Copy of `Wave Corrector - Glossary of Cable Engineering Terms`

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Wave Corrector - Glossary of Cable Engineering Terms Category: Sciences > Sound Date & country: 15/11/2007, UK Words: 60

Attenuation
The reduction in amplitude of an electrical signal due to a transmission line or other network.

Attenuation coefficient
The factor relating transmission line  attenuation to unit distance.

Attenuation Unbalance
A measure of the inequality of attenuation between two pairs in a multi-pair cable.

Balance about earth
See Common Mode Conversion Ratio.

Balanced pair
A transmission line in which the two conductors are electrically identical and symmetrical with respect to a common reference point, usually earth.

Balun
A transformer device used for matching balanced and unbalanced circuit elements.

Capacitance
A measure of the ability of two conductors to store electric charge.

Capacitance unbalance
A measure of the inequality of capacitance between the conductors of two adjacent pairs in a multi-pair cable.

Characteristic impedance
The terminal impedance that a transmission line tends towards as its length tends to infinity.

Coaxial line
A transmission line in which one conductor is located at the centre  of a metal tube which acts as the second conductor.

Common mode conversion ratio
A measure of the balance of the two conductors of a pair with respect to earth.

Conductance
The real (non-reactive) part of the admittance of a circuit, where admittance is the reciprocal of impedance.

Conducted interference
Interference that occurs because of inductive or capacitive coupling.

Conductor losses
Power losses due to the resistance of conductors.

Copper losses
Power losses due to the resistance of copper conductors.

Crosstalk
The unwanted coupling of signals between different pairs in a cable.

Crosstalk attenuation
See Crosstalk Ratio.

Crosstalk distance
The decibel difference between the level of a wanted signal on a transmission line and an unwanted signal caused by crosstalk.

Crosstalk ratio
The ratio of crosstalk signal level to the level of the originating source of the crosstalk.

Decibel
A logarithmic unit used for expressing the ratio of two powers.

Dielectric
A material which acts as an electrical insulator.

Dielectric losses
Power losses due to the conductance of dielectric materials.

Eddy currents
Currents induced by unwanted inductive coupling between adjacent conductors.

Electrical screen
A metal shield which isolates a device from external fields.

Electromagnetic compatibility
The capability of different electrical systems to coexist in the electromagnetic environment without causing or being subjected to interference.

Far end crosstalk ratio
Crosstalk measured at the far end of a transmission line.

Far field
The electromagnetic field which exists at a distance of several wavelengths from the source of radiation.

Impedance
The complex ratio of voltage to current.

Inductance
The property of a conductor whereby a voltage is induced into it as a result of a changing current.

Insertion loss
The loss in power caused by the insertion of a network between a source and a load.

Longitudinal mode
A propagation mode in which the two conductor of a pair act as a single conductor.

Mayer method
A method of evaluating the propagation delay of a transmission line.

Mismatch loss
The loss of power delivered into a load as a result of the interconnection of devices having unequal impedances

Near end crosstalk ratio
Crosstalk measured at the transmit end of a transmission line.

Near field
The electromagnetic field that exists within one wavelength of a source of radiation.

Neper
A logarithmic unit used for expressing the ratio of two voltages.

Network analyser
A measuring instrument for evaluating the complex characteristics of linear electrical circuits.

Phase coefficient
The factor relating phase to distance.

Primary coefficients
The factors relating distance to the basic electrical properties of transmission lines.

Propagation coefficient
The complex factor which resolves into the attenuation and phase coefficients of a transmission line.

Propagation delay
The time required for a signal to pass along a transmission line

Propagation velocity
The velocity of wave propagation along a transmission line.

Proximity effect
The redistribution of current in a conductor brought about by the proximity of another conductor.

Quad
A series of four separately insulated conductors, generally twisted together.

Regularity return loss
See Structural Return Loss.

Resistance
The real (non-reactive) part of the impedance of a circuit.

Resistance unbalance
A measure of the inequality of the resistance of the two conductors of a transmission line.

Return loss
The difference between the power incident upon a discontinuity in a transmission system and the power reflected from the discontinuity.

Screening
See Electrical Screen.

Screening attenuation
The decibel difference between the signal level present at the input of a device, and the radiated power originating from the device.

Secondary coefficients
Attenuation and phase coefficients and characteristic impedance of a transmission line.

Skew
A measure of the inequality of propagation delay between two pairs in a multi-pair cable.

Skin effect
The tendency of alternating currents to increasingly flow nearer the surface of a conductor as frequency increases.

Structural return loss
A measure of the uniformity of a transmission line's impedance.

Surface transfer impedance
The ratio of the voltage developed across a transmission line to the current flowing on the outer surface of the screen.

Transmission line
A pair of conductors separated by a dielectric.

Transverse Mode
A propagation mode in which the two conductor of a pair carry equal and opposite currents.

Twisted pair
A transmission line in which two insulated conductors are twisted together.

Unbalanced pair
A transmission line in which the voltages on the two conductors are unequal with respect to earth.

Velocity ratio
The ratio of propagation velocity to the speed of light.