Svenson's
Portrait of Nikola Tesla

Nikola Tesla’s US Patents

The complete collection: 112 patent documents, plus the FBI files.

Serbian-American inventor, electrical engineer and scientist. Born July 10, 1856 in Smiljan, Lika (Austria-Hungary); died January 7, 1943 in New York City.

Nikola Tesla is considered the inventor of commercial electricity and radio. His patents and theoretical work formed the basis of modern alternating current (AC) power systems, including the polyphase system of electrical distribution and the AC motor. He also patented the wireless communication we know today as radio, and his resonance theories made radio possible.

Inventions include: the telephone repeater, rotating magnetic field principle, polyphase alternating-current system, induction motor, alternating-current power transmission, Tesla coil transformer, wireless communication, radio and fluorescent lights.

U.S. Patent Office records were searched for utility, design, reissued and trademark patent types. Tesla recorded 111 utility patents, 1 reissued patent, 2 utility patent corrections and 1 utility patent disclaimer. The FBI files on Tesla were released through the Freedom of Information Act.

All patents

  1. FBI File 1 FBI File one on Nikola Tesla released through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
  2. FBI File 2 FBI File two on Nikola Tesla released through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
  3. 11,865 Method of Insulating Electric Conductors October, 23 1900
  4. 334,823 Commutator for Dynamo Electric Machines January, 26 1886
  5. 335,786 Electric Arc Lamp February, 9 1886
  6. 335,787 Electric Arc Lamp February, 9 1886
  7. 336,961 Regulator for Dynamo Electric Machines March, 2 1886
  8. 336,962 Regulator for Dynamo Electric Machines March, 2 1886
  9. 350,954 Regulator for Dynamo Elecric Machines October, 19 1886
  10. 359,748 Dynamo Electric Machine March, 22 1887
  11. 381,968 Electro Magnetic Motor May, 1 1888
  12. 381,969 Electro Magnetic Motor May, 1 1888
  13. 381,970 System of Electrical Distribution May, 1 1888
  14. 382,279 Electro Magnetic Motor May, 1 1888
  15. 382,280 Electrical Transmission of Power May, 1 1888
  16. 382,281 Electrical Transmission of Power May, 1 1888
  17. 382,282 Method of Converting and Distributing Electric Currents May, 1 1888
  18. 382,845 Commutator for Dynamo Electric Machines May, 15 1888
  19. 390,413 System of Electrical Distribution October, 2 1888
  20. 390,414 Dynamo Electric Machine October, 2 1888
  21. 390,415 Dynamo Electric Machine or Motor October, 2 1888
  22. 390,721 Dynamo Electric Machine October, 9 1888
  23. 390,820 Regulator for Alternate Current Motors October, 9 1888
  24. 396,121 Thermo Magnetic Motor January, 15 1889
  25. 401,520 Method of Operating Electro Magnetic Motors April, 16 1889
  26. 405,858 Electro Magnetic Motor June, 25 1889
  27. 405,859 Method of Electrical Power Transmission June, 25 1889
  28. 406,968 Dynamo Electric Machine July, 16 1889
  29. 413,353 Method of Obtaining Direct from Alternating Currents October, 22 1889
  30. 416,191 Electro Magnetic Motor December, 3 1889
  31. 416,192 Method of Operating Electro Magnetic Motors December, 3 1889
  32. 416,193 Electro Magnetic Motor December, 3 1889
  33. 416,194 Electric Motor December, 3 1889
  34. 416,195 Electro Magnetic Motor December, 3 1889
  35. 417,794 Armature for Electric Machines (A. Schmid & N. Tesla) December, 24 1889
  36. 418,248 Electro Magnetic Motor December, 31 1889
  37. 424,036 Electro Magnetic Motor March, 25 1890
  38. 428,057 Pyromagneto Electric Generator May, 13 1890
  39. 433,700 Alternating Current Electro Magnetic Motor August, 5 1890
  40. 433,701 Alternating Current Motor August, 5 1890
  41. 433,702 Electrical Transformer or Induction Device August, 5 1890
  42. 433,703 Electro Magnetic Motor August, 5 1890
  43. 445,207 Electro Magnetic Motor January, 27 1891
  44. 447,920 Method of Operating Arc Lamps March, 10 1891
  45. 447,921 Alternating Electric Current Generator March, 10 1891
  46. 454,622 System of Electric Lighting June, 23 1891
  47. 455,067 Electro Magnetic Motor June, 30 1891
  48. 455,068 Electrical Meter June, 30 1891
  49. 455,069 Electric Incandescent Lamp June, 30 1891
  50. 459,772 Electro Magnetic Motor September, 22 1891
  51. 462,418 Method of and Apparatus for Electrical Conversion and Distribution November, 3 1891
  52. 464,666 Electro Magnetic Motor December, 8 1891
  53. 464,667 Electrical Condenser December, 8 1891
  54. 487,796 System of Electrical Transmission of Power December, 13 1892
  55. 511,559 Electrical Transmission of Power December, 26 1893
  56. 511,560 System of Electrical Power Transmission December, 26 1893
  57. 511,915 Electrical Transmission of Power January, 2 1894
  58. 511,916 Electric Generator January, 2 1894
  59. 512,340 Coil for Electro Magnets January, 9 1894
  60. 514,167 Electrical Conductor February, 6 1894
  61. 514,168 Means for Generating Electric Currents February, 6 1894
  62. 514,169 Reciprocating Engine February, 6 1894
  63. 514,170 Incandescent Electric Light February, 6 1894
  64. 514,972 Electric Railway System February, 20 1894
  65. 514,973 Electrical Meter February, 20 1894
  66. 517,900 Steam Engine April, 10 1894
  67. 524,426 Electromagnetic Motor August, 14 1894
  68. 555,190 Alternating Motor February, 25 1896
  69. 567,818 Electrical Condenser September, 15 1896
  70. 568,176 Apparatus for Producing Electric Currents of High Frequency and Potential September, 22 1896
  71. 568,177 Apparatus for Producing Ozone September, 22 1896
  72. 568,178 Method of Regulating Apparatus for Producing Currents of High Frequency September, 22 1896
  73. 568,179 Method of and Apparatus for Producing Currents of High Frequency September, 22 1896
  74. 568,180 Apparatus for Producing Electrical Currents of High Frequency September, 22 1896
  75. 577,670 Apparatus for Producing Electric Currents of High Frequency February, 23 1897
  76. 577,671 Manufacture of Electrical Condensers, Coils February, 23 1897
  77. 583,953 Apparatus for Producing Currents of High Frequency June, 8 1897
  78. 593,138 Electrical Transformer November, 2 1897
  79. 609,245 Electrical Circuit Controller August, 16 1898
  80. 609,246 Electric Circuit Controller August, 16 1898
  81. 609,247 Electric Circuit Controller August, 16 1898
  82. 609,248 Electric Circuit Controller August, 16 1898
  83. 609,249 Electric Circuit Controller August, 16 1898
  84. 609,250 Electrical Igniter for Gas Engines August, 16 1898
  85. 609,251 Electric Circuit Controller August, 16 1898
  86. 611,719 Electrical Circuit Controller October, 4 1898
  87. 613,735 Electric Circuit Controller November, 8 1898
  88. 613,809 Method of and Apparatus for Controlling Mechansim of Moving Vessels or Vehicles November, 8 1898
  89. 645,576 System of Transmission of Electrical Energy March, 20 1900
  90. 649,621 Apparatus for Transmission of Electrical Energy May, 15 1900
  91. 655,838 Method of Insulating Electric Conductors August, 14 1900
  92. 685,012 Means for Increasing the Intensity of Electrical Oscillations October, 22 1901
  93. 685,953 Method of Intensifying and Utilizing Effects Transmitted Through Natural Media November, 5 1901
  94. 685,954 Method of Utilizing Effects Transmitted Through Natural Media November, 5 1901
  95. 685,955 Apparatus for Utilizing Effects Transmitted From a Distance to a Receiving Device Through Natural Media November, 5 1901
  96. 685,956 Apparatus for Utilizing Effects Transmitted Through Natural Media November, 5 1901
  97. 685,957 Apparatus for the Utilization of Radiant Energy November, 5 1901
  98. 685,958 Method of Utilizing Radiant Energy November, 5 1901
  99. 723,188 Method of Signaling March, 17 1903
  100. 725,605 System of Signaling April, 14 1903
  101. 787,412 Art of Transmitting Electrical Energy Through the Natural Mediums April, 18 1905
  102. 1,061,142 Fluid Propulsion April, 29 1913
  103. 1,061,206 Turbine May, 6 1913
  104. 1,113,716 Fountain October, 13 1914
  105. 1,119,732 Apparatus for Transmitting Electrical Energy December, 1 1914
  106. 1,209,359 Speed Indicator December, 19 1916
  107. 1,266,175 Lightning Protector May, 14 1918
  108. 1,274,816 Speed Indicator August, 6 1918
  109. 1,314,718 Ship's Log September, 2 1919
  110. 1,329,559 Valvular Conduit February, 3 1920
  111. 1,365,547 Flow Meter January, 11 1921
  112. 1,402,025 Frequency Meter January, 3 1922
  113. 1,655,113 Method of Aerial Transportation January, 3 1928
  114. 1,655,114 Apparatus for Aerial Transportation January, 3 1928