Mobile Phones

Question 1

DSP

Answer 1

Digital Signal Processor - part of a mobile phone which takes digital information and manipulates it so that it can be displayed, analysed or converted.

Question 2

Smartphone

Answer 2

A mobile device which performs many of the operations of a computer. It contains a GPU, CPU, and DSP contained on a small chip known as a system on a chip. It typically possesses a high amount of RAM, known as system in a package, and flash memory.

Question 3

SIM Card

Answer 3

Subscriber Identity Module Card - a device used by a mobile phone to connect to other devices.

Question 4

Capacitive Touch Screen

Answer 4

A touch screen with two thin glass layers coated in Indium Tin Oxide (ITO). When touched with a finger, some electrical charge is transferred, allowing touch to be detected.

Question 5

Android

Answer 5

The most widely used mobile OS. It is open source, and has been acquired by google.

Question 6

Apple iOS

Answer 6

The second most widely used mobile OS. It is closed source, and is used on I-devices.

Question 7

APS

Answer 7

Active Pixel Sensor - a common image sensor made using a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor). The heart of a pixel sensor is a photodiode which converts light into current.

Question 8

Aspect Ratio

Answer 8

The ratio of width to height of a rectangle, often used in discussion of images.

Question 9

Accelerometer

Answer 9

A sensor contained in many smart phones used to detect tilt, shaking and other motions.

Question 10

MEMS

Answer 10

Micro-Electro-Mechanical Sensor - a small sensor consisting of moving parts etched on to a silicon chip. They can detect movement or the change in a physical property such as temperature.

Question 11

Gyroscope

Answer 11

A sensor used to measure how quickly a phone rotates. It can be used to correct changes in rotation whilst recording a video, in some games, and in other circumstances also.

Question 12

CVG

Answer 12

Coriolis Vibratory Gyroscope - a type of gyroscope which measures Coriolis Force. A mass is attached to springs and vibrates between them, and this is then attached to a disc to measure movement.

Question 13

Base Station

Answer 13

A structure which coordinates transactions in part of a network. It can route calls to their destination.

Question 14

5G

Answer 14

A type of network designed to allow 1000 times as many devices as the current network.

Question 15

Wi-Fi Direct

Answer 15

A version of Wi-Fi which allows point-to-point communication between devices. It operates between 2.4GHz and 5GHz.

Question 16

Bluetooth

Answer 16

A form of wireless technology which operates on the 2.4GHz band. It is often used for communication between two devices or for setting up a PAN. It has a shorter range and lower data rate than Wi-Fi.

Question 17

NFC

Answer 17

Near-Field Communication - a wireless technology primarily used for contactless payment. It has a very short range of a few centimetres and a data rate up to 424kbps. It has no encryption.