RS-485: Imported from Wikipedia (overwrite)

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{{short description|1924–2011 American standards and trade organization}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}} {{Use American English|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox company
| type = [[Public company|Organization]]
| industry = [[Entertainment|Association]]
| foundation = 1924
| defunct = 2010
| fate = Dormant, pending merger with [[National Electronic Distributors Association]], rebranded into [[Global Standards Collaboration|Electronic Components Industry Association]]
| successor = [[Global Standards Collaboration|Electronic Components Industry Association]]
| trade_name = Electronic Industries Alliance
}}
[[File:Locale_RS6_Dimensia EIA.jpg|thumb|[[SCART]] connector on an [[RCA Dimensia]] with '''EIA''' text]]

The '''Electronic Industries Alliance''' ('''EIA'''; until 1997 '''Electronic Industries Association''') was an American [[standards organization|standards]] 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.<ref name=eia_ceased>{{cite web |url=http://www.ecaus.org/eia/site/index.html |title=Welcome |year=2011 |work=ecaus.org |publisher=Electronic Industries Alliance |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110529091409/http://www.ecaus.org/eia/site/index.html |archive-date=2011-05-29 |access-date=2011-06-02 |quote=The Electronic Industries Alliance ceased operations on February 11, 2011. |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== {{anchor|Associated Radio Manufacturers|RMA|RTMA|RETMA}}History ==
[[File:Locale_RS6_ResistorColorCodeGuide.jpg|thumb|'''RMA''' [[Electronic color code|Resistor Color Code]] Guide, circa 1945–1950]]

In 1924, 50 radio manufacturers in [[Chicago]] formed a trade group called the ''Associated Radio Manufacturers''.<ref name="EDN-20070904" /> 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'')<ref name="EDN-20070904" />
* 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]]. The EIA divided its activities into the following sectors:
* ECA – Electronic Components, Assemblies, Equipment & Supplies Association
* [[JEDEC]] – [[JEDEC Solid State Technology Association]], former [[Joint Electron Device Engineering Council]]
* GEIA – (now part of [[TechAmerica]]), 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,<ref name="EDN-20070904">{{cite web |title=The fall of EIA: What happened? |url=https://www.edn.com/electronics-news/4317670/The-fall-of-EIA-What-happened- |publisher=[[EDN (magazine)|EDN]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114202906/https://www.edn.com/electronics-news/4317670/The-fall-of-EIA-What-happened- |archive-date=November 14, 2019 |date=September 4, 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> and transferred operations soon after. The Alliance formally ceased to exist on February 11, 2011.<ref name=eia_ceased /> 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]] (NEDA) in 2011 to form the Electronic Components Industry Association (ECIA).<ref name="EDN-20100511">{{cite web |title=NEDA, ECA merge, target counterfeit components |url=https://www.edn.com/electronics-news/4311980/NEDA-ECA-merge-target-counterfeit-components |publisher=[[EDN (magazine)|EDN]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114203438/https://www.edn.com/electronics-news/4311980/NEDA-ECA-merge-target-counterfeit-components |archive-date=November 14, 2019 |date=May 11, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> However, the EIA standards brand will continue for IP&E standards within ECIA.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ecianow.org/standards-practices/standards/ |title=Standards - ECIA |website=www.ecianow.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914002343/http://www.ecianow.org/standards-practices/standards/ |archive-date=2014-09-14}} </ref>

== {{anchor|RS}}EIA standards ==
{{Main|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''',<ref>{{cite book |title=EIA RS-464 |publisher=Electronic Industries Association |date=1981 |orig-year=December 1979 |page=insert |quote=Recommended Standards are adopted by EIA without regard to whether or not their adoption may involve patents on articles, materials, or processes. By such action, EIA does not assume liability to any patent owner, nor does it assume any obligation whatever to parties adopting the Recommended Standard. This EIA Recommended Standard is considered to have international standardization implications, but there is no known IEC (or ISO) activity in this product area.}}</ref> thus the "'''RS'''" [[RS-232]]. 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{{When|date=August 2020}} authorized, any ANSI standard designated at ANSI EIA-xxx is developed or managed by ECA (and, in the future, ECIA).{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

==See also==
* [[EIA 1956 resolution chart]]
* [[Electronic color code]] – RMA Resistor Color Code
* [[E series of preferred numbers]] – RMA Preferred Number Values of Fixed Composition Resistors

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.jedec.org/about-jedec/jedec-history The JEDEC history page, including EIA history]
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506191949/https://eia.org/|title=EIA (Electronic Industries Alliance)|date=2009-05-06}}

{{Authority control}}
[[Category:1924 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:2011 disestablishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1924]]
[[Category:Organizations disestablished in 2011]]
[[Category:2011 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Companies based in San Francisco]]
[[Category:Electrical safety standards organizations]]
[[Category:Standards organizations in the United States]]
[[Category:Technology trade associations]]

Electronic Industries Alliance - Revision history

RS-485: Imported from Wikipedia (overwrite)