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.
Aliases (1)
- Photophone ×48
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 NERFINISHED → |
| patentFiledIn |
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)
| Subject (surface form when different) | Predicate |
|---|---|
|
Alexander Graham Bell
→
|
invented |
|
Alexander Graham Bell
→
|
notableInvention |