The Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA; until 1997 Electronic Industries Association) was an American

standards Standard may refer to: Symbols * Colours, standards and guidons, kinds of military signs * Standard (emblem), a type of a large symbol or emblem used for identification Norms, conventions or requirements * Standard (metrology), an object t ...

and trade organization composed as an alliance of trade associations for electronics manufacturers in the United States. They developed standards to ensure the equipment of different manufacturers was compatible and interchangeable. The EIA ceased operations on February 11, 2011, but the former sectors continue to serve the constituencies of EIA.

History

In 1924, 50 radio manufacturers in

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formed a trade group called the ''Associated Radio Manufacturers''. This organization was designed to control the licensing of the large number of radio patents so that each member could have access to all the relevant patents necessary to build radio transmitters, antennas and receivers. Over time, new electronic technologies brought new members, non-manufacturer members, and name changes. Names in chronological order: * 1924 – ''Associated Radio Manufacturers'' * 1924 – ''Radio Manufacturers Association'' (''RMA'') * 1950 – ''Radio Television Manufacturers Association'' (''RTMA'') * 1953 – ''Radio Electronics Television Manufacturers Association'' (''RETMA'') * 1957 – ''Electronic Industries Association'' (''EIA'') * 1997 – ''Electronic Industries Alliance'' (''EIA'') The organization's headquarters were in

Arlington, Virginia Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The county is situated in Northern Virginia on the southwestern bank of the Potomac River directly across from the District of Columbia, of which it was once a part. The county ...

. The EIA divided its activities into the following sectors: * ECA – Electronic Components, Assemblies, Equipment & Supplies Association *

JEDEC The JEDEC Solid State Technology Association is an independent semiconductor engineering trade organization and standardization body headquartered in Arlington County, Virginia, United States. JEDEC has over 300 members, including some of the w ...

–

JEDEC Solid State Technology Association The JEDEC Solid State Technology Association is an independent semiconductor engineering trade organization and standardization body headquartered in Arlington County, Virginia, United States. JEDEC has over 300 members, including some of the w ...

, former

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* GEIA – (now part of

TechAmerica TechAmerica is a United States technology trade association. It was formed from the merger of AeA (formerly known as the America Electronics Association), the Cyber Security Industry Alliance (CSIA), the Government Electronics & Information Tech ...

), Government Electronics and Information Technology Association * TIA – Telecommunications Industry Association * CEA – Consumer Electronics Association The EIA announced in 2007 that it would be dissolved into its constituent divisions, and transferred operations soon after. The Alliance formally ceased to exist on February 11, 2011. EIA designated ECA to continue to develop standards for interconnect, passive and electro-mechanical (IP&E) electronic components under the ANSI-designation of EIA standards. All other electronic components standards will be managed by their respective sectors. The ECA merged with the

National Electronic Distributors Association The National Electronic Distributors Association (NEDA) was a trade association in the United States of manufacturers and distributors. The association cooperates in standardization of names for components, such as batteries. NEDA is often cite ...

(NEDA) in 2011 to form the Electronic Components Industry Association (ECIA). However, the EIA standards brand will continue for IP&E standards within ECIA.

EIA standards

With the changing names of the EIA, the naming convention of the standards was also adapted. For example, a standard defining serial communication between computers and modems e.g. was originally drafted as a Recommended Standard, thus the "RS"

RS-232 In telecommunications, RS-232 or Recommended Standard 232 is a standard originally introduced in 1960 for serial communication transmission of data. It formally defines signals connecting between a ''DTE'' ('' data terminal equipment'') suc ...

. Later it was taken over by the EIA as ''EIA-232''. Later this standard was managed by the TIA and the name was changed to the current ''TIA-232''. Because the EIA was accredited by ANSI to help develop standards in its areas, these standards are often described as (e.g. ''ANSI TIA-232'', or formerly as ''ANSI EIA/TIA-232''). As currently authorized, any ANSI standard designated at ANSI EIA-xxx is developed or managed by ECA (and, in the future, ECIA).

References

External links

The JEDEC history page, including EIA history
{{Authority control 1924 establishments in Illinois 2011 disestablishments in the United States Organizations established in 1924 Organizations disestablished in 2011 2011 mergers and acquisitions Companies based in San Francisco Electrical safety standards organizations Standards organizations in the United States Technology trade associations

History

EIA standards

See also

References

External links