B
* Backbone
* Backlighting
* Backplane
* Backside Bus
* Backspace Key
* Backup Server
* BEDO DRAM: Burst EDO DRAM
* Beta test
* Beta version
* BGA: Ball Grid Array
* BIOS: Basic Input/Output System
* BJT: Bipolar junction transistor
* BNC Connector
* Bond-Out Processor
* Boot PROM
* Bootflash
* Bridge
* Brouter
* Bubble-Jet Printer
* Buffer
* Burst Mode
* Bus
* Bus Mastering
* Bus Mouse
Backbones
Backbone is the main network that connects nodes. The term is often refered as the main network connections composing the Internet.
backlighting
Backlighting is a technique used to make flat-panel displays easier to read. The back layer of the display is illuminated so that the foreground appears sharper in contrast with the background.
backplane
Backplane is the physical interface module in many network devices such as a route or a switch that connects between an interface processor or card and the data buses and the power distribution buses inside a chassis.
backside bus
Backside bus connects the CPU to a Level 2 cache while the frontside bus connects the CPU to the main memory.
Backspace key
A backspace key on a keyboard moves the cursor or insertion point backward one character space. The Backspace key may also deletes the character to the left of the cursor or insertion point.
backup server
A backup server is a computer in a network designed to store copies of files from other servers or users' machines. It is generally has a very large disk. In case of something wrong such as files of users being lost, the files in the backup server can be loaded back to the original machine.
BEDO DRAM: Burst EDO DRAM
BEDO DRAM, alson known as Burst EDO DRAM, can process four memory addresses in one burst. BEDO DRAM can only stay synchronized with the CPU clock for short periods (bursts) with buses run under 66 MHz.
Beta test
Beta test is the computer system test prior to commercial release. Beta testing is the last stage of testing, and normally can involve sending the product to beta test sites outside the company for real-world exposure or offering the product for a free trial download over the Internet. Beta testing is often preceded by a round of testing called alpha testing.
Beta version
A beta version, also known as beta release, usually represents the first version of a computer hardware or software that implements all features in the initial requirements specification. It is likely to be unstable but useful for internal demonstrations and previews to select customers, but not yet ready for release. Some developers refer to this stage as a preview, as a technical preview (TP) or as an early access.
BGA: Ball Grid Array
Ball Grid Array (BGA) is a surface-mount integrated circuit package. The pins of BGA are replaced with balls of solder to allow more contact points between the die and the circuit board.
BIOS: Basic Input/Output System
Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) is the built-in software that determines how computers control the keyboard, display screen, disk drives, serial communications, and a number of miscellaneous functions.
BJT: Bipolar junction transistor
The bipolar junction transistor (BJT) was the first type of transistor to be commercially mass-produced. Bipolar transistors are so named because the main conduction channel uses both electrons and holes to carry the main electric current. Two p-n junctions exist inside the BJT, colector-base junction and base-emitter junction. When the BJT is not powered, the junctions are in unbiased thermal equilibrium with a depletion region formed at each junction.
BNC connector
Bayonet Neill Concelman connector (BNC connector), is a type of connector used with coaxial cables such as the RG-58 A/U cable for 10Base-2 Ethernet system. The basic BNC connector is a male type mounted at each end of a cable. This connector has a center pin connected to the center cable conductor and a metal tube connected to the outer cable shield. A rotating ring outside the tube locks the cable to any female connector.
bond-out processor
Bond-out processors has some of the internal signals brought out to external pins, which is designed to be used within an in-circuit emulator and are not typically used in any other kind of system.
Boot PROM
Boot programmable read-only memory (Boot PROM) is a chip mounted on a printed circuit board used to provide executable boot instructions to a computer device.
Bootflash
Bootflash is a separate Flash memory device used primarily to store the boot helper image and system configuration information.
bridge
In computer networking, a bridge is a layer-2 device that divides a network into separate collision domains or segments while keeping the broadcast and sharing feature within the same domain/segment. The bridge keeps a table of all segments and forward frames properly to make sure communication within or across segments are conducted smoothly.
brouter
In computer networking, a bridge is a layer-2 device that divides a network into separate collision domains or segments while keeping the broadcast and sharing feature within the same domain/segment. The bridge keeps a table of all segments and forward frames properly to make sure communication within or across segments are conducted smoothly.
bubble-jet printer
Buble-jet printer, developed by Canon, is a type of ink-jet printer. Bubble-jet printers use special heating elements to prepare the ink whereas other ink-jet printers uses piezoelectric crystals.
buffer
Buffer is a temporary storage area in computer memory, which acts as a holding area allowing the CPU to manipulate data before transferring it to a device. Because the processes of reading and writing data to a disk are relatively slow, many programs process data in a buffer and then copy the buffer to a disk when it is necessary.
burst mode
Burst mode is a fast data transmission mode. There are a number of ways to implement burst modes. In a data bus, a burst mode is usually implemented by allowing a device to seize control of the bus and not permitting other devices to interrupt. In RAM and disk cache, burst modes are implemented by automatically fetching the next memory contents before they are requested.
bus
Bus is a bundle of wires for data transmition from one part of a computer to another. In a personal computer, for example, bus connects all the internal computer components to the CPU and main memory and it is called internal bus.
bus mastering
Bus mastering is a feature that enables a controller connected to the bus to communicate directly with other devices on the bus without going through the CPU. Most modern bus architectures, including PCI, support bus mastering because it improves performance.
bus mouse
Bus mouse connects to a computer via an expansion board. Bus mouse does not use up the serial port. Bus mice are now obsolete.