avfase

Avfase is a term used in Scandinavian languages to describe a condition in which two periodic signals or waves are not in their peak positions at the same time. In English, the concept is commonly referred to as dephasing or being out of phase. The word combines the prefix av- (off, away) with fase (phase), signaling a phase difference between signals.

In electronics and signal processing, avfase denotes a measurable phase difference between two signals, often quantified in degrees or radians. For a sinusoidal signal of frequency f, a phase difference of φ radians corresponds to a time offset t = φ/(2πf). Avfase can occur naturally due to unequal path lengths, component tolerances, or differing propagation speeds, and it can be introduced intentionally by phase-shifting networks.

The presence of avfase affects how signals combine. When two waveforms with a phase difference interfere, the resulting amplitude can be reduced or amplified depending on the offset, which can alter frequency response and timing in systems such as audio channels, communication links, and sensor arrays. In multi-channel audio, misalignment between channels can cause comb filtering or reduced stereo imaging.

Correction and management of avfase involve aligning signal phases through delay adjustments, all-pass filters, or dedicated phase-correction circuits. In practice, engineers measure relative phase to achieve coherent summation or proper synchronization across components and channels.

See also: phase, phase shift, dephasing (in quantum mechanics), interference.