Nikola Tesla Patents
414 Sub a Another method, which was novel with me and was developed some years ago, is free from all these disadvantages, and has proven itself, in my hands and in those of others, to In be the most useful and practicable one so far proposed. this system the potential of a point or region of the earth is varied by imparting to it intermittent or alternating electrifications through one of the terminals of a suitable source of electrical disturbances, which, to heighten the effect, has its other terminal connected to an insulated body, preferably of large surface and at an elevation. The electrifications communicated to the earth spread in all directions through the same, reaching a distant circuit, which generally has its terminals arranged and connected similarly to those of the transmitting source and operates upon a highly sensitive receiver. This method is incomparably superior to those before mentioned. in many features, as, for example, in cheapness, simplicity, economy and practicability. By means of it relatively very great differences of potential are obtainable at the terminals. of the receiving circuit or device, which permits the operation of the latter at much greater distances, all the more so, as it is both theoretically and practically demonstrated that the intensity of the impulses transmitted diminishes very slowly with the distance. It is an incidental advantage, which is often of no amall practical importance, that, with the observance of obvious rules and precautions, the relative position of the receiving and transmitting circuits or devices is of little or no con sequence. It is useful to point out the fact, however, that in many instances when receiving devices have been operated at a distance, the results have been arroneously ascribed to other modes of transmission while, in reality, this one was involved. 4
