Neets Master Glossary

1-53 PERMANENT MAGNET SPEAKER—A speaker with a permanent magnet mounted on soft iron pole pieces [17]. PERMEABILITY—The measure of the ability of a material to act as a path for magnetic lines of force [1] [8]. PERSISTENCE—The length of time a phosphor dot glows on a CRT before disappearing [6] [18]. PHANTASTRON—A variable-length sawtooth generator often used to produce a sweep on an A-scope [18]. PHASE—The angular relationship between two alternating currents or voltages when the voltage or current is plotted as a function of time. When the two are in phase, the angle is zero; both reach their peak simultaneously. When out of phase, one will lead or lag the other; that is, at the instant when one is at its peak, the other will not be at peak value and (depending on the phase angle) may differ in polarity as well as magnitude [2]. PHASE ANGLE—The number of electrical degrees of lead or lag between the voltage and current waveforms in an ac circuit [2] [12]. PHASE MODULATION (pm)—Angle modulation in which the phase of the carrier is controlled by the modulating waveform. The amplitude of the modulating wave determines the amount of phase shift, and the frequency of the modulation determines how often the phase shifts [12]. PHASE-SHIFT DISCRIMINATOR—See FOSTER-SEELEY DISCRIMINATOR [12]. PHASE SHIFTER—A device used to change the phase relationship between two ac signals [11]. PHASE-SHIFT KEYING—Similar to ON-OFF cw keying in AM systems and frequency-shift keying in FM systems. Each time a mark is received, the phase is reversed. No phase reversal takes place when a space is received [12]. PHASE SPLITTER—A device that provides two output signals from a single input signal. The two output signals differ from each other in phase (usually by 180 degrees) [8]. PHOSPHOR—The material used to convert the energy of electrons into visible light [6]. PHOTOCELL—A light-controlled variable resistor which has a light-to-dark resistance ratio of 1:1000. Used in various types of control and timing circuits [7]. PHOTODIODE—A light-controlled PN junction. Current flow increases when the PN junction is exposed to an external light source [7]. PHOTOELECTRIC VOLTAGE—A voltage produced by light [1]. PHOTOETCHING—Chemical process of removing unwanted material in producing printed circuit boards [14]. PHOTOTRANSISTOR—An optoelectronic device that conducts current when exposed to light. Produces more current and is much more sensitive to light than the photodiode [7]. PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL (SOLAR CELL)—A device that acts much like a battery when exposed to light and converts light energy into electrical energy [7].