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Glossary of Terms

L – Symbol for inductance.

Laser – A coherent source of light with a narrow beam and a narrow spectrum bandwidth (about 2nm).

Lay – Pertaining to wire and cable, the axial distance required for one cabled conductor or conductor strand to complete one revolution about the axis around which it is cabled.

Lay Direction – The direction of the progressing spiral twist in a cable while looking along the axis of the cable away from the observer. The lay direction can be either "left" or "right".

Lead-In – The cable that provides the path for r-f energy between the antenna and the receiver or transmitter.

Leakage – the undesirable passage of current over the surface of, or through, an insulator.

Level – A measure of the difference between a quantity or value and an established reference.

LF – Abbreviation for Low Frequency.

Life Cycle – A test to determine the length of time before failure in a controlled, usually accelerated, environment.

Light Emitting Diode (LED Source) – A semiconductor device that emits incoherent light formed by the P-N junction. Light intensity is roughly proportional to electrical current flow.

Limpness – The ability of a cable to lay flat or conform to a surface as with microphone cables (also see flexibility).

Line Drop – A voltage loss occurring between any two points in a power or transmission line. Such loss, or drop, is due to the resistance, reactance, or leakage of the line.

Line Equalizer – A reactance (inductance and/or capacitance) connected in series with a transmission line to alter the frequency-response characteristics of the line.

Line Level – Refers to the output voltage level of a piece of electronic equipment. Usually expressed in decibels (e.g.. 0 dBv).

Line Voltage – The value of the potential existing on a supply or power line.

Load – A device that consumes power from a source and uses that power to perform a function.

Loaded Line – A transmission line that has lumped elements (inductance or capacitance) added at uniformly spaced intervals. Loading is used to provide a given set of characteristics to a transmission line.

Loading – See loaded line.

Logo - A design, part number, etc. that is typically molded into an assembly.

Long-wire Antenna – Any conductor length in excess of one-half of a wavelength. In a residential television installation, a horizontal run or unshielded lead-in will act as a long-wire antenna and introduce additional signal on top of the regular antenna signal causing ghosts.

Loss – The portion of energy applied to a system that is dissipated and performs no useful work.

Lossy – Having poor efficiency.

Low Frequency – A band of frequencies extending from 30 to 300 kHz in the radio spectrum, designated by the Federal Communications Commission.