Complementary power amplifier

Claim 2

A power amplifier including in combination: a first source of operating potential of a first polarity; a second source of operating potential of opposite polarity to that of the first source of operating potential; a plurality of diode means coupled in series; an input junction between adjacent ones of said diode means; first active temperature-compensated constant current source means coupled between the first source of operating potential and the plurality of diode means and responsive to a bias potential for supplying a predetermined current from the first source of operating potential to the plurality of diode means; second active temperature-compensated constant current source means coupled between the plurality of diode means and the second source of operating potential and responsive to a bias potential for pulling said predetermined current from the diode means to the second source of operating potential, the diode means being poled in the forward conducting direction between the first and second current source means; a master current path connected between the first and second sources of operating potential, the master current path including resistance means connected in series with a master current source means for drawing a predetermined current between the first and second sources of operating potential, the resistance means forming a voltage divider, different points on which are coupled with the first and second constant current source means for supplying said bias potentials thereto; a complementary output stage including at least first and second transistors of opposite conductivity type, each having base, collector and emitter electrodes, with the collector-emitter paths of the first and second transistors being coupled in series in circuit between the first and second sources of operating potentials; means coupling the base electrode of the first transistor with the plurality of the diode means at a first junction of the plurality of diode means with the first current source means; means coupling the base electrode of the second transistor with the plurality of diode means at a second junction of The plurality of diode means with the second current source means; means for applying input signals to be amplified to the input junction; and means coupled with the first and second transistors for obtaining output signals from the power amplifier.

Claim 3

The combination according to claim 1 further including means for causing the master current source means to have a substantially zero temperature coefficient.

Claim 4

The combination according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of diode means includes at least first and second diodes, each having a high peak inverse voltage rating compared to the forward voltage rating thereof.

Claim 5

The combination according to claim 3 wherein the high peak inverse voltage rating diodes are lateral PNP transistor diodes.

Claim 6

A power amplifier including in combination: a first source of operating potential of a first polarity; a second source of operating potential of opposite polarity to that of the first source of operating potential; a predetermined number of diode junctions coupled in series; an input junction between adjacent ones of said diode junctions; first active temperature-compensated constant current source means coupled between the first source of operating potential and the predetermined number of diode junctions for supplying a predetermined current from the first source of operating potential to the predetermined number of diode junctions; second active temperature-compensated constant current source means coupled between the predetermined number of diode junctions and the second source of operating potential for pulling said predetermined current from the diode junctions to the second source of operating potential, the diode junctions being poled in the forward conducting direction between the first and second current source means; a complementary output stage including at least first and second transistors of opposite conductivity type, each having base, collector and emitter electrodes, with the collector-emitter paths of the first and second transistors being coupled in series in circuit between the first and second sources of operating potentials; means coupling the base electrode of the first transistor with the predetermined number of diode junctions at a first junction of the predetermined number of diode junctions with the first current source means; means for coupling the base electrode of the second transistor with the predetermined number of diode junctions at a second junction of the predetermined number of diode junctions with the second current source means; the complementary output stage including a plurality of base-emitter transistor junctions equal to said predetermined number between the bases of the first and second transistors, and further including means coupled with the predetermined number of diode junctions for causing the potential between the first and second junctions to be less than the potential across the predetermined number of diode junctions, the potential between the first and second junctions being sufficient to provide a quiescent forward bias for the transistors of the output stage; means for applying input signals to be amplified to the input junction; and means coupled with the first and second transistors for obtaining output signals from the power amplifier.

Claim 7

A power amplifier including in combination: a first source of operating potential of a first polarity; a second source of operating potential of opposite polarity to that of the first source of operating potential; a predetermined number of diode junctions coupled in series; an input junction between adjacent ones of said diode junctions; first active temperature-compensated constant current source means coupled between the first source of operating potential and the predetermined number of diode junctions for supplying a predetermined current from the first source of operating potential to the predetermined number of diode junctions; second active temperature-compensated constant current source means coupled between the predetermined number of diode junctions and the second source of operating potential for pulling said predetermined current from the diode junctions to the second source of operating potential, the diode junctions being poled in the forward conducting direction between the first and second current source means; a complementary output stage including at least first and second transistors of opposite conductivity type, each having base, collector and emitter electrodes, with the collector-emitter paths of the first and second transistors being coupled in series in circuit between the first and second sources of operating potentials; means coupling the base electrode of the first transistor with the predetermined number of diode junctions at a first junction of the predetermined number of diode junctions with the first current source means; means for coupling the base electrode of the second transistor with the predetermined number of diode junctions at a second junction of the predetermined number of diode junctions with the second current source means; the complementary output stage including a plurality of base-emitter transistor junctions equal to said predetermined number between the bases of the first and second transistors, and further including means coupled with the predetermined number of diode junctions for causing the potential between the first and second junctions to be less than the potential across the predetermined number of diode junctions, the potential between the first and second junctions being sufficient to provide a quiescent forward bias for the transistors of the output stage; means for applying input signals to be amplified to the input junction; and means coupled with the first and second transistors for obtaining output signals from the power amplifier.

Claim 8

A power amplifier including in combination: a first source of operating potential of a first polarity; a second source of operating potential of opposite polarity to that of the first source of operating potential; a plurality of diode means coupled in series; an input junction between adjacent ones of said diode means; first active temperature-compensated constant current source means coupled between the first source of operating potential and the plurality of diode means for supplying a predetermined current from the first source of operating potential to the plurality of diode means; second active temperature-compensated constAnt current source means coupled between the plurality of diode means and the second source of operating potential for pulling said predetermined current from the diode means to the second source of operating potential, the diode means being poled in the forward conducting direction between the first and second current source means; a complementary output stage including first, second, third and fourth transistors, each having base, emitter and collector electrodes, with the first and third transistors being of one conductivity type and the second and fourth transistors being of an opposite conductivity type, the first and third transistors being connected in a Darlington amplifier configuration, the collector electrodes thereof being coupled with the first source of operating potential, the emitter electrode of the first transistor being coupled with the base electrode of the third transistor and with the emitter electrode of the third transistor being coupled with the emitter electrode of the fourth transistor at an output terminal, the collector electrodes of second and fourth transistors being coupled with the second source of operating potential, and the emitter electrode of the second transistor being coupled with the base electrode of the fourth transistor; the plurality of diode means including semiconductor diode means equal in number to the number of base-emitter junctions of the first, second, third and fourth transistor means; means coupling the base electrode of the first transistor with the plurality of the diode means at a first junction of the plurality of diode means with the first current source means; means for coupling the base electrode of the second transistor with the plurality of diode means at a second junction of the plurality of diode means with the second current source means; means for applying input signals to be amplified to the input junction; and means coupled with the first and second transistors for obtaining output signals from the power amplifier.

Claim 9

A power amplifier including in combination: a first source of operating potential of a first polarity; a second source of operating potential of opposite polarity to that of the first source of operating potential; a plurality of diode means coupled in series; an input junction between adjacent ones of said diode means; first active temperature-compensated constant current source means coupled between the first source of operating potential and the plurality of diode means for supplying a predetermined current from the first source of operating potential to the plurality of diode means; second active temperature-compensated constAnt current source means coupled between the plurality of diode means and the second source of operating potential for pulling said predetermined current from the diode means to the second source of operating potential, the diode means being poled in the forward conducting direction between the first and second current source means; a complementary output stage including first, second, third and fourth transistors, each having base, emitter and collector electrodes, with the first and third transistors being of one conductivity type and the second and fourth transistors being of an opposite conductivity type, the first and third transistors being connected in a Darlington amplifier configuration, the collector electrodes thereof being coupled with the first source of operating potential, the emitter electrode of the first transistor being coupled with the base electrode of the third transistor and with the emitter electrode of the third transistor being coupled with the emitter electrode of the fourth transistor at an output terminal, the collector electrodes of second and fourth transistors being coupled with the second source of operating potential, and the emitter electrode of the second transistor being coupled with the base electrode of the fourth transistor; the plurality of diode means including semiconductor diode means equal in number to the number of base-emitter junctions of the first, second, third and fourth transistor means; means coupling the base electrode of the first transistor with the plurality of the diode means at a first junction of the plurality of diode means with the first current source means; means for coupling the base electrode of the second transistor with the plurality of diode means at a second junction of the plurality of diode means with the second current source means; means for applying input signals to be amplified to the input junction; and means coupled with the first and second transistors for obtaining output signals from the power amplifier.

Claim 10

The combination according to claim 6 wherein the power amplifier is formed as a single integrated circuit with the first source of operating potential being of positive polarity and the second source of operating potential being of negative polarity, the first and third transistors being NPN transistors and the second and fourth transistors being PNP transistors with the plurality of diode means including four diode means coupled in series to conduct current from the first current source means to the second current source means.

Claim 11

The combination according to claim 6 wherein the plurality of diode means includes first, second, third and fourth diode means connected in series between the first and second current source means, with the second and third diode means being coupled together at said input terminal at least one of the first and second diode means and at least one of the third and fourth diode means being lateral PNP transistor diode means having a high peak inverse voltage rating relative to the forward voltage rating thereof.

Claim 12

The combination according to claim 8 wherein the first and fourth diode means are transistor diode means formed from transistors having base, collector and emitter electrodes, with resistance means coupled in series between the base and collector electrodes thereof, the connections between the bases and the resistance means of the first and fourth diode means being coupled, respectively, with the first and second current source means, and the connections between the collectors and the resistance means of the first and fourth diode means forming the first and second junctions, respectively.

Claim 13

The combination according to claim 1 wherein the first current source means includes a transistor means of one conductivity type having base, collector and emitter electrodes with the collector and emitter electrodes coupled in series circuit between the first source of operating potential and the plurality of diode means, anD wherein the second current source means includes a transistor means of an opposite conductivity type to the transistor means of the first current source means and having base, collector and emitter electrodes, with the collector and emitter electrodes thereof coupled in series circuit between the plurality of diodes and the second source of operating potential, and wherein the bases of the first and second current source transistor means are connected to said different points on the voltage divider.

Claim 14

The combination according to claim 1 further including means for establishing a substantially constant reference voltage and means for supplying said reference voltage to the master current source means for controlling the current drawn thereby, and means coupled with the master current source means for compensating for temperature-caused variations of the reference voltage means.

Claim 15

The combination according to claim 10 further including reference voltage source means having a reference current source means and Zener diode means coupled in series between the first and second sources of operating potential at a junction, and wherein the master current source means includes transistor means having base, collector and emitter electrodes, with the collector and emitter circuits thereof including the voltage divider connected in series therewith, the junction of the reference current source means and the Zener diode means being coupled with the base electrode of the master current source transistor means, the base electrode of the second current source transistor means being coupled with the emitter circuit of the master current source transistor means, and the base electrode of the first current source means and the reference current source means being coupled with the collector circuit of the master current source transistor means.

Claim 16

The combination according to claim 12 further including impedance means coupled between the first source of operating potential and the junction of the Zener diode means with the reference current source means for providing a leakage path to insure turn-on of the Zener diode means upon initial application of operating potentials to the circuit.

Claim 17

The combination according to claim 12 wherein the power amplifier is formed as an integrated circuit, the reference current source means and the first current source means include lateral PNP transistor means each having base, collector and emitter electrodes, with the collector electrode of the reference transistor means being coupled with the Zener diode means and the emitter electrode thereof being coupled with the first source of operating potential, and further including a further current source means and first and second gain control NPN transistors each having base, collector, and emitter electrodes, with the collector and emitter electrodes of the first and second gain control transistors being coupled with the emitter and base electrodes, respectively, of the first and reference current source transistor means, the base electrodes of the first and second gain control transistors being coupled with the collector circuit of the master current source transistor means and the emitter electrodes thereof being coupled with the further current source means, the further current source means and the base electrode of the second current source transistor means being coupled with the emitter circuit of the master current source transistor means.

Claim 18

A power amplifier including in combination: a first source of operating potential of a first polarity; a second source of operating potential of opposite polarity to that of the first source of operating potential; a complementary output stage including at least first and second transistors of opposite conductivity type, each having base, collector, and emitter electrodes, with the collector-emitter paths of the first and second transistors being coupled at an output junction in series circuit between the First and second sources of operating potentials; means for applying operating bias and input signals to the base electrodes of the first and second transistors; and unidirectional conductive means having a high peak inverse voltage rating compared with the forward voltage rating thereof coupled between the output junction and the base electrodes of the first and second transistors for preventing reverse current flow from the output junction to the input at the bases of the first and second transistors.

Claim 19

A power amplifier including in combination: a first source of operating potential of a first polarity; a second source of operating potential of opposite polarity to that of the first source of operating potential; a complementary output stage including at least first and second transistors of opposite conductivity type, each having base, collector, and emitter electrodes, with the collector-emitter paths of the first and second transistors being coupled at an output junction in series circuit between the First and second sources of operating potentials; means for applying operating bias and input signals to the base electrodes of the first and second transistors; and unidirectional conductive means having a high peak inverse voltage rating compared with the forward voltage rating thereof coupled between the output junction and the base electrodes of the first and second transistors for preventing reverse current flow from the output junction to the input at the bases of the first and second transistors.

Claim 20

The combination according to claim 15 further including means responsive to the current flow through the transistors for limiting said current flow to a predetermined magnitude.

Claim 21

The combination according to claim 15 wherein the power amplifier is an integrated circuit and wherein the unidirectional conductive means are comprised of first and second lateral PNP transistor diodes.

Claim 22

The combination according to claim 17 wherein the first source of operating potential is a source of positive operating potential and the second source of operating potential is a source of negative operating potential, the first transistor is an NPN transistor, the collector of which is coupled with the positive source of operating potential and the base electrode of which is supplied with input signals, and the second transistor is a PNP transistor, the collector of which is coupled with the negative source of operating potential, and the base of which is supplied with input signals, and the emitters of the first and second transistors are coupled with the output junction.

Claim 23

The combination according to claim 18 wherein the complementary output stage includes a first Darlington pair having the first NPN transistor cascaded with and driven by a third NPN transistor and a second Darlington pair having the second PNP transistor cascaded with and driven by a fourth PNP transistor with the emitter of the first transistor being coupled through a first impedance means to the output terminal and with the emitter of the second transistor being coupled through a second impedance means to the output terminal, the first and second diodes each having first and second terminal, with the first terminal of the first diode and the second terminals of the second diode being connected, respectively, to the base electrodes of the third and fourth transistors; and further including an NPN control transistor having base, collector and emitter electrodes, with the collector electrode thereof coupled with the second terminal of the first diode, the base electrode thereof coupled to the emitter electrode of the third transistor, and the emitter electrode thereof coupled with the output terminal; and a PNP control transistor having base, collector, and emitter electrodes, with the collector electrode coupled with the first terminal of the second diode, the base electrode thereof coupled to the emitter electrode of the fourth transistor, and the emitter electrode thereof coupled with the output terminal, so that the current drawn from or supplied to the output terminal across the first or second impedance means varies the conductivity of the first and second control transistors accordingly to limit the current flow through the first and second transistors of the first and second Darlington pairs.

Claim 24

The combination according to claim 15 further including a plurality of diode means coupled in series circuit between the first and second sources of operating potential; an input junction between adjacent ones of said diode means; and means for applying input signals to be amplified to the input junction; wherein the means for applying operating bias and input signals to the base electrodes of the first and second transistors couples the base electrode of the first transistor with the plurality diode means at a first junction on one side of the input junction and couples the base electrode of the second transistor with the diode means at a second junctiOn on the other side of the input junctions.

Claim 25

The combination according to claim 20 wherein the plurality of diode means includes at least first and second diodes each having a high peak inverse rating compared to the forward voltage rating thereof, with the first and second diodes being located on opposite sides of the input junction.

Claim 26

The combination according to claim 21 wherein the high peak inverse voltage rating diodes are lateral PNP transistor diodes.

Claim 27

A power amplifier including in combination: a first source of operating potential of a first polarity; a second source of operating potential of opposite polarity to that of the first source of operating potential; a complementary output stage including at least first and second transistors of opposite conductivity type, each having base, collector, and emitter electrode, with the collector-emitter paths of the first and second transistors being coupled at an output junction in series circuit between the first and second sources of operating potential; a plurality of transistor diode means coupled in series circuit between the first and second sources of operating potential, each of said diode means formed by interconnecting the base and collector electrodes thereof; an input junction between adjacent ones of said diode means; first and second resistor means forming the interconnection between the base and collector electrodes of first and second transistor diode means located respectively on opposite sides of the input junction, the first and second sources of operating potential being coupled with the bases of the first and second transistor diode means, respectively; first means for applying operating bias and input signals to the base electrode of the first transistor coupling said base electrode thereof with the collector of the first transistor diode means at a first junction; and second means for applying operating bias and input signals to base electrode of the second transistor coupling said base electrode thereof with the collector of the second transistor diode means at a second junction.

Claim 28

A power amplifier including in combination: a first source of operating potential of a first polarity; a second source of operating potential of opposite polarity to that of the first source of operating potential; a complementary output stage including at least first and second transistors of opposite conductivity type, each having base, collector, and emitter electrode, with the collector-emitter paths of the first and second transistors being coupled at an output junction in series circuit between the first and second sources of operating potential; a plurality of transistor diode means coupled in series circuit between the first and second sources of operating potential, each of said diode means formed by interconnecting the base and collector electrodes thereof; an input junction between adjacent ones of said diode means; first and second resistor means forming the interconnection between the base and collector electrodes of first and second transistor diode means located respectively on opposite sides of the input junction, the first and second sources of operating potential being coupled with the bases of the first and second transistor diode means, respectively; first means for applying operating bias and input signals to the base electrode of the first transistor coupling said base electrode thereof with the collector of the first transistor diode means at a first junction; and second means for applying operating bias and input signals to base electrode of the second transistor coupling said base electrode thereof with the collector of the second transistor diode means at a second junction.

Claim 29

An integrated circuit current source system including in combination: a first source of operating potential of a first polarity; a second source of operating potential of opposite polarity to that of the first source of operating potential; first utilization means; first current source means including first transistor means of one conductivity type having base, collector, and emitter electrodes, with the collector and emitter electrodes thereof coupled in series circuit between the first source of operating potential and the first utilization means, respectively; second utilization means; second current source means including second transistor means of opposite conductivity type to the first transistor means and having base, collector, and emitter electrodes, with the collector and emitter electrodes thereof coupled in series circuit between the second utilization means and the second source of operating potential, respectively; first and second impedance means; master current source means including a master current source transistor means having base, collector, and emitter electrodes, with the collector-emitter path thereof being coupled in series circuit through the first impedance means to the first source of operating potential and being coupled in series circuit through the second impedance means to the second source of operating potential; means for providing a stabilized bias voltage to the base of the master current source transistor to control the conductivity thereof; means for coupling the base of the first current source transistor with the first impedance means in the series circuit between the master current source transistor and the first source of operating potential; and means for coupling the base of the second current source transistor with the second impedance means in the series circuit beTween the master current source transistor and the second source of operating potential.

Claim 30

An integrated circuit current source system including in combination: a first source of operating potential of a first polarity; a second source of operating potential of opposite polarity to that of the first source of operating potential; first utilization means; first current source means including first transistor means of one conductivity type having base, collector, and emitter electrodes, with the collector and emitter electrodes thereof coupled in series circuit between the first source of operating potential and the first utilization means, respectively; second utilization means; second current source means including second transistor means of opposite conductivity type to the first transistor means and having base, collector, and emitter electrodes, with the collector and emitter electrodes thereof coupled in series circuit between the second utilization means and the second source of operating potential, respectively; first and second impedance means; master current source means including a master current source transistor means having base, collector, and emitter electrodes, with the collector-emitter path thereof being coupled in series circuit through the first impedance means to the first source of operating potential and being coupled in series circuit through the second impedance means to the second source of operating potential; means for providing a stabilized bias voltage to the base of the master current source transistor to control the conductivity thereof; means for coupling the base of the first current source transistor with the first impedance means in the series circuit between the master current source transistor and the first source of operating potential; and means for coupling the base of the second current source transistor with the second impedance means in the series circuit beTween the master current source transistor and the second source of operating potential.

Claim 31

The combination according to claim 24 wherein the means for establishing a stabilized bias voltage on the base of the master current source transistor includes reference current source means and zener diode means coupled in series between the first and second sources of operating potential at a junction, the junction of the reference current source means and zener diode means being coupled with the base electrode of the master current source transistor means, and further including means for temperature compensating the reference voltage means.

Claim 32

The combination according to claim 25 wherein the first transistor means and the reference current source means include lateral PNP transistors, with the collector electrode of the reference transistor being coupled with the zener diode means at the junction and the emitter electrode thereof being coupled with the first source of operating potential, and the second transistor means including an NPN transistor; the combination further including a further current source means and first and second gain control NPN transistors, each having base, collector, and emitter electrodes, with the collector and emitter electrodes of the first and second gain control transistors being coupled with the emitter and base electrodes, respectively, of the first and reference current source transistors, the base electrodes of the first and second gain control transistors being coupled with the collector of the master current source transistor, and the emitter electrodes of the gain control transistors being coupled with the further current source means, the further current source means, and the base electrode of the second transistor means being coupled with the emitter of the master current source transistor.

Claim 33

The combination according to claim 20 wherein the plurality of diode means includes a plurality of diode junctions, the complementary output stage including a corresponding plurality of diode junctions in the form of base-emitter junctions of the transistors, and further including means coupled with the plurality of diode means for causing the potential between the first and second junctions to be less than the potential across the plurality of diode means.