(1) (
Programmable
Array
Logic) A type of programmable logic chip (PLD) that contains arrays of programmable AND gates and predefined OR gates. PALs are defined by their number of inputs and outputs; for example, a 22v10 chip means 22 inputs and 10 outputs. The inputs are connected by fuses to logic circuits, which themselves are connected by fuses to the output lines. Often used for glue logic, the chips are programmed by blowing apart the required fuses in a device similar to a PROM programmer. See
PLD,
glue logic and
PROM programmer.
(2) (
Phase
Alternating
Line) An analog color TV standard that was developed in Germany and first broadcast in England and West Germany in 1967. PAL has been used throughout Europe and China as well as in various African, South American and Middle Eastern countries.
There are several PAL formats with different audio and video channel sizes; however, most of them have 625 lines of resolution with 576 lines containing the image. The PAL frame rate is 25 interlaced frames per second (fps), which is equal to 50 half frames per second.
The digital video (DV) camcorder format and the digital television standard that are equivalent to PAL are 720x576 pixels. See
DV and
DVB.
Brazil uses PAL M, which is almost the same as NTSC. Late model PAL TVs, VCRs and DVD players accommodate the different formats as well as NTSC media. PAL's color signals are maintained automatically, and PAL TV sets never had a user-adjustable hue control like NTSC TVs. See
PAL DVD,
NTSC and
SECAM.
(3) (
Priority
Access
License) See
CBRS.
(4) (
Paradox
Application
Language) A programming language used within Borland's Paradox relational database. Paradox is part of Corel's WordPerfect suite. See
WordPerfect Office.
(5) "Parents are listening." See
digispeak.