expander
- Expanders are functional units in Serial Attached SCSI( SAS) that can be used to operate several devices on one port. Expanders are comparable to a switch between the host adapter and the end devices that they manage. Such an expander, also called an edge expander, can address up to 128 SAS end devices. If an edge expander is operated via a fanout expander, which in turn can support up to 128 expanders, then SAS environments of more than 16,000 end devices can be set up.
- In audio, the expander provides a dynamic range increase between soft and loud sounds. As soon as the input level of an expander falls below or exceeds an adjustable threshold, the level is lowered in the case of the downward expander, and the level is increased in the case of the upward expander. The audio signal is stretched in level: soft sounds become softer, loud sounds louder. The function of an expander is the reverse of that of a compressor.
