Inventions and Patents
My work as an inventor began in the early 1880s, especially during my time at the Central Telegraph Office in Budapest from 1881 to 1882. During that period, I did not consider patenting my inventions. It was not until March 30, 1884, after leaving Edison’s company and founding my own firm, Tesla Electric Light & Manufacturing, that I filed my first patent application. This patent was for an electric arc lamp.
Over the next 43 years, until 1928, I patented a significant number of my innovations. My first U.S. patent, numbered US 334,823, was for a commutator for dynamo-electric machines, while my last patent, numbered US 1,655,114, was for an apparatus for aerial transportation. In total, I registered 112 patents in the United States.
The total number of my patents in other countries has not yet been fully determined. So far, 199 patents have been identified from 26 different countries. I registered the most patents in France (30), followed by the United Kingdom (29), Belgium (27), Germany (21), Italy (19), and Austria (16). In other countries, the number of patents ranges from one to seven. In total, at least 311 of my patents are recorded across more than 27 countries on five continents.
Many of these patents cover the same inventions since patents are issued individually for each country. Such collections of patents for a single invention are known as patent families, with the first filed patent being called the base patent.
It has been determined that I received 116 base patents for my inventions, including 109 U.S. patents and seven British patents. These protected a total of 125 distinct innovations, while the remaining 195 patents represented analogs of these base patents in other countries.
My most frequently patented inventions were pumps and turbines, for which I filed 23 patents in 22 countries. However, 54 of my U.S. patents had no corresponding analogs in other countries. The year I filed the most patent applications was 1889, during which I registered 37 patents, mostly related to the polyphase system.
The archives of the Nikola Tesla Museum in Belgrade contain records of 33 U.S. patent applications that did not result in issued patents, as well as other applications I prepared but never submitted. Additionally, I created numerous inventions that I never considered patenting, such as the application of high-frequency currents in medicine.
I believe that my patents serve as a testament to my dedication to science and technology, as well as my vision of using technology for the benefit of humanity. While I did not patent all my ideas, my mission was always aimed at the greater good rather than legal protection or personal gain.
My Inventions Categorized:
Inventions and Patents Related to Alternating Currents
I submitted my first request to the U.S. Patent Office on May 6, 1885, for a “Commutator for Dynamo-Electric Machines.” My most significant contributions in this area included polyphase motors, generators, transformers, and systems for transmitting electric power over long distances. These inventions were patented during 1887.
Fluorescent Lamps, the Rotating Magnetic Field Principle, and the Induction Motor
At the Chicago World’s Fair, a historic event, I showcased my alternating current system in collaboration with Westinghouse Electric. Together, we illuminated the entire fair. Visitors were amazed by demonstrations of fluorescent lamps, the rotating magnetic field principle, and the induction motor. My demonstration of the “Egg of Columbus” left a lasting impression.
X-rays
In 1887, I began working on X-rays, using a vacuum tube for research. One of my earliest experiments included photographing my hand. Although I presented these discoveries in 1892, I never patented them, as my laboratory materials were destroyed in a fire. Three years later, Roentgen published his discovery.
High-Frequency Alternating Currents
Between 1893 and 1895, I explored high-frequency alternating currents, achieving voltages of up to one million volts with my coil. I studied the surface effect of high frequencies, synchronization of electrical circuits, gas-discharge lamps glowing without wires, and wireless transmission of energy. In 1893, in St. Louis, I demonstrated wireless energy transfer, laying the groundwork for radio communication.
Radio and Wireless Energy Transmission
In 1897, I filed my first patent in the field of radio. A year later, I presented a radio-controlled boat to the U.S. military. In 1898, I demonstrated this device at Madison Square Garden. This innovation was a pioneering step in robotics and remote control technology.
Experiments in Colorado Springs
In 1899, I moved to Colorado Springs to study atmospheric electricity and generated artificial lightning up to several meters long with my coil. I proved that the Earth is a conductor and studied the ionosphere and standing waves, leaving a significant legacy in electrical engineering.
Wireless Energy Transmission
My experiences in Colorado Springs enabled me to begin constructing a facility for wireless energy transmission. Although this project was not completed, it inspired future innovations in energy.
The complete list of my patents is available here: list of patents