signal processing Signal processing is an electrical engineering subfield that focuses on analyzing, modifying and synthesizing ''signals'', such as audio signal processing, sound, image processing, images, Scalar potential, potential fields, Seismic tomograph ...

, a passthrough is a

logic gate A logic gate is a device that performs a Boolean function, a logical operation performed on one or more binary inputs that produces a single binary output. Depending on the context, the term may refer to an ideal logic gate, one that has, for ...

that enables a signal to "pass through" unaltered, sometimes with little alteration. Sometimes the concept of a "passthrough" can also involve

daisy chain Daisy chain may refer to: * Daisy chain, a garland created from daisy flowers * Daisy chain (climbing), a type of strap * Daisy chain (electrical engineering) In electrical and electronic engineering, a daisy chain is a wiring scheme in whi ...

logic.

Examples of passthroughs

Analog passthrough Analog passthrough is a feature found on some digital-to-analog television converter boxes. Boxes without the analog passthrough feature only allow older, analog-only TVs to view digital TV. Those with analog pass-through allow both digital and a ...

(for

digital TV Digital television (DTV) is the transmission of television signals using digital encoding, in contrast to the earlier analog television technology which used analog signals. At the time of its development it was considered an innovative adv ...

) *

Sega 32X The 32X is an add-on for the Sega Genesis video game console. Codenamed "Project Mars", it was designed to expand the power of the Genesis and serve as a transitional console into the 32-bit era until the release of the Sega Saturn. The 32X ...

(passthrough for

Sega Genesis The Sega Genesis, known as the outside North America, is a 16-bit Fourth generation of video game consoles, fourth generation home video game console developed and sold by Sega. It was Sega's third console and the successor to the Master Sys ...

video games) * VCRs,

DVD recorder A DVD recorder is an optical disc recorder that uses optical disc recording technologies to digital recording, digitally record analog signal, analog or Digital signal (signal processing), digital signals onto blank writable DVD recordable, D ...

s, etc. act as a "pass-through" for

composite video Composite video, also known as CVBS (composite video baseband signal or color, video, blanking and sync), is an analog video format that combines image information—such as brightness (luminance), color (chrominance), and synchronization, int ...

and

S-video S-Video (also known as separate video, Y/C, and erroneously Super-Video) is an analog video signal format that carries standard-definition video, typically at 525 lines or 625 lines. It encodes video luma and chrominance on two separate chann ...

, though sometimes they act as an

RF modulator An RF modulator (radio frequency modulator) is an electronic device used to convert signals from devices such as media players, VCRs and game consoles to a format that can be handled by a device designed to receive a modulated RF input, such ...

for use on Channel 3. *

Tape monitor Tape or Tapes may refer to: Material Tape is long, narrow, thin strip of material usually used to stick things together. (see also Ribbon (disambiguation): Adhesive tapes *Adhesive tape, any of many varieties of backing materials coated with a ...

features allow an

AV receiver An audio/video receiver (AVR) or a stereo receiver is a consumer electronics component used in a home theater, home audio, or hi-fi system. Its purpose is to receive audio and video signals from a number of sources, and to process them and prov ...

(sometime the recording device itself) to act as a "pass-through" for audio. *An

usually allows pass-through of the video signal while amplifying the audio signal to drive speakers.

Examples of passthroughs

See also