semiconductor that  extends the life and reduces power consumption of high-resolution,  passive matrix OLED displays. Subcontractor  A business that signs a contract to perform part or all  of the obligations of another’s contract. Tablet PC  A tablet PC refers to a slate- or tablet-shaped mobile computer  device, equipped with a touchscreen or stylus. TAM  Total addressable market, TAM measures the potential market for  your product – and your product only – assuming you could reach 100%  of your customers. Ultrabook™  A higher-end, compact sub-notebook that is designed to be compact, thin and light without compromising performance and  battery life. Ultrabooks™ typically feature low power processors and  solid-state drives. USB  Universal Serial Bus: a universal interface standard to connect  different electronics devices. Wafer  A slice of silicon from a 4, 5, 6 or 8 inch diameter silicon bar  and used as the foundation on which to build semiconductor products. Technical glossary Analog  A type of signal in an electronic circuit that takes on a continuous  range of values rather than only a few discrete values.