Reporter's Statement of the Case

"I think that beyond doubt it is possible to operate electrical devices in a city through the ground or pipe system by resonance from an electrical oscillator located at a central point. But the practical solution of this problem would be of incomparably smaller benefit to man than the realization of the scheme of transmitting intelligence, or, perhaps, power, to any distance through the earth or environing medium. If this is at all possible, distance does not mean anything. Proper apparatus must first be produced by means of which the problem can be attacked, and I have devoted much thought to this subject. I am firmly convinced that it can be done, and hope that we shall live to see it done."

The article further shows that Tesla used a powerful alternating current.

The Crooks article in the "Fortnightly Review" of 1892, referred to the work of Hertz and Lodge with ether waves and prophesied the transmission of Morse code signals by having the sending and receiving apparatus tuned to a special wave length, but described no apparatus capable of carrying such a prophecy into effect, much less did this publication reveal the particular apparatus of the claim in suit.

The Popoff article did disclose a coherer grounded on one side and connected on the other side to an elevated insulated conductor for indicating thunderstorms. It failed to disclose a transmitting apparatus connected as called for by the claim in suit. This article stated

"In conclusion I can express the hope that my apparatus, with further improvements of the same, may be adapted to the transmission of signals at a distance by the aid of quick electric vibrations, as soon as the source of such vibrations, possessing sufficient energy, will be found."

The other publications likewise do not disclose the apparatus of the claim in suit.

XXVI. No prior patent or publication discloses the combination of the claim in suit.

The invention of the Marconi reissue patent made possible new results by permitting the use of the Morse code for signalling with Hertz waves, and permitted signalling with Hertz waves to greater distances than was previously possible.

Reporter's Statement of the Case

LODGE PATENT #609154

XXVII. With alternating currents of given frequency a circuit will carry its strongest current under a given pressure or voltage when there is a condition of resonance, or, in other words, when the natural period of the circuit corresponds with the frequency of the current. In the alternating current circuit its natural period depends on the value of its capacity and inductance, also called self-inductance. A helical coil of wire has principally inductance and an electric condenser has essentially capacity. Variation in the value of either the inductance or capacity changes the period of the circuit.

The Lodge patent relates to the provision of a self-inductance coil between a pair of capacity areas in an oscillating circuit of either or both a sending or receiving set for Hertzian wave telegraphy. Such a coil may be adjustable to vary the value of its self-inductance. The purpose of such coil is to attain a condition of resonance or syntony in the oscillating circuit whereby the oscillations will be prolonged and a feeble impulse is gradually strengthened by cumulative action until it causes a perceptible effect on the principle of sympathetic resonance.

In the figures of the patent drawings on pages 690 and 691, fig. 1 was said to show the art prior to Lodge without the use of any inductance coil in either the transmitting or receiving circuits. Fig. 2 is one illustration of an oscillating circuit embodying the invention and having the inductance coil h in series with the spark gap h2h3 and the condenser plates or capacity areas h and h1. Wires hs lead to the source of high-frequency oscillations. One of the capacity areas may be the earth.

Fig. 3 is similar to fig. 2 except that the gap h2h3 is optionally short-circuited by the bridge h and the wires h from the high-frequency source are connected through gaps h and h instead of directly connected so that the circuit through the capacity area and coil h may oscillate independently of the supply circuit hs. The detector circuit a includes a coherer e, battery f, and sounder g, all connected across the coil h. The bridge h' must short-circuit the gap

Reporter's Statement of the Case

h2h for the reception of messages when the transmitter is not in operation.

Fig. 4 is an arrangement like unto fig. 3 except that coil h* is in two parts, one on each side of the gap h2h3. Leyden jar capacitors j are placed in the supply circuit and an inductance k acts as a bypass, but does not prevent the formation of sparks at the gaps.

Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 illustrate different shapes for one or both the capacity areas.

The coil is adapted for adjustment in value of its inductance by cutting in or out some or many of the turns in figs. 9 and 10.

The receiver of fig. 12 is similar to that of fig. 2 with the addition of a resistance or capacity w placed in shunt with the sounder g. In fig. 13 the detector circuit is connected with the oscillating circuit through a transformer u in order to leave the oscillating circuit free to vibrate without disturbance from the attached wires.

Lodge contemplated varying either the inductance or capacity to attain syntony or resonance.

XXVIII. The claims in suit are numbers 1, 2, and 5 of the Lodge patent, which read as follows:

"1. In a system of Hertzian-wave telegraphy, the combination, with a pair of capacity areas, of a self-inductance coil inserted between them electrically for the purpose of prolonging any electrical oscillations excited in the system and constituting such a system a radiator of definite frequency or pitch.

"2. In a system of Hertzian-wave telegraphy, the combination, with a pair of capacity areas, of a self-inductance coil inserted between them electrically for the purpose of prolonging any electrical oscillations excited in the system, thus constituting the system a resonator or absorber of definite frequency or pitch, and a distant radiator of corresponding period capable of acting cumulatively.

"5. In a system of Hertzian-wave telegraphy, the combination, with a pair of capacity areas, of a variably acting self-inductance coil, serving to syntonize such a radiator or resonator to any other such resonator or radiator, whereby signalling may be effected between any two or more correspondingly attuned stations without disturbing other dif; ferently attuned stations."

Reporter's Statement of the Case

XXIX. The pair of capacity areas in fig. 2 includes metal plates h and h1, and one of these capacity areas may be the earth. The self-inductance coil h is inserted between the capacity areas for the purpose of prolonging any electrical oscillations excited in the system and constituting such a system a radiator of definite frequency or pitch. In other words, the value of the inductance coil between the capacity areas gives the circuit a definite effective period or pitch. Claim 1 is specific to a transmitter or apparatus in which the oscillating circuit constitutes a radiator.

The combination in claim 2 is similar to that in claim 1. except that the system constitutes an absorber or receiving station of definite frequency and also calls for a distant radiator or sending station of corresponding period.