phantom circuit

American  

noun

Electricity.

1. a circuit derived from two suitably arranged pairs of wires, each pair being a circuit side circuit and also acting as one half of an additional derived circuit, the entire system providing the capabilities of three circuits while requiring wires for only two.

---

Etymology

Origin of phantom circuit

First recorded in 1880–85

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

phantom circuit

If one physical line is longer than the other, a phantom circuit may be formed as in Fig.

From Cyclopedia of Telephony and Telegraphy, Vol. 2 A General Reference Work on Telephony, etc. etc. by Samuel McMeen

As I was saying about this phantom circuit, it is used a good deal now.

From The Ear in the Wall by Arthur B. (Arthur Benjamin) Reeve

The use of phantom circuits is confined almost wholly to open-wire circuits; and while the capacity of the phantom circuit is somewhat greater than that of the physical circuit, its resistance is considerably smaller.

From Cyclopedia of Telephony and Telegraphy, Vol. 2 A General Reference Work on Telephony, etc. etc. by Samuel McMeen

Consequently, a conversation carried on over the phantom circuit will not be heard in either side circuit, nor does a conversation on one side circuit affect the phantom.

From The Dream Doctor by Arthur B. (Arthur Benjamin) Reeve

In doing so, each phantom circuit is transposed with proper regard to each of the other three on that twenty-wire line.

From Cyclopedia of Telephony and Telegraphy, Vol. 2 A General Reference Work on Telephony, etc. etc. by Samuel McMeen

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---