photophone
E44558
The photophone was an early communication device that transmitted sound on a beam of light, serving as a precursor to modern fiber-optic technology.
All labels observed (1)
| Label | Occurrences |
|---|---|
| photophone canonical | 2 |
Statements (48)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
invention
ⓘ
optical communication device ⓘ telecommunications device ⓘ |
| alsoKnownAs | radiophone using light (historical description) ⓘ |
| category | historical communication technology ⓘ |
| communicationPrinciple | modulation of light intensity by sound ⓘ |
| demonstratedBy | Alexander Graham Bell ⓘ |
| demonstrationLocation | Washington, D.C. ⓘ |
| demonstrationYear | 1880 ⓘ |
| era | late 19th century ⓘ |
| field |
electrical engineering
ⓘ
optics ⓘ telecommunications ⓘ |
| historicalSignificance |
early example of optical wireless communication
ⓘ
first device to achieve wireless voice communication via light ⓘ |
| inspired | later optical communication research ⓘ |
| inventedBy |
Alexander Graham Bell
ⓘ
Charles Sumner Tainter ⓘ |
| inventionYear | 1880 ⓘ |
| inventorAffiliation |
Bell Telephone Company
ⓘ
Volta Laboratory ⓘ |
| limitation |
requirement for line-of-sight
ⓘ
sensitivity to atmospheric disturbances ⓘ sensitivity to weather conditions ⓘ |
| modulatorType |
thin reflective diaphragm
ⓘ
vibrating mirror ⓘ |
| operatingRange | several hundred meters ⓘ |
| outputConversion |
electrical signal to sound
ⓘ
light to electrical signal ⓘ |
| patentFiledBy |
Alexander Graham Bell
ⓘ
Charles Sumner Tainter ⓘ |
| patentFiledIn |
United States of America
ⓘ
surface form:
United States
|
| patentFiledYear | 1880 ⓘ |
| powerSource |
artificial light
ⓘ
sunlight ⓘ |
| precursorTo |
fiber-optic communication
ⓘ
optical telecommunication systems ⓘ |
| receiverMaterial | selenium ⓘ |
| receiverType |
photoelectric cell
ⓘ
selenium cell ⓘ |
| relatedTo |
fiber-optic cable
ⓘ
free-space optical communication ⓘ telephone ⓘ |
| signalCarrier | visible light ⓘ |
| transmissionType | wireless ⓘ |
| transmits |
sound
ⓘ
voice ⓘ |
| usesMedium | light beam ⓘ |
Referenced by (2)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.
subject surface form:
Alexander Graham Bell