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conic sections • constant-current source 141
plane. These figures are the circle, the ellipse, the
parabola, and the hyperbola.
conjugate For a given complex number A + jB, the
quantity A – jB. When complex conjugates are
multiplied together, the result is A 2 + B 2 .
conjugate branches In a network, two branches of
such a nature that a signal in one has no effect on
the other.
conjugate bridge A bridge in which the detector
and generator occupy positions opposite to those
in a conventional bridge of the same general type.
conjugate impedance For a given complex impedance,
R + jX, where R is the resistive component
and jX is the reactive component, the
impedance: R – jX. The resistance is identical; the
reactance is of equal magnitude, but opposite
sign (capacitive as opposed to inductive, or vice
versa).
conjunction The logical AND operation.
connect To provide an electrical path between two
points.
connection The point at which two conductors are
physically joined.
connective An operation symbol written between
operands.
connector 1. A device that provides electrical connection.
2. A fixture (either male or female) attached
to a cable or chassis for quickly making
and breaking one or more circuits. 3. A symbol
that connects points on a flowchart.
conoscope A device that uses focused polarized
light to examine crystals (as in checking the optical
axis of a quartz crystal).
consequent poles The poles of an equivalent single
magnet that is formed when two magnets are
aligned with their two identical poles together.
Thus, when the two north poles are placed together,
the consequent poles are a south pole at
each end and a north pole at the center.
conservation of energy 1. The preservation of
the potential for work by a given quantity of energy—even
when it undergoes a change in form
within a system. 2. The law of conservation of
energy, which states that energy can be neither
created nor destroyed, but only changed in
form.
console 1. The main station or position for the
control of electronic and/or computer equipment.
2. The equipment at a fixed location. 3. An equipment-containing
cabinet that stands on the floor.
4. Equipment permitting communication with a
computer. Also called dumb terminal.
consonance 1. Harmony between audio tones. 2.
Acoustical or electrical resonance between bodies
or circuits that are not physically connected.
constant 1. A quantity whose value remains
fixed, such as the speed of light in a vacuum.
Compare VARIABLE. 2. The value of a component
specified for use in a particular electronic
circuit. 3. An electronic component, particularly
a capacitance or inductance. 4. In a computer
program, data items that remain unchanged for
each run.
constant-amplitude recording In sound recording,
the technique of holding the maximum amplitude
of the signal steady as the frequency
changes.
constantan An alloy of copper and nickel used in
some thermocouples and standard resistors.
constantan-platinum thermocouple A thermocouple
that uses the junction between constantan
and platinum wires, which is contained in
thermocouple-type meters.
constant area As allocated by a computer program,
an area of memory that holds constants.
constant bandwidth In a broadband tuned circuit,
bandwidth that does not change with frequency.
constant current A current that undergoes no
change in value as it flows through a changing resistance.
Compare CONSTANT VOLTAGE.
constant-current characteristic A condition in
which the current through a circuit remains constant—even
if the voltage across the circuit increases
or decreases.
constant-current curve A graph in which the dependent
variable is an electric current that levels
off at, or approaches, a specific maximum. An example
is the collector-current versus collectorvoltage
curve for a bipolar transistor.
Max.
Collector current
0
0
Collector voltage
constant-current curve
Constantcurrent
region
+10 V
constant-current drive Driving power obtained
from a constant-current source.
constant-current modulation See CHOKE-
COUPLED MODULATION.
constant-current power supply See CONSTANT-
CURRENT SOURCE.
constant-current sink See CURRENT SINK.
constant-current source A power supply whose
current remains steady during variations in
load resistance. Also called constant-current
supply and current-regulated supply. Compare
CONSTANT-VOLTAGE SOURCE.