File:Carborundum crystal detector.png
Summary
A carborundum <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/crystal_detector" class="extiw" title="wikipedia:crystal detector">crystal detector</a>, an antique radio component used in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/crystal_radio" class="extiw" title="wikipedia:crystal radio">crystal radio receivers</a> from about 1906 to 1930. It consists of a crystalline pebble of carborundum (silicon carbide) held in a metal cup, with a metal contact pressed against its surface by the thumbscrew (center). It was a crude <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/semiconductor_diode" class="extiw" title="wikipedia:semiconductor diode">semiconductor diode</a>, conducting electric current in one direction but not in the opposite direction. In a radio receiver its function was to rectify the radio signal, extracting the audio (sound) signal from the radio frequency carrier signal. Because of the heavier construction of carborundum detectors, which didn't require a delicate "cat's whisker" contact like other crystal detectors, they were used in shipboard and military radio receivers where vibration could be expected.
Licensing
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File history
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| Date/Time | Thumbnail | Dimensions | User | Comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| current | 09:30, 13 January 2017 | | 1,212 × 708 (93 KB) | 127.0.0.1 (talk) | A carborundum <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/crystal_detector" class="extiw" title="wikipedia:crystal detector">crystal detector</a>, an antique radio component used in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/crystal_radio" class="extiw" title="wikipedia:crystal radio">crystal radio receivers</a> from about 1906 to 1930. It consists of a crystalline pebble of carborundum (silicon carbide) held in a metal cup, with a metal contact pressed against its surface by the thumbscrew <i>(center)</i>. It was a crude <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/semiconductor_diode" class="extiw" title="wikipedia:semiconductor diode">semiconductor diode</a>, conducting electric current in one direction but not in the opposite direction. In a radio receiver its function was to rectify the radio signal, extracting the audio (sound) signal from the radio frequency carrier signal. Because of the heavier construction of carborundum detectors, which didn't require a delicate "cat's whisker" contact like other crystal detectors, they were used in shipboard and military radio receivers where vibration could be expected. |
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