corona discharge
The ionization of air (or any other fluid) surrounding an electrically energized conductor, as a result of a strong electric field.
Electrical engineering
651 entries in this trade.
Coulomb force
The electrostatic force between two charges, as described by Coulomb's law.
Coulomb's constant
the constant of proportionality in the equation of Coulomb's law; numerical value depends on the units used
Coulomb's law
the fundamental law of electrostatics - the force between two point charges is proportional to the product of their charges, and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them
coverage
The area covered by a mobile phone (cellphone) or other radio network.
CPC
Initialism of circuit protective conductor.
CPE
Abbreviation of customer-premises equipment.
CQI
Initialism of channel quality indicator.
crimp
To fasten by bending metal so that it squeezes around the parts to be fastened.
cross-bonding
A method to connect power cable by crossing the return conductors between phases to increase cable current rating and reduce electrical losses on the cable sheath.
crossbar switch
A matrix of switches with multiple input and output lines that form a crossed pattern between which a connection may be established by closing a switch located at each intersection.
crossed line
situation when portions of a second call are audible to persons on a telephone connection.
CS
Initialism of circuit-switched.
CSD
Initialism of circuit switched data.
CSP
Initialism of communications service provider (“telecommunications company or telco”).
CTI
Initialism of Computer Telephony Integration.
Curie temperature
The temperature at which the magnetism of a substance changes, specifically when a ferromagnetic material becomes paramagnetic.
current
Ellipsis of electric current.
cutover
The process of quickly replacing a telephone switchboard, in which the connections are duplicated to the new machine and the original connections are then suddenly disconnected.
CVBS
Initialism of composite video, blanking and sync.
CW
Initialism of continuous wave.
D2M
Initialism of direct-to-mobile (direct-to-smartphone); a technology, or a link using one of the technologies.
daisy chain
A thing resembling a daisy chain (noun sense 1) in having several elements connected together, often in a circle.
Darlington pair
A pair of transistors with the emitter of one connected to the base of the other and the collectors connected together, acting as a transistor with greater amplification.
DAT
Digital Audio Tape, a digital data storage tape format using a dual-spooled cartridge and magnetic tape, used for digital audio and data storage.
data
Ellipsis of mobile data (“digital information transmitted using the cellular telephone network rather than Wi-Fi”).
data rate
The fee that a cell phone customer is charged for data traffic (sending and receiving data).
data set
A modem that connects a device such as a teletype to an ordinary telephone.
dawn chorus
Radio interference sometimes experienced at sunrise.
day letter
A telegram sent during the day for slightly deferred delivery on the same day, cheaper than a fast telegram, typically with a minimum charge for 50 words or less.
DCH
Initialism of dedicated channel (in UMTS).
DCIM
Abbreviation of digital camera image(s).
DCRS
Initialism of dipole coil resonance system.
DDD
Initialism of direct distance dialing (“network-provided service that enables non-local telephone calls to be made without operator assistance”).
DDI
Initialism of direct dial-in.
de-emphasis
A signal distortion, carried out at a receiver, in order to undo the effects of pre-emphasis at the transmitter.
dead zone
A region where mobile phones do not operate because there is no base station or repeater nearby.
decade counter
A counter that counts in decimal digits, rather than in binary.
DECT
Initialism of Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (a standard originated in Europe that is primarily used for creating cordless phone systems).
delta connection
A type of three-phase connection.
demarc extension
The transmission path originating from the interface of the access provider's side of a telecommunications circuit Demarcation Point within a premise and ending at the termination point prior to the interface of the edge Customer Premises Equipment. This may include in-segment equipment, media converters and patch cords as required to complete the circuit's transmission path to the edge CPE.
demix
To reverse the downmixing process for (a track), recovering channels or stems.
demon dialing
The use of a computer to dial a number repeatedly (usually to a crowded modem pool) in an attempt to gain access immediately after another user has hung up.
dequantize
To convert a digital signal to an analog one.
detection
The act or process of finding or detecting an electrical signal in a carrier wave.
dial-around
A service that allows an international (or other) telephone call to be made indirectly through another number, thus avoiding the usual call routing and potentially saving money.
difference gate
A logic gate whose output is TRUE when the two inputs are different; a Boolean logic XOR gate.
digital footprint
Digital evidence of a person's activities and interactions with others on the Internet, TV, mobile devices, etc.
discrete
adjectiveElectrical engineering
Having separate electronic components, such as individual diodes, transistors and resistors, as opposed to integrated circuitry.
displacement current
The direction and rate of change of the electric displacement field at a given point of space and time. It can be expressed as a vector.
diverter
A device for forwarding calls to another telephone line.
DOCSIS
Acronym of Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification.
double talk
A situation when two people talk at the same time, causing overlapping audio signals.
downlink
The transmission of a signal from a satellite to a receiving station on earth; or the means of this transmission.
DPDCH
Initialism of dedicated physical data channel.
DPLL
Initialism of digital phase-locked loop.
DRCP
Initialism of Dynamic Rapid Configuration Protocol, and extension of DHCP.
DSC
Initialism of digital selective call, a feature that allows a VHF radio to call another VHF selectively (as opposed to a call that is repeated by all receivers that are on within the range of the caller).
DSL
Initialism of digital subscriber line.
duobinary
adjectiveElectrical engineering
Being, or pertaining to, a bipolar encoding in which the ones are represented alternately by positive and negative voltages.