Greenleaf Whittier Pickard (February 14, 1877, Portland, Maine - January 8, 1956, Newton, Massachusetts) was a United States radio pioneer. Pickard was a researcher in the early days of wireless. He experimented with crystal detectors, antennas, wave propagation, and noise suppression. Crystal detectors are used in crystal radio receivers and loop antennas used with many types of receivers. On August 30, 1906 he filed a patent for a silicon crystal detector, which was granted on November 20, 1906. Pickard's detector was revolutionary in that he found that a fine pointed wire known as a "cat's whisker," in delicate contact with a mineral produced the best semiconductor effect. On June 10, 1907, he filed a patent for a Magnetic Aerial (a loop aerial) which was granted on January 21, 1908. Pickard's loop antenna was revolutionary in that he found that it had directional properties that could be used to reduce interference to the intended wireless communications. Greenleaf Whittier Pickard was named after his great-uncle, the American Quaker John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892). Pickard was president of the Institute of Radio Engineers in 1913.
Read more about Greenleaf Whittier Pickard: Patents
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