phantom circuit

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of phantom circuit¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

A phantom circuit good enough for call circuit purposes would be good enough for actual commercial messages, therefore, it is customary to furnish such originating and receiving operators with Morse telegraph sets.

From Project Gutenberg

The currents of the phantom circuit, unlike those of the physical circuits, are in the same direction in both wires of a pair at any instant.

From Project Gutenberg

A phantom circuit is formed most simply when both physical lines end in the same two offices.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

In phantom circuits formed merely by inserting repeating coils in physical circuits and doing nothing else, an exact balance of the sides of the phantom circuit is lacking.

From Project Gutenberg