crystal detector

American  

noun

Radio.

1. a device for rectifying a modulated radio-frequency signal, consisting of a crystal of germanium, silicon, galena, or the like with a cat whisker contact, permitting a high-frequency current to pass freely in one direction only: one of the two principal components of a crystal set.

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crystal detector British  

noun

1. electronics a demodulator, used esp in microwave circuits and in early radio receivers, consisting of a thin metal wire in point contact with a semiconductor crystal

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Etymology

Origin of crystal detector

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

crystal detector

But hidden in Becky's suitcase was a sophisticated sodium iodide crystal detector to sniff minute amounts of gamma radiation from as far away as another room.

From Time Magazine Archive

A crystal detector can be used with or without a battery while the vacuum tube detector requires two small batteries.

From The Radio Amateur's Hand Book by Collins, A. Frederick (Archie Frederick)

Whatever voltage there may be across the condenser of this circuit is applied to the crystal detector.

From Letters of a Radio-Engineer to His Son by Mills, John

Our crystal detector produces the same results so far as giving us a steady component of current to send through a telephone receiver.

From Letters of a Radio-Engineer to His Son by Mills, John

The crystal detector gives us much the same sort of a current as does the vacuum tube detector of Fig.

From Letters of a Radio-Engineer to His Son by Mills, John