Nikola Tesla Patents
418 the storage or the application of this energy by means of a sensitive device acted upon by the effects or disturbances, and thereby cause the operation of the receiver. In the practical application of this method I usually proceed as follows: At any point where I desire to investigate or to utilize for any purpose, effects or disturbances propagated through the natural media from any kind of source, I provide a suitable generator of electricity, as for example a battery, and a condenser, which I connect to the poles of the generator in series with a sensitive device capable of being modified in its electrical resistance or other property by the action of the disturbances emitted from the source. To the terminals of the condenser I connect the receiver which is to be operated, in series with another device of suitable construction which performs the function of periodically discharging the condenser through the receiver at, and during such intervals of time as may be best suitable for the purpose contemplated. This latter device may merely consist of two stationary electrodes separated by a feeble dielectric layer of minute thickness, but sufficient to greatly reduce or practically interrupt the current in the circuit under normal conditions, or it may comprise terminals, one or more of which are movable and actuated by any suitable force, and are adapted to be brought into, and out of contact with each other in any convenient manner. The sensitive device may be any of the many devices of this kind which are known to be affected by the disturbances, impulses or effects propagated through the media, and it may be of such a character that normally, that is when not acted upon, it entirely prevents the passage of electricity from the generator to the condenser, or it may be such. 8 This page retyped from microfilm for better readability - Ed.]
