Bernard D. H. Tellegen
Encyclopedia
Bernard D.H. Tellegen was a Dutch
electrical engineer and inventor of the penthode and the gyrator
. He is also known for a theorem in circuit theory, Tellegen's theorem
.
He obtained a masters degree in electrical engineering
from Delft University in 1923, and joined the Philips Natuurkundig Laboratorium
(Philips Physics Laboratory) in Eindhoven. In 1926 he invented the penthode vacuum tube
. The gyrator
was invented by him around 1948. The gyrator is useful to simulate the effect of an inductor without using a coil. For example, it is used in hi-fi graphic equalizers. He held 41 US patents.
In the period 1946–1966 Tellegen was an adjunct professor of circuit theory at the University of Delft. From 1942 to 1952 he was president and honorary member of the Netherlands Electronics and Radio Society.
The Australian Institute of Radio Engineers appointed Tellegen an honorary life member in 1953. He was Fellow of the IEEE, and he won the IEEE Edison Medal
in 1973 "For a creative career of significant achievement in electrical circuit theory, including the gyrator
". Tellegen was elected a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences in 1960. In 1970 the University of Delft conferred on an doctor honoris causa degree.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
electrical engineer and inventor of the penthode and the gyrator
Gyrator
A gyrator is a passive, linear, lossless, two-port electrical network element proposed in 1948 by Tellegen as a hypothetical fifth linear element after the resistor, capacitor, inductor and ideal transformer. Unlike the four conventional elements, the gyrator is non-reciprocal...
. He is also known for a theorem in circuit theory, Tellegen's theorem
Tellegen's theorem
Tellegen's theorem is one of the most powerful theorems in network theory. Most of the energy distribution theorems and extremum principles in network theory can be derived from it. It was published in 1952 by Bernard Tellegen...
.
He obtained a masters degree in electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
from Delft University in 1923, and joined the Philips Natuurkundig Laboratorium
Philips Natuurkundig Laboratorium
The Philips Natuurkundig Laboratorium or NatLab was the Dutch section of the Philips research department, which did research for the product divisions of that company. Originally located in the Strijp district of Eindhoven, the facility moved to Waalre in the early 1960s...
(Philips Physics Laboratory) in Eindhoven. In 1926 he invented the penthode vacuum tube
Vacuum tube
In electronics, a vacuum tube, electron tube , or thermionic valve , reduced to simply "tube" or "valve" in everyday parlance, is a device that relies on the flow of electric current through a vacuum...
. The gyrator
Gyrator
A gyrator is a passive, linear, lossless, two-port electrical network element proposed in 1948 by Tellegen as a hypothetical fifth linear element after the resistor, capacitor, inductor and ideal transformer. Unlike the four conventional elements, the gyrator is non-reciprocal...
was invented by him around 1948. The gyrator is useful to simulate the effect of an inductor without using a coil. For example, it is used in hi-fi graphic equalizers. He held 41 US patents.
In the period 1946–1966 Tellegen was an adjunct professor of circuit theory at the University of Delft. From 1942 to 1952 he was president and honorary member of the Netherlands Electronics and Radio Society.
The Australian Institute of Radio Engineers appointed Tellegen an honorary life member in 1953. He was Fellow of the IEEE, and he won the IEEE Edison Medal
IEEE Edison Medal
The Edison Medal is presented by the IEEE "for a career of meritorious achievement in electrical science, electrical engineering or the electrical arts." It is the oldest and most coveted medal in this field of engineering in the United States. The award consists of a gold medal, bronze replica,...
in 1973 "For a creative career of significant achievement in electrical circuit theory, including the gyrator
Gyrator
A gyrator is a passive, linear, lossless, two-port electrical network element proposed in 1948 by Tellegen as a hypothetical fifth linear element after the resistor, capacitor, inductor and ideal transformer. Unlike the four conventional elements, the gyrator is non-reciprocal...
". Tellegen was elected a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences in 1960. In 1970 the University of Delft conferred on an doctor honoris causa degree.