Page 50 - The Illustrated Dictionary of Electronics
P. 50
5059F-pA_1-55 4/9/01 4:41 PM Page 35
anthropomorphism • antiparticle 35
4
lead to emotional attachment to hardware, such example, log 10,000 = log 10 = 4, and thus an-
4
as computers and robots. The more sophisticated tilog 4 = 10 = 10,000.
the apparatus, in general, the more powerful this antilogous pole In a PYROELECTRIC MATERIAL,
perception can become. the end that becomes negatively charged as the
antialiasing filter A low-pass or bandpass filter temperature rises.
that limits the bandwidth of an input signal to antimagnetic Pertaining to materials having ex-
prevent aliasing and its effects. See ALIASING, 1. tremely low RETENTIVITY.
anticapacitance switch A switch whose members antimatter Pertaining to particles that are the
are thin blades and stiff wires widely separated to counterparts of conventional particles (i.e.,
minimize capacitance between them. positrons instead of electrons, antineutrons in-
anticathode The target electrode of an X-ray tube. stead of neutrons, and antiprotons instead of
Anticipatory Sciences A group of futurists, people protons). When a particle meets its antiparticle,
who attempt to predict the course of technology. the two annihilate, releasing energy. Also see AN-
Some futurists believe that progress will continue TIPARTICLE.
until, for example, homes become fully automated antimicrophonic See NONMICROPHONIC.
and artificial intelligence reaches a level compara- antimony Symbol, Sb. A metalloidal element.
ble to human intelligence. Other futurists believe Atomic number, 51. Atomic weight, 121.76. Often
that such things are highly improbable. used as n-type dopant in semiconductor manu-
anticlutter circuit A supplementary circuit in a facture.
radar receiver that minimizes the effect of extra- antineutrino The antiparticle of the NEUTRINO,
neous reflections that would obscure the image of emitted as a result of radioactive decay.
the target. antineutron An uncharged particle with a mass
anticlutter gain control In a radar receiver, a cir- equal to that of the neutron, but with a magnetic
cuit that automatically raises the gain of the re- moment in the direction opposite that of the neu-
ceiver slowly to maximum after each transmitter tron.
pulse to reduce the effect of clutter-producing antinode A point of maximum amplitude in a
echoes. standing wave.
anticoincidence Noncoincidental occurrence of
two or more signals. Compare COINCIDENCE.
anticoincidence circuit In computers and control
systems, a circuit that delivers an output signal
only when two or more input signals are not re-
ceived simultaneously. Compare COINCIDENCE
CIRCUIT. Also see NAND CIRCUIT.
anticoincidence operation An exclusive-OR oper-
ation.
anticollision radar A vehicular radar system that
is used to minimize the probability of a collision
with another vehicle, whether or not that other
vehicle has a similar system. antinoise carrier-operated circuit A circuit that
antiferroelectric 1. Pertaining to the property cuts off the audio output of a receiver while the
wherein the polarization curve of certain crys- station transmitter is in use. This can be accom-
talline materials shows two regions of symmetry. plished in the automatic-gain-control (AGC) cir-
2. A material that exhibits the aforementioned cuit of the receiver, or in the speaker or audio
property. line. The circuit is actuated by energy from the
antiferromagnetic Pertaining to the behavior of transmitted signal.
materials in which, at low temperatures, the antinoise microphone Any microphone that dis-
magnetic moments of adjacent atoms point in op- criminates against acoustic noise (e.g., a lip mi-
posite directions. crophone or throat microphone).
antihunt The condition in which hunting is coun- antinucleon A particle with the mass of a nucleon,
teracted, usually by removing overcorrection in but with the opposite electrical charge and direc-
automatic control or compensation systems. tion of magnetic moment. Compare NUCLEON.
antihunt circuit 1. A circuit that minimizes or antioxidant A material, such as a lacquer coat or
eliminates hunting. Also see ANTIHUNT. 2. In a an inactive oxide layer, that prevents or slows ox-
television (TV) receiver, a circuit that stabilizes an idation of a material exposed to air.
automatic frequency control (afc) system. antiparticle A subatomic particle opposite in char-
antijamming Pertaining to communications sys- acter to conventional particles, such as electrons,
tems that are resistant to, or that counteract, the neutrons, protons. Antiparticles constitute
effects of jamming. antimatter. Also see ANTINEUTRINO, ANTI-
–1
antilogarithm Abbreviated, antilog or log . The NEUTRON, ANTINUCLEON, ANTIPROTON, and
number corresponding to a given logarithm. For POSITRON.