Mechanical television (also called televisor) was a television system that used mechanical or electromechanical devices to capture and display images. However, the images themselves were usually transmitted electronically and via radio waves. The reason for this dual nature of mechanical television lies in the history of technology. Mechanical television mechanics came from nineteenth century inventors. Twentieth century inventors added electroni...
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Mechanical television (also called televisor) was a television system that used mechanical or electromechanical devices to capture and display images. However, the images themselves were usually transmitted electronically and via radio waves. The reason for this dual nature of mechanical television lies in the history of technology. Mechanical television mechanics came from nineteenth century inventors. Twentieth century inventors added electronics. Mechanical systems were used in television broadcasting from 1928 to 1939, overlapping the all-electronic era by three years.
The mechanical part usually consists of a Nipkow disk, which has a series of holes in a spiral pattern. In the camera, the disk has a light-detecting device, usually a photoelectric cell, behind it. In the reproducer (the display), a modulated light source, usually a neon tube, replaces the light detector. As each hole flies by, it produces a scan line. An AM radio wave or closed circuit carries the scan line to the...
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