EP0382373A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nonlinear noninverting transimpedance amplifier
Assignee: HP Inc
•
Filing: 1990-01-24
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2010-01-24
Abstract
Abstract A nonlinear noninverting amplifier design (22) for receiving and amplifying an input signal (20) in an optical communication scheme having a nonlinear inverting feedback (32) is disclosed. The inverting feedback (32) varies nonlinearly with the input signal (20) to avoid saturation of the amplifier (22) while providing a zero state input amplitude signal to reduce the amplitude of the input signal (20) required to turn-on the feedback (32), thus allowing the amplifier (22) to operate with a wide variation of optical generators, paths, and converters. A nonlinear noninverting amplifier design (22) is provided which eliminates the need for automatic gain control circuitry and can be designed as an integrated circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles E. Moore
- 👤 Robert A. Zimmer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:39
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03F; H03F1/00; H03F1/08; H03F3/00; H03F3/04; H03F3/08; H03F3/082; H03G; H03G3/00; H03G3/20; H03G3/30; H03G3/3084
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A nonlinear noninverting amplifier (22) for receiving and amplifying an input signal (20) and for producing an output signal (24) having a gain which is a function of the amplitude of said input signal (20) comprising: amplification means (30) having a predetermined forward noninverting gain for amplifying said input signal by said predetermined forward noninverting gain; input terminal means (20) for coupling to a positive input of said amplification means; output terminal means (24) for coupling to said amplification means at which a noninverted amplified output voltage appears; nonlinear inverting feedback means (32) connected between said input terminal means (20) and said output terminal means (24), for producing an inverting feedback signal (31) that varies as an inverted function of said input signal (20) to modify said gain of said nonlinear noninverting amplifier (22) to prevent saturation of said amplification means and provide a wide dynamic range of amplitudes of said input signals and, biasing means (34) for producing a predetermined amplitude feedback signal (31) whenever said input signal (20) has a substantially zero state amplitude so as to significantly reduce the amplitude of said input signal required to cause said nonlinear inverting feedback means (32) to turn-on.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
A nonlinear noninverting amplifier (22) for receiving and amplifying an input signal (20) and for producing an output signal (24) having a gain which is a function of the amplitude of said input signal (20) comprising: amplification means (30) having a predetermined forward noninverting gain for amplifying said input signal by said predetermined forward noninverting gain; input terminal means (20) for coupling to a positive input of said amplification means; output terminal means (24) for coupling to said amplification means at which a noninverted amplified output voltage appears; nonlinear inverting feedback means (32) connected between said input terminal means (20) and said output terminal means (24), for producing an inverting feedback signal (31) that varies as an inverted function of said input signal (20) to modify said gain of said nonlinear noninverting amplifier (22) to prevent saturation of said amplification means and provide a wide dynamic range of amplitudes of said input signals and, biasing means (34) for producing a predetermined amplitude feedback signal (31) whenever said input signal (20) has a substantially zero state amplitude so as to significantly reduce the amplitude of said input signal required to cause said nonlinear inverting feedback means (32) to turn-on.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
122 words
An amplifier according to claim 1 wherein said nonlinear inverting feedback means (32) comprises a plurality of transistors each having a gate (62,70), a source (64,72), and a drain (60,68) wherein all said gates (62,70) are connected together and connected to said output (24) of said amplification means (30); all said drains (60,68) are connected together and connected to said input (20) of said amplification means (30); and said source (64,72) of each of said transistors connected to one of a plurality of biases (66,74) and further comprising a current source (52,54,56,58) connected to said input (20) of said amplification means (30) to provide a bias current source for said transistors when said input signal (20) goes to a zero state amplitude.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
An amplifier according to claim 2 wherein said current source (52,54,56,58) is a transistor chosen to be of the complementary type to said plurality of transistors (60,62,64,68,70,72), having a drain (58) connected to the input (20) of said amplification means (30), a gate (56) connected to said gates (62,70) of said plurality of transistors, a source (54) connected to a bias (52).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
135 words
An amplifier according to claim 1 wherein said nonlinear inverting feedback means (32) comprises: a first transistor FET1 (68,70,72) having a source (72) connected to a first bias (74), a drain (68), and a gate (70); a second transistor FET2 (60,62,64) having a source (64) connected to a second bias (66), a drain (60), and a gate (62); a complementary transistor FET3 (54,56,58) having a source (54) connected to a third bias (52), a drain (58), and a gate (56); said input terminal (20) of said voltage amplification circuit (30) connected to said drain (68) of FET1 and connected to said drain (60) of FET2 and connected to said drain (58) of FET3; said output terminal (24) of said voltage amplification circuit (30) connected to said gates of FET1 (70), FET2 (62), and FET3 (56).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
An amplifier according to claim 4 wherein said first bias (74) has a different voltage of said second bias (66) and wherein, said second transistor (60,62,64) having a current carrying capability greater than said first transistor (68,70,72).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
85 words
An amplifier according to claim 1 where the nonlinear inverting feedback means (32) comprises a transistor (38,40,42) preselected to complement type of photodiode current, having a drain (36), a gate (38), and a source (40), wherein said drain is connected to a current source (34) and said drain (34) is connected to said input terminal means (20) of said amplification circuit (30), said gate (38) connected to output terminal means (24) of said amplification circuit (30), said source (40) connected to a predetermined bias (42).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
An amplifier according to claim 6 wherein the current source (34) is a second transistor (46,48,50), preselected to complement said transistor (36,38,40), having a drain (50), a gate (48), a source (46), wherein said second transistor gate (48) is connected to the output terminal means (24) of said amplification circuit (30), said second transistor drain (50) connected to said transistor drain (36), and said second transistor source (46) connected to a second predetermined bias (44).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
86 words
An amplifier according to any of claims 1 to 7 wherein said amplification means (30) comprises a first inverting amplifier (27) having an input and an output and a second inverting amplifier (29) having an input and an output, said output of said first inverting amplifier (27) connected to said input of said second inverting amplifier (29), said input of said first inverting amplifier (27) being said input terminal means (20) and said output of said second inverting amplifier (29) being said output terminal means (24).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
An amplifier according to claim 8 wherein said second inverting amplifier (29) has a negative feedback means (25) for providing output voltage stability connected between said output (24) and said input of second inverting amplifier (29).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
An amplifier according to any of claims 1 to 7 wherein said amplification means (30) comprises a nonlinear gain stage (23) so that a output signal from said gain stage (23) is not linearly proportional to an input signal into said gain stage (23).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
An amplifier according to claim 10 wherein said nonlinear gain stage (23) comprises an inverting amplifier (29) with a nonlinear noninverting feedback (25).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.