vacuum tubes
Heated cathode devices
Vacuum tubes are sealed glass cylinders containing electrodes in a near-vacuum, used to control electrical current.
They amplified signals in early radios, televisions, and computers before transistors replaced them in most applications.
Audiophiles and guitarists still prize vacuum tube amplifiers for their warm, rich sound: My amp uses vintage vacuum tubes.
Three-element electron tube
- pentodeFive-electrode vacuum tube
- tetrodeFour-electrode vacuum tube
- diodeOne-way semiconductor
- cathodeElectrode current exits through
anode · filament · grid · plate · electron flow · amplification · biasing · impedance
Signal-emitting device
- receiverOne who accepts transmission
- shortwaveHigh-frequency radio band
- ham radioLicensed hobbyist broadcasting
- amplitude modulationCarrier intensity conveys information
frequency modulation · tuning · crystal set · regenerative · detector · antenna · broadcast · waveform
First general-purpose electronic computer
- UNIVACEarly electronic mainframe
- mainframeLarge centralized computer system
- ColossusImmense statue or figure
- logic gatesBinary signal processors
binary · switches · memory · flip-flop · reliability · heat dissipation · punch cards
Vacuum tube display
- electron gunCharged particle beam source
- deflectionChange in trajectory
- scanningSystematic visual examination
- rasterGrid of pixels
color TV · kinescope · yoke · electron beam
Old valued collectible
- nostalgiaLonging for the past
- retroEvoking recent past
- collectibleObject worth amassing
- restorationReturning something to condition
preservation · NOS · RCA · Sylvania · GE · museum · heritage · classic
Quality audio equipment
- harmonicsFrequencies above the fundamental
- distortionTwisting from original state
- preampInitial signal booster
- toneQuality of sound
warm sound · fidelity · soundstage · overdrive · gain · Fender · guitar amp · headphone amp
triode
Three-element electron tube
cathode · anode · filament · grid · plate · electron flow · amplification · biasing · impedance · circuitry
transmitter
Signal-emitting device
- receiverOne who accepts transmission
- shortwaveHigh-frequency radio band
- ham radioLicensed hobbyist broadcasting
amplitude modulation · frequency modulation · tuning · crystal set · regenerative · detector · antenna · broadcast · waveform · demodulation
ENIAC
First general-purpose electronic computer
- UNIVACEarly electronic mainframe
- mainframeLarge centralized computer system
- ColossusImmense statue or figure
logic gates · binary · switches · memory · flip-flop · reliability · heat dissipation · punch cards
CRT
Vacuum tube display
- electron gunCharged particle beam source
- deflectionChange in trajectory
- scanningSystematic visual examination
raster · color TV · kinescope · yoke · electron beam
antique
Old valued collectible
- nostalgiaLonging for the past
- retroEvoking recent past
- collectibleObject worth amassing
restoration · preservation · NOS · RCA · Sylvania · GE · museum · heritage · classic
hi-fi
Quality audio equipment
- harmonicsFrequencies above the fundamental
- distortionTwisting from original state
- preampInitial signal booster
warm sound · tone · fidelity · soundstage · overdrive · gain · Fender · guitar amp · headphone amp · single-ended
- vintage computingFORTRAN, COBOL, BASIC, ENIAC, UNIVAC
- radioFM radio, crystal set, AM radio, radio station, radio broadcast
- analog technologyanalog clocks, analog clock, analog computers, film cameras, analog meter
- vintage collectiblesvintage signs, cash registers, pinball machines, vintage jewelry, gramophone
- vintage techvintage cameras, transistor radios, turntables, phonographs, typewriters
- Computing HistoryENIAC, UNIVAC, mainframe, mainframes, punch card
vacuum tubestransistors
Semiconductor switching devices
solid-state devices · semiconductors · integrated circuits · silicon chips · microchips
tube, vacuum, vacuuming, vacuums, vacuumed, vacuum tube, vacuum-packed