tickler coil
Noun: A tickler coil is a small electrical coil connected in series with the anode (plate) of a vacuum tube. Its key function is to provide feedback by being inductively coupled to the tube's grid circuit, which is essential for generating oscillations in certain types of electronic circuits, such as regenerative radio receivers.
The term is used specifically in the context of early to mid-20th century electronics, particularly in radio technology and vacuum tube circuit design. It describes a specific component whose purpose is to feed a portion of the output signal back into the input to sustain oscillation.
- The tickler coil in the regenerative receiver circuit is carefully positioned to control the amount of feedback.
- Adjusting the coupling between the tickler coil and the grid coil is critical for optimizing the receiver's sensitivity and selectivity.
- A malfunctioning tickler coil can prevent the oscillator from starting or cause unstable operation.
- Regenerative Feedback: The tickler coil is the core component that enables in a vacuum tube circuit. By feeding energy from the plate circuit back to the grid circuit in the correct phase, it amplifies the signal repeatedly, allowing for very high gain and the generation of continuous oscillations.
- Feedback Coil: A more general term that can be synonymous with a tickler coil in this specific application.
- Regenerative Receiver: The type of radio receiver circuit that typically employs a tickler coil.
- Inductive Coupling: The method by which the tickler coil transfers energy to the grid circuit.
- Feedback coil (in the context of vacuum tube oscillators)
This term is highly technical and historical. Its use is almost entirely confined to the field of electronics, specifically describing a component in obsolete vacuum tube technology. It is not used in modern solid-state (transistor-based) electronics, where feedback is achieved through different means.
- a small coil in series with the anode of a vacuum tube and coupled to the grid to provide feedback