Regenerative circuit

The regenerative circuit (or self-regenerative circuit) allows a signal to
be amplified many times by the same tube, and improved selectivity as well.
This is also referred to as the "heterodyne principle".

A Tesla coil is a high-voltage, air-core, self-regenerative resonant
transformer that generates very high voltages at high frequency, named after
its inventor Nikola Tesla. This coil is part of Tesla's wireless
transmission of electric power distribution system (US1119732 - Apparatus
for Transmitting Electrical Energy - 1902 January 18). In modified form,
this type of transformer, called a flyback transformer, provides the voltage
needed to power the cathode ray tube that makes (non-LCD) televisions and
monitors possible.

Regenerative circuits were also a great milestone in radio history. The
"inventor" of FM radio, Edwin Armstrong, patents a method of regenerative
circuits (invented while he was a junior in college, and patented 1914), the
Super-regenerative circuit (patented 1922), and the Super Heterodyne
receiver (patented 1918). Lee De Forest filed a patent in 1916 that became
the cause of a contentious lawsuit with the prolific inventor Armstrong,
whose patent for the regenerative circuit had been issued in 1914. The
lawsuit lasted twelve years, winding its way through the appeals process and
ending up at the Supreme Court. The Court ruled in favor of De Forest,
although the experts still disagree about whether the correct judgement had
been issued.

The secret to the regenerative radio was carefully controlled positive
feedback. This also allowed the receiver to oscillate, allowing CW (morse
code) to be heard as beeps. The regenerative receiver is theoretically as
sensitive as any radio can be, however, the adjustments are critical, and
must be continuously monitored during listening. If misadjusted the receiver
can transmit interference.

The regenerative radio made the most out of very few parts. When the parts
became easier to obtain, the superheterodyne receiver replaced it for all
serious work. The superheterodyne receiver is the most common receiver in use today.

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