connector insertion loss / constant voltage power supply
joins the ends of two optical fibers together
temporarily.
connector insertion loss The power loss (in
dB) by an optical signal as it passes through a
fiber-optic connector.
connect time 1. The length of time a user is
connected to a computer system measured
from logon to logoff. 2. The amount of time it
takes a switching network to connect the
calling party to the called party.
consecutive access A method of data access
that is characterized by the sequential nature
of the I/O device involved. For example, a
card reader is an example of a consecutive
access device. Each card must be read one
after another, and no distinction is made
between logical sets of data in or among the
cards in the input hopper.
conservation of charge The principle that
states that the total charge of an isolated sys-
tem is constant. Also known as "charge con-
servation."
conservation of energy (first law of
thermodynamics) The principle that
energy cannot be created or destroyed,
although it can be changed from one form
into another. Also known as "energy conser-
vation."
consistency A qualitative means for classify-
ing substances, especially semisolids, accord-
ing to their resistance to dynamic changes in
shape.
console 1. A main control desk for an inte-
grated assemblage of electronic equipment.
Also known as "control desk." 2. A grouping
of control devices, instrument indicators,
recorders, and alarms that are housed in a
freestanding cabinet or enclosure to create an
operator's workstation. 3. The cabinet or
enclosure for a floor-model radio or televi-
sion receiver, or similar electronic device. 4.
That part of a terminal that provides user
input and output capability. 5. A control cen-
ter, or part of a control center, that has one or
more inclined surfaces for mounting instru-
ments and controls within a range, for conve-
nient viewing and manipulation
constant 1. A value that remains the same
throughout the distinct operation. The oppo-
site of variable. 2. A data item that takes as its
value its name (hence, its value is fixed dur-
ing the execution of a program).
constant-amplitude (filter) A reference to the
characteristic of a butterworth filter. See But-
terworth.
constantan An alloy of copper (50% to 60%)
and nickel that has a very low temperature
coefficient of resistance and comparatively
103
high resistance, making it very suitable for
precision wire-wound resistors and for form-
ing thermocouples with iron, copper, silver,
and so on. Used as a negative lead in types E,
J, and T thermocouples.
constant-bandwidth (CBW) The spacing of
FM subcarriers equally with relation to each
other. See proportional bandwidth.
constant cavitation An early level of cavita-
tion that is characterized by mild, steady
popping or crackling sounds, which may be
audible or detected by vibration measure-
ments. It is the next higher inflection point
on the cavitation profile above the point of
incipient cavitation. This level is represented
by the constant cavitation coefficient sc. [ISA-
RP75.23-1995]
constant-current potentiometer A type of
null-balance instrument for determining an
unknown DC voltage, usually less than 10 V,
under conditions that maintain constant cur-
rent in the detector circuit. Resolution of up
to one part in 103 can be achieved with a sin-
gle potentiometer slidewire and up to one
part in 107 with a multidecade device.
constant-current transformer A type of
transformer that automatically adjusts the
output of its secondary circuit to maintain a
constant current under varying load imped-
ances when its primary windings are con-
nected to a constant-voltage power supply.
constant-delay (filter) See bessel.
constant-head meter A flow measurement
device that maintains a constant pressure dif-
ferential by varying the cross section of a
flow path through the meter, such as in a pis-
ton meter or rotameter.
constant-load balance A single-pan weight-
ing device that has a constant load and in
which the sample weight is determined by
hanging precision weights from a counter-
poised beam.
constant-resistance potentiometer A type of
null-balance instrument for determining an
unknown DC voltage, usually less than 10 V,
by using a constant scaling resistor in paral-
lel with the potentiometer circuit.
constant status A status attribute that has
both the high- and low-limit indications set
and is used to indicate that the downstream
block cannot respond to the output of the
upstream block. [ISA-TR50.02, Part 9-2000]
constant voltage power supply A power
supply that is capable of maintaining a fixed
voltage across variable load resistance and
over defined input voltage and frequency
change. Output current is automatically con-