analogue
(US: "analog") A description of a continuously
variable signal or a circuit or device designed to handle such
signals. The opposite is "discrete" or "{digital}".
Analogue circuits are much harder to design and analyse than
digital ones because the designer must take into account
effects such as the gain, linearity and power handling of
components, the resistance, capacitance and inductance of PCB
tracks, wires and connectors, interference between signals,
power supply stability and more. A digital circuit design,
especially for high switching speeds, must also take these
factors into account if it is to work reliably, but they are
usually less critical because most digital components will
function correctly within a range of parameters whereas such
variations will corrupt the outputs of an analogue circuit.
See also {analogue computer}.
(1995-11-14)