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.

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Etymology

Origin of phantom circuit

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

One uncanny device, which would seem to be a mere inventor's fantasy if it had not already saved the telephone companies four million dollars or more, is known as the "phantom circuit."

From The History of the Telephone by Casson, Herbert Newton

"The phantom circuit?" repeated Brixton, chafing at the delay.

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

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 McMeen, Samuel

Thus, currents passing over a phantom circuit don't set up currents in the terminal apparatus of the side circuits.

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

Because this third circuit travels apparently without wires, in some manner which the scientists have not yet discovered, it is appropriately known as the phantom circuit.

From The Age of Big Business; a chronicle of the captains of industry by Hendrick, Burton Jesse