idler frequency

idler frequency

[′īd·lər ‚frē·kwən·sē] (electronics) Of a parametric device, a sum or difference frequency generated within the parametric device other than the input, output, or pump frequencies which require specific circuit consideration to achieve the desired device performance; it is called an idler frequency since, in conventional parametric amplifiers, it is more or less a useless by-product of the parametric process.