The thing (listening device)
Das Ding (English The Thing ) is the name of a Soviet listening device that was hidden in a carving of the American coat of arms . The carving was handed over to the then US ambassador to the Soviet Union in 1945 and hung in his residence until it was discovered in 1952.
The thing mainly consisted of a vibrating membrane and an antenna . The thing did not need its own energy source , but modulated a signal emitted from outside , if this had the right frequency . The working principle is thus comparable to that of a high-frequency condenser microphone . It was developed by Leon Theremin (Lew Termen), who also invented the first electronic instrument ready for series production, the Theremin .
Web links
Commons : Das Ding - collection of pictures, videos and audio files
