V

varistor

From "variable-resistor". A non-linear, voltage-dependent device whose electrical behavior provides transient suppression performance. The device absorbs the potentially destructive energy of incoming transient pulses, thereby protecting vulnerable circuit components. Harris varistors are made from zinc oxide in the Dundalk, Ireland manufacturing facility. See MOV.

Verilog

A Cadence Design Systems logic simulator used in the Intersil FASTRACK design system. See FASTRACK.

VHDL

VHSIC Hardware Description Language. Originally developed as a language for describing the design of an IC under the VHSIC (Very High Speed Integrated Circuit) program, this language, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense, is the military-mandated language for describing hardware functionality as well as a commercially viable standard for high-level descriptions of ICs. VHDL is important to Intersil because it is required by military contracts, and because it is increasingly desired by commercial customers who use it to model systems composed of one or more parts from several vendors. VHDL will probably be the lasting standard among hardware description languages (HDLs). See VHSIC program.

VHF

Very High Frequency. (1) An Intersil high-performance, 20V linear bipolar process in production in Melbourne, Florida. It is dielectrically isolated and used for general analog applications. Several enhancements of this process are currently under development. (2) The portion of the radio spectrum between 30 and 300 megahertz (MHz). This includes television channels 2 through 13, the FM band, and other commercial communication bands.

VHSIC program

Very High Speed Integrated Circuit program. An initiative by the U.S. Department of Defense to extend integration levels and performance capabilities for military integrated circuits to meet or exceed those available in commercial ICs. Intersil, in conjunction with Harris' Electronic Systems Sector, has been a participant in the program.

virtual integration

An industrial relationship between otherwise independent companies that allows them to emulate the business activities of vertically integrated firms and compete more effectively.

VLSI

Very Large-Scale Integration. Integrated circuits that contain 1000 or more gate equivalents or more than 16k bits of memory. See LSI, MSI and SSI.

volatile memory

A memory device that does not retain stored information when power is interrupted. See non-volatile memory.

voltage

Electromotive force (EMF). One volt is equal to the EMF required to force one ampere of current through one ohm of resistance. Symbol: V.

voltage regulator

A circuit (either an IC or a portion of an IC) whose purpose is to make the output voltage less variable than the input voltage. As an example, a voltage regulator might provide an output of 5 volts ±2% to a logic board from an input of 5 volts ±50%.