active component


active component

[′ak·tiv kəm′pō·nənt] (electricity) In the phasor representation of quantities in an alternating-current circuit, the component of current, voltage, or apparent power which contributes power, namely, the active current, active voltage, or active power. Also known as power component. (electronics) active element

active component

A device that modifies the signals that pass through it in some manner. For example, an active hub in the network regenerates fading input pulses into new, strong output pulses. In contrast, a passive hub is just a junction box that does not affect the passing data. See passive component.