18WuD2x

246 electronic counter • electronic heating
applied to it (see COUNTER, 1). Unlike the electromechanical
counter, the electronic counter
has no moving parts and is therefore capable of
extremely high-speed, noiseless operation.
electronic counter-countermeasures Abbreviation,
ECCM. Military procedures for interfering
with a foe’s electronic countermeasures.
electronic countermeasures Abbreviation, ECM.
Interference with enemy radio and radar emissions
by electronic means. Also see JAMMING.
electronic coupling Coupling via electronic effects
or devices.
electronic crowbar A switch that prevents destructive
currents from flowing through the components
of a circuit.
electronic current meter A current meter that
uses an amplifier ahead of an analog or digital indicator
to provide increased sensitivity.
+
Input
−
dc mA
electronic current meter
+12 V
electronic data processing Abbreviation, EDP.
See DATA PROCESSING and ELECTRONIC IN-
FORMATION PROCESSING.
electronic data-processing center Abbreviation,
EDPC. An installation of electronic equipment
and accessories for processing and storing data,
usually in digital form. Also see DATA PROCESS-
ING and ELECTRONIC INFORMATION PRO-
CESSING.
electronic data-processing machine Abbreviation,
EDPM. A device, such as an electronic computer,
used in the automatic processing of data,
usually in digital form.
electronic data-processing system 1. A unique
arrangement of machines for processing data. 2.
The sequence of steps in, and the underlying rationale
for, the processing of data by automated
equipment.
electronic deception See DECEPTION and DE-
CEPTION DEVICE.
electronic differential analyzer See ANALOG
DIFFERENTIATOR, DIGITAL DIFFERENTIAL AN-
ALYZER, and DIFFERENTIAL ANALYZER.
electronic differentiator A circuit that performs
mathematical differentiation. Also see DIFFER-
ENTIATOR, 2.
electronic divider 1. An electronic device for performing
arithmetic division. In a digital computer,
such a divider can be a sequence of flip-flops,
each of which produces a single output for every
two input pulses. In an analog computer, the output
signal amplitude is equal to the quotient of
two input-signal amplitudes. 2. See FREQUENCY
DIVIDER. 3. A voltage divider using active components,
rather than resistors.
electronic dust precipitator See DUST PRECIPI-
TATOR.
electronic efficiency A quantitative expression for
the effectiveness of an electron beam as a
medium of power transmission. The electronic efficiency,
in percent, is equal to 100P out /P in , where
P out is the (output) power delivered by the beam,
and P in is the (input) power supplied to the beam.
electronic equivalent of gravity In equations for
the acceleration, velocity, and distance traveled
for an electron, the factor equal to eF/m, where e
is the electron charge, F is the potential gradient
of field, and m is the electron mass. Also see
ELECTRON MOTION, 2.
electronic flash 1. A device containing a circuit
that uses an electronic flash tube as a light
source for photography or other purposes. Also
called photoflash. 2. A bright momentary light
burst produced by the equipment described in 1,
above.
electronic flash tube A tube used to produce brilliant
bursts of light in photoflash units, stroboscopes,
and laser exciters. A flash tube usually
contains xenon gas, which is fired by a highvoltage
pulse.
electronic frequency meter 1. An instrument
that gives direct readings of frequency in hertz,
kilohertz, or megahertz on an analog scale or as a
digital readout. 2. Any device that indicates the
operating frequency of another device, directly or
indirectly, when used for such purpose.
electronic frequency synthesizer An instrument
that supplies a number of selectable frequencies
derived from one or more internally generated
fixed frequencies.
electronic gas A collection of free electrons whose
behavior resembles that of a gas.
electronic gate 1. A logic gate that operates by
electronic means. 2. A security system, consisting
of a mechanical gate controlled electronically.
Similar to an electronic garage door.
electronic guitar See ELECTRIC GUITAR.
electronic heating The production of heat in an
object via high-frequency energy. The two principal
methods are dielectric heating and induction
heating.