18WuD2x

current attenuation • current relay 159
current attenuation 1. The reduction of current
amplitude along a line. 2. The extent to which a
current decreases in a line or circuit; the ratio (always
less than one) of output current to input
current, I out /I in .
current balance An instrument for determining
the size of the ampere. This is done by measuring
the force between two current-carrying conductors.
current-balance switch A switch or relay, operated
by the existence of a difference between two
currents.
current-carrying capacity The maximum current
(usually expressed in amperes) that a conductor
or device can safely conduct.
current coil The series coil in a nonelectronic
wattmeter. Compare POTENTIAL COIL.
current-controlled amplifier Abbreviation, CCA.
An amplifier in which gain is controlled by means
of a current applied to a control-input terminal.
current density The current (usually expressed in
amperes per square centimeter) passing through
a cross-sectional area of a conductor.
current drain 1. The current supplied to a load by
a generator or generator-equivalent. 2. The current
required by a device for its operation; also,
the current taken by the device during standby
periods.
current echo Reflected current in a transmission
line that is not terminated in an impedance exactly
matching its characteristic impedance.
current-fed antenna An antenna in which the
transmission line is attached to the radiator at a
current loop (voltage node). Compare VOLTAGE-
FED ANTENNA.
current feed 1. The delivery of power to a device or
circuit at a point where current dominates. Compare
VOLTAGE FEED. 2. In an antenna, feeding
it at a current maximum.
Current feed
Current
current feedback 1. A feedback signal consisting
of current fed from the output to the input circuit
of an amplifier. 2. A system or circuit for obtaining
current feedback.
current-feedback pair A two-stage, direct-coupled
transistor amplifier having direct-current shuntseries
feedback.
current flow Charge carriers passing through a
solid, liquid, gas, or vacuum. Also see CURRENT
and CURRENT DENSITY.
current gain See CURRENT AMPLIFICATION.
current hogging 1. An undesirable condition that
sometimes takes place when two or more transistors
are operated in parallel. One device tends to
do all the work, taking all the current. The result
can be destruction of that device. 2. The tendency
of one component in a group of identical parallelconnected
components to dissipate most of the
power.
current-hogging injection logic Acronym, CHIL.
A form of bipolar digital logic, similar to currenthogging
logic but having the greater density characteristic
of injection logic.
current instruction register A register in which
are held instructions ready for execution by a
program controller.
current lag A circuit condition in which current
variations are delayed by up to 180 degrees of
phase relative to voltage variations. Compare
CURRENT LEAD.
current lead A circuit condition in which current
variations occur earlier than voltage variations by
up to 180 degrees of phase. Compare CURRENT
LAG.
current limiting The controlling of current so that
it does not exceed a desired value.
current-limiting resistor A series resistor inserted
into a circuit to limit the current to a prescribed
value.
current loop A point on a transmission line or antenna
radiator at which the current reaches a local
maximum. Compare CURRENT NODE.
current meter A usually direct-reading instrument,
such as an ammeter, milliammeter, or microammeter,
used to measure current strength.
Also see ELECTRONIC CURRENT METER.
current-meter operation The operation of a voltmeter
as a current meter by connecting it to respond
to the voltage drop across a resistor that
carries the current of interest.
current-mode logic In computer operations, transistor
logic in which the transistors operate in the
unsaturated mode.
current node A point on a transmission line or antenna
radiator at which the current reaches a local
minimum. Compare CURRENT LOOP.
current noise Electrical noise produced by current
flowing through a resistor.
current probe A transformer usually having a
snap-around, one-turn coil that picks up energy
from a conductor and couples it into an alternating-current
ammeter.
current rating 1. A specified value of operating
current. 2. See CURRENT-CARRYING CAPACITY.
current-regulated supply See CONSTANT-
CURRENT SOURCE.
current regulation The stabilization of current at
a predetermined level or value.
current regulator See BARRETTER.
current relay A relay actuated by specific values of
pickup and dropout current.