The Illustrated Dictionary of Electronics - Loscha

GIGO • glucinium 315input to a computer will produce meaninglessoutput.gilbert (William Gilbert, 1540–1603) A unit of magnetomotiveforce, equal to 1.26 times the numberof ampere-turns. The SI (preferred) unit of magnetomotiveforce is the ampere (symbol, A); 1gilbert = 0.796 A.gilbert per centimeter See OERSTED.gimbal A suspension device whose orientation canbe changed without affecting the attitude of thebody being suspended.gimmick 1. Colloquialism for any unnamed device.Also see GADGET. 2. Colloquialism for anytricky manipulation or design. 3. A low-value capacitormade by twisting two short pieces of insulatedwire together.gimp Colloquialism for the tinsel and cloth conductorused in some earphone cords.Giorgi system The meter-kilogram-second (mks)system of units.GJD Abbreviation of GERMANIUM JUNCTIONDIODE.glass A hard, brittle, amorphous, and usuallytransparent substance that is largely silicon dioxide.Glass has a multitude of uses in electronics,and there are several kinds, each having differentelectrical properties. The dielectric constantranges from about 4 to 10; the dielectric strengthranges from about 20 to 300 kilovolts per millimeter.glass arm A stiffness of the wrist or forearm, somewhatresembling writer’s cramp, sometimes experiencedby radiotelegraph operators or wiretelegraph operators after prolonged use of a handkey.glass bulb The glass enclosure of electron tubesand incandescent lamps.glass capacitor A capacitor that uses thin glass asthe dielectric, and usually has plates consistingof metal electroplated or electrodeposited on oppositefaces of the glass. Also see MOLDEDGLASS CAPACITOR.glass diode A semiconductor diode molded in glass.glass electrode A probe used with a pH meter; itconsists of a thin-walled glass tube containingpotassium chloride and mercurous chloride. Alsosee CALOMEL ELECTRODE.glass envelope See GLASS BULB.glassivation A procedure for encapsulating semiconductordevices in glass or other dielectric material.glass-metal seal See GLASS-TO-METAL SEAL.glass plate capacitor See GLASS CAPACITOR.glass shell See GLASS BULB.glass-to-metal seal A bond between glass andmetal in electronic devices, such as vacuum tubes,feedthrough terminals, and glass capacitors.glass tube A vacuum tube whose elements arehoused in an evacuated glass envelope.glide path The guidance beam used by aircraftmaking instrument landings.RunwayTransmitterGlide-pathbeamglide-path transmitterPlaneglide-path transmitter A radio-frequency transmitterthat produces a guidance beam for aircraftlanding purposes. The aircraft follows the beamtoward the runway.glide slope See GLIDE PATH.G line A microwave conductor consisting of around wire coated with a dielectric.glitch 1. In a television image, a narrow, horizontalinterference bar that moves vertically. 2. A veryshort and unwanted high-amplitude transientthat recurs irregularly in an electronic system.glitter 1. In radar, an echo or set of echoes thatfluctuates rapidly in intensity because of motionin the target. 2. A system in which moving devicesare used to confuse enemy radar systems.gloss factor For a reflecting surface, the ratio of reflectedlight in a selected direction to reflectedlight in all directions.glossmeter An instrument for determining GLOSSFACTOR.glow discharge The luminous electrical dischargeresulting from the passage of current throughionized gas in a partially evacuated tube. Thecolor of the glow is characteristic of the particulargas used.glow-discharge microphone A device that producesaudio-frequency currents from the actionof sound waves in a glow-discharge tube.glow-discharge tube A partially evacuated tubethat contains two or more electrodes. The rarefiedgas in the tube glows when a sufficient voltage isapplied to the electrodes. See DISCHARGE LAMP,FLUORESCENT TUBE, and NEON BULB.glow lamp See DISCHARGE LAMP.glow modulator tube A gas tube whose luminousoutput can be modulated by an audio input signal.glow potential The voltage at which glow dischargejust begins in a gas-filled tube.glow switch In fluorescent light circuits, an electrontube containing two bimetal strips that makemutual contact when heated by the glow discharge.glow tube See DISCHARGE LAMP, FLUORES-CENT TUBE, GLOW MODULATOR TUBE, NEONBULB, and STROBOTRON.glow voltage See BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE, 2.glucinium See BERYLLIUM.