US3753138A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Amplifier system with continuously variable supply
Assignee: Ampex Corp
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Filing: 1971-06-03
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Granted: 1973-08-14
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Expires: 1991-06-03
Abstract
Abstract A voltage comparator compares the operating voltage provided to a power amplifier to a voltage representative of that appearing across a load. A unity gain linear amplifier is coupled between a voltage source and the power amplifier that is responsive to the voltage comparator to maintain the operating voltage provided to the power amplifier sufficient to deliver the required current to the load.
Inventors
- 👤 G Svendsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 23:14
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B15/00; G11B15/18; G11B15/46; H; H02; H02P; H02P7/00; H02P7/06; H02P7/18; H02P7/24; H02P7/28; H02P7/285; H02P7/288; H02P7/2885; H03; H03F; H03F1/00; H03F1/02; H03F1/0205; H03F1/0211; H03F1/0244; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S388/00; Y10S388/90; Y10S388/901; Y10S388/907; Y10S388/91
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
An amplifier system for driving loads comprising: an amplifier circuit coupled to provide power to a load; means coupled to provide a first level of operating voltage to said amplifier circuit; means for providing a continuous range of voltages for operating said amplifier circuit at voltage levels higher than said first level; means coupled to said amplifier circuit and responsive thereto to provide a first signal representative of the operating voltage of said amplifier circuit; means coupled to said load and responsive thereto to provide a second signal representative of the voltage across said load; a voltage comparator coupled to compare said first signal and said second signal and provide a control signal whenever the voltage across the load exceeds that which is a selected amount less than the operating voltage of the amplifier circuit; and a booster power amplifier circuit in circuit with the means for providing the continuous range of operating voltages and the amplifier circuit and responsive to the control signal to couple to the amplifier circuit an operating voltage within said continuous range of operating voltages to maintain the operating voltage of said amplifier circuit greater than the voltage across the load by said selected amount.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
An amplifier system for driving loads comprising: an amplifier circuit coupled to provide power to a load; means coupled to provide a first level of operating voltage to said amplifier circuit; means for providing a continuous range of voltages for operating said amplifier circuit at voltage levels higher than said first level; means coupled to said amplifier circuit and responsive thereto to provide a first signal representative of the operating voltage of said amplifier circuit; means coupled to said load and responsive thereto to provide a second signal representative of the voltage across said load; a voltage comparator coupled to compare said first signal and said second signal and provide a control signal whenever the voltage across the load exceeds that which is a selected amount less than the operating voltage of the amplifier circuit; and a booster power amplifier circuit in circuit with the means for providing the continuous range of operating voltages and the amplifier circuit and responsive to the control signal to couple to the amplifier circuit an operating voltage within said continuous range of operating voltages to maintain the operating voltage of said amplifier circuit greater than the voltage across the load by said selected amount.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
121 words
The amplifier system according to claim 1 wherein the voltage comparator includes a unity gain current amplifier circuit having first and second control electrodes and an output electrode, the first control electrode is coupled to receive the first signal and the second control electrode is coupled to receive the second signal, said unity gain current amplifier circuit is responsive to the first and second signals to increase proportionately the current in the circuit of tHe output electrode when the voltage across the load exceeds that which is the selected amount less than the operating voltage of the amplifier circuit, the booster power amplifier circuit is responsive to the increase in current to increase the operating voltage provided to the amplifier circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
99 words
The amplifier system according to claim 1 wherein the voltage comparator includes a difference amplifier circuit having first and second stages, each stage includes a control electrode and an output electrode, the control electrode of the first stage is coupled to receive the first signal, the control electrode of the second stage is coupled to receive the second signal, said differential amplifier circuit responsive to the first and second signals to provide the control signal at the output electrode of the first stage, the output electrode is coupled to provide the control signal to the booster power amplifier circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
86 words
The amplifier system according to claim 1 for driving a plurality of loads wherein a separate amplifier circuit is provided for each of said loads, each of said separate amplifiers coupled to a first common junction to receive the same operating voltage, and further including a unidirectional conducting signal isolation means connected between each load and a second common junction, each signal isolation means poled to conduct from the load to the second junction, said second junction connected to provide first signals to the voltage comparator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The amplifier system according to claim 6 wherein said means providing a first level of operating voltage and said means for providing the continuous range of operating voltages are coupled to said first common junction with said first level means electrically isolated from said continuous range means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
The amplifier system according to claim 12 further comprising a switch means for coupling to the first common junction the means providing the first level of operating voltage, said switch means operative to couple the first level of operating voltage to said first common junction when the voltage across the load is less than a nominal value which is the selected amount less than said first level of operating voltage, said switch means responsive to the voltage across the load exceeding the nominal value to decouple from said first common junction said means providing the first level of operating voltage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The amplifier system according to claim 6 wherein the voltage comparator provides the control signal whenever the voltage across one of the plurality of loads coupled to the second common junction exceeds that which is the selected amount less than the operating voltage of the amplifier circuit of the said one of the loads.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
97 words
The amplifier system according to claim 1 further comprising a switch means for coupling to the amplifier circuit the means providing the first level of operating voltage, said switch means operative to couple the first level of operating voltage to said amplifier circuit when the voltage across the load is less than a nominal value which is the selected amount less than said first level of operating voltage, said switch means responsive to the voltage across the load exceeding the nominal value to decouple from the amplifier circuit said means providing the first level of operating voltage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The amplifier system according to claim 11 wherein the voltage which is the selected amount less than the operating voltage provided to the amplifier circuit is selected to maintain the amplifier circuit within its active operating region while the voltage across the load is less than the highest voltage of the continuous range of voltages.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-13 | 1977-02-12 | 1977-08-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-13 | 1981-02-12 | 1981-08-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-13 | 1985-02-12 | 1985-08-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |