Word
darlington
Phoneticsdar·ling·ton
/ˈdɑɹɫɪŋtən/
Definition
n. a special way of connecting two transistors to make a very strong electrical signal. It acts like a single, more powerful switch for controlling electricity in machines.
n. a compound structure consisting of two bipolar transistors connected such that the current amplified by the first is further amplified by the second. Often used in power regulation and switching circuits to achieve high current gain.
Examples
“The circuit uses a Darlington pair to drive the motor.”
“Engineers chose a Darlington configuration for the output stage to ensure the weak sensor signal could trigger the heavy-duty relay.”
“By integrating two transistors into a single Darlington package, the designer achieved the necessary gain while significantly reducing the physical footprint on the printed circuit board.”
Examples
simple
“The circuit uses a Darlington pair to drive the motor.”
contextual
“Engineers chose a Darlington configuration for the output stage to ensure the weak sensor signal could trigger the heavy-duty relay.”
complex
“By integrating two transistors into a single Darlington package, the designer achieved the necessary gain while significantly reducing the physical footprint on the printed circuit board.”
Usage
Often appears in the phrase 'Darlington pair' or 'Darlington transistor'.
Etymology
From Middle English Dearnington, Derlinton, from Old English Dēornōþingtūn, supposedly “the settlement of Dēornōþ's people”, from an unclear root + -ing + tūn. Compare Old English dīerling. The transistor configuration is named for its inventor, Sidney Darlington.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.