Heisenberg compensator
Barclay and O'Brien scan the Heisenberg compensator
TheHeisenberg compensator was a component of thetransporter system. The compensator worked around the problems caused by the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, allowing the transportersensors to compensate for their inability to determine both the position and momentum of the target particles to the same degree of accuracy. This ensured thematter stream remained coherent during transport, and no data was lost.
A scan of the Heisenberg compensators, to ensure they were performing within the specified parameters, could be performed by raising the transporter pad. (TNG: "Realm Of Fear")
While trying to devise a way to transportholographic matter off theholodeck without it disintegrating instantly, the idea was put forth that decoupling the Heisenberg compensators might let the matter reform normally, although the suggestion was used as a stalling tactic againstProfessorJames Moriarty, and the idea had never actually been tried before. (TNG: "Ship In A Bottle")
In2371,ChiefMiles O'Brien ordered acrewman to check the Heisenberg compensators of theUSSDefiant. (DS9: "Past Tense, Part I")
In2384,Rok-Tahk used the Heisenberg compensators of the transporters on theInfinity to remodulate the shields and collapse the superimposed wave function to find the hidden planet in thespiral nebula. (PRO: "The Devourer of All Things, Part I")