formfactors

Noun

formfactor (plural formfactors)

1. Any of various calculations representing the shape or distribution of a physical property within a microsystem such as an elementary particle or atomic nucleus.
   • This electromagnetic structure caused by the cloud of virtual states in the transition region is characterized by a specific formfactor, which is called the transition formfactor.1992, Soviet Physics, Uspekhi - Volume 35, page 11
2. The value of 4π * area / perimeter², used to measure how well an irregular shape approximates an idealized regular shape, and used to estimate surface area of irregular shapes.
   • the surface area of the ellipsoid fitted to the measured length and breadth is divided by the formfactor to estimate the surface area of the irregular object1989, Encyclopedia of Materials Science and Engineering, page 503
3. The ratio of energy radiating out from one patch to the energy absorbed by another patch, used in the calculation of radiosity.
   • The formfactor between patches defines the fraction of energy (light) leaving a patch which arrives at the other. The formfactor has proven to be the most computationally expensive part of the radiosity computation for complex environments. The formfactor is purely a function of the geometric...2012, Gerald Garcia, Ivan Herman, Advances in Computer Graphics, page 95
4. An industry standard that represents the size and shape of a circuit board.
   • In the case of embedded RTP systems the most difficult constraint lies in the area of system formfactor limitations .1989, Electronic Engineering - Volume 61, page S-59