File:Perikon crystal detector 1912.jpg

English: A "Perikon" crystal detector, an antique electronic component used in crystal radio receivers around the first decades of the 20th century. Invented by American engineer G. W. Pickard and manufactured by his firm Wireless Specialty Apparatus Co., the "Perikon" detector, which stood for "PERfect pIcKard cONtact", was a variant of a cat's whisker detector; instead of using a contact between a crystal and a wire, it used a contact between two crystals. The crystals consisted of a piece of bornite (Cu₅FeS₄) mounted in the adjustable holder (right), and 6 pieces of zincite (zinc oxide, ZnO) mounted on the round carousel (left). The bornite crystal was moved forward until it just touched one of the zincite crystals, and the setscrew was tightened. This created a crude semiconductor diode, which rectified the radio signal in the receiver, extracting the audio modulation (sound) signal from the radio frequency carrier wave. Multiple zincite crystals were provided because the zincite was vulnerable to damage from excess current surges from the antenna due to atmospheric electricity. This type of detector was widely used in commercial and military wireless stations.