Nipkow disk

The Nipkow disk is an early technological component designed for television transmission. It is a spinning, perforated metal or glass disk that scans images by passing a series of tiny holes across a visual scene. As the disk spins, it breaks the image into horizontal lines, which are transmitted as electrical signals. On the receiving end, a similar disk recreates the image by illuminating a screen in synchronized motion. This method allowed the transmission of visual information before modern electronic scanners, laying foundational principles for early television technology.