TERMIUM Plus®

The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.

ELECTRIC EYE [5 records]

Record 1 2017-05-12

English

Subject field(s)
  • Security Devices
  • Building Hardware
  • Photoelectricity and Electron Optics
  • Electronic Devices
DEF

A solid-state photosensitive electron device in which use is made of the variation of the current-voltage characteristic as a function of incident radiation.

OBS

Mention of the qualifier "solid-state" in this definition implies that phototubes are excluded from it. The Modern Dictionary of Electronic (Rudolf F. Graf, 5th ed. 1977) states that "the term should not be used for a phototube, which is a vacuum tube and not a cell". However, these terms are, in fact, often used in a more general sense to designate all types of light-sensitive electronic devices. This record deals with the terms in their more restricted sense.

Key term(s)
  • light sensitive cell

French

Domaine(s)
  • Dispositifs de sécurité
  • Quincaillerie du bâtiment
  • Photo-électricité et optique électronique
  • Dispositifs électroniques
DEF

Cellule photo-électrique servant à la commande de dispositifs automatiques (ouverture d'une porte, par exemple).

OBS

photoélectrique : Cette graphie, puisée des Rectifications de l'orthographe recommandées par le Conseil supérieur de la langue française, est attestée dans le Petit Robert (2004).

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Dispositivos de seguridad
  • Artículos de ferretería para la construcción
  • Fotoelectricidad y óptica electrónica
  • Dispositivos electrónicos
Save record 1

Record 2 2017-05-12

English

Subject field(s)
  • Vacuum Tubes (Electronics)
DEF

A vacuum tube whose electron-beam indicates visually the comparative magnitude of a direct or alternating voltage.

CONT

Used for tuning and balancing circuits, electric eyes are perhaps best known for their formerly frequent employment as devices for facilitating tuning in radio receivers.

Key term(s)
  • electron-ray indicator

French

Domaine(s)
  • Tubes et lampes (Électronique)
DEF

Tube à vide dont le faisceau électronique indique visuellement l'amplitude relative d'une tension continue ou alternative.

Spanish

Save record 2

Record 3 2017-04-27

English

Subject field(s)
  • Photography
DEF

Exposure meter built into a camera which determines or controls the lens aperture to provide proper exposure.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Photographie
DEF

Posemètre incorporé dans l'appareil photographique et qui détermine ou modifie l'ouverture de diaphragme afin d'obtenir l'exposition correcte.

Spanish

Save record 3

Record 4 2011-05-31

English

Subject field(s)
  • Vacuum Tubes (Electronics)
  • Photoelectricity and Electron Optics
DEF

An electronic tube whose photocathode emits electrons by the external photoelectric effect.

OBS

The terms photoelectric cell and photocell are popularly used to designate what, in fact, are phototubes. This is to be discouraged, since, in some contexts, a phototube may be considered as but one type of photoelectric cell, while, in others, phototubes are entirely excluded from the concept of photoelectric cells.

OBS

electric eye: This term is probably more often used as a synonym of a more general concept of photoelectric cell (including photoconductive devices). It is a popular and imprecise term, and using it with reference to phototubes would therefore seem inadvisable. Moreover, it may also designate another, unrelated, type of device (also called a magic eye) formerly used for tuning radio receivers.

Key term(s)
  • photo-electric tube
  • photo-emissive cell

French

Domaine(s)
  • Tubes et lampes (Électronique)
  • Photo-électricité et optique électronique
DEF

Tube électronique, à vide ou à gaz, comportant une photocathode capable d'émettre des électrons par effet photoélectrique externe.

OBS

Le terme cellule photoélectrique est souvent, dans le langage courant, employé comme synonyme de cellule photoémissive, ou phototube. En fait, dans certains contextes, les phototubes ne constituent qu'une catégorie de cellules photoélectriques, alors que dans d'autres, ils en sont carrément exclus.

OBS

photoélectrique : Cette graphie, puisée des Rectifications de l'orthographe recommandées par le Conseil supérieur de la langue française, est attestée dans le Petit Robert (2004).

Key term(s)
  • tube photo-électrique

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Tubos de vacío (Electrónica)
  • Fotoelectricidad y óptica electrónica
Save record 4

Record 5 2006-02-09

English

Subject field(s)
  • Photoelectricity and Electron Optics
  • Analytical Chemistry
CONT

There are several different types of photoelectric cells. In some [i.e., phototubes] there is a light-sensitive surface [a photocathode] which emits electrons and a second electrode, usually maintained at a fairly high positive potential, which collects the electrons ... A second type is the photovoltaic or barrier layer photocell in which incident light produces an emf between two terminals ... Solar cells, widely used to provide energy for satellites and space vehicles, are photovoltaic cells converting radiant energy into electrical energy. A familiar form uses a very perfect silicon crystal which is treated with trace impurities to introduce extra positive charges on one side of a thin wafer and extra negative charges on the other side ... Radiant energy disturbs the electrical balance of the charges and thereby induces an emf which continues as long as light strikes the crystal ... A third type of photoelectric cell [photoconductive, or photoresistive cell] utilizes the photoconductivity effect.

OBS

The term photoelectric cell, or photocell, should not be used for a phototube, which is a vacuum tube and not a cell.

OBS

electric eye: The layman's term for a photoelectric cell. Also used to designate an unrelated type of electronic device (a magic eye) used for tuning radio receivers.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Photo-électricité et optique électronique
  • Chimie analytique
OBS

Dans le Dictionnaire de Physique (J.P. Mathieu, 1983), on décrit trois catégories de cellules photoélectriques, soit : 1) les cellules photoémissives (syn. : phototubes - qui ne font pas appel aux matériaux semiconducteurs); 2) les cellules photovoltaïques; 3) les cellules photoconductrices (ou photorésistantes), ces deux dernières catégories nécessitant l'emploi de semiconducteurs. Dans l'Encyclopédie internationale des sciences et des techniques on utilise le terme dans ce même sens général. Par contre, dans le Dictionnaire mémento d'électronique, Dunot, éd. Paris 1969, page 59, on exclut les phototubes. On retrouve donc, en français, la même diversité de sens des termes qu'en anglais. Cette fiche traite de ces termes dans leur sens le plus large.

OBS

photoélectrique : Cette graphie, puisée des Rectifications de l'orthographe recommandées par le Conseil supérieur de la langue française, est attestée dans le Petit Robert (2004).

PHR

Selenium photocell.

Key term(s)
  • photo-cellule
  • récepteur photo-électrique

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Fotoelectricidad y óptica electrónica
  • Química analítica
Save record 5

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