US3772606A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-level power amplifier
Assignee: RTX Corp
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Filing: 1972-01-28
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Granted: 1973-11-13
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Expires: 1992-01-28
Abstract
Abstract The collector voltages of a complementary emitter follower are maintained at a low voltage level when low levels of voltage are provided by the complementary emitter follower to a load. High levels of voltage are provided to the load through the complementary emitter follower by one of two auxiliary emitter followers, in response to input voltages in excess of that required to saturate the complementary emitter follower.
Inventors
- 👤 G Waehner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:33
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K4/00; H03K4/06; H03K4/08; H03K4/48; H03K4/60; H03K4/69; H03K4/72; H03K4/725; H03F; H03F1/00; H03F1/02; H03F1/0205; H03F1/0211; H03F1/0244; H03F3/00; H03F3/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
315 words
A bipolar multilevel power amplifier circuit for driving a load in response to an input voltage, comprising: a complementary emitter follower stage including a pair of saturable transistors of opposite conductivity type being connected in a common emitter configuration with said load, the base of each of said saturable transistors being connected through a respective diode to the input voltage; a pair of first power supplies of opposite polarity, each interconnected with the collector of a corresponding one of said saturable transistors, each providing a voltage of substantially the same magnitude as the voltage required at the base of the related saturable transistor to saturate the same; a plurality of auxiliary transistors, at least one corresponding to each of said saturable transistors, each auxiliary transistor being of the same conductivity type as the saturable transistor with which it corresponds, the emitter of at least one of said auxiliary transistors of each conductivity type being connected to the collector of the corresponding one of said saturable transistors; a plurality of second power supplies, each interconnected with the collector of a corresponding one of said auxiliary transistors, each providing a voltage of the same polarity as and a greater magnitude than the voltage provided by related ones of said first power supplies; and bias means for interconnecting the base of said auxiliary transistors for response to the input signal, said bias means providing, for an input signal of any given magnitude, a signal at the base of said auxiliary transistor which is greater in magnitude than the signal at the base of the corresponding one of said saturable transistors, said bias means comprising, with said second power supplies, a resitor connected between the collector and the base of each of said auxiliary transistors and a resistor connected between the base of each of said auxiliary transistors and the base of the corresponding one of said saturable transistors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
315 words
A bipolar multilevel power amplifier circuit for driving a load in response to an input voltage, comprising: a complementary emitter follower stage including a pair of saturable transistors of opposite conductivity type being connected in a common emitter configuration with said load, the base of each of said saturable transistors being connected through a respective diode to the input voltage; a pair of first power supplies of opposite polarity, each interconnected with the collector of a corresponding one of said saturable transistors, each providing a voltage of substantially the same magnitude as the voltage required at the base of the related saturable transistor to saturate the same; a plurality of auxiliary transistors, at least one corresponding to each of said saturable transistors, each auxiliary transistor being of the same conductivity type as the saturable transistor with which it corresponds, the emitter of at least one of said auxiliary transistors of each conductivity type being connected to the collector of the corresponding one of said saturable transistors; a plurality of second power supplies, each interconnected with the collector of a corresponding one of said auxiliary transistors, each providing a voltage of the same polarity as and a greater magnitude than the voltage provided by related ones of said first power supplies; and bias means for interconnecting the base of said auxiliary transistors for response to the input signal, said bias means providing, for an input signal of any given magnitude, a signal at the base of said auxiliary transistor which is greater in magnitude than the signal at the base of the corresponding one of said saturable transistors, said bias means comprising, with said second power supplies, a resitor connected between the collector and the base of each of said auxiliary transistors and a resistor connected between the base of each of said auxiliary transistors and the base of the corresponding one of said saturable transistors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
237 words
A unipolar multilevel power amplifier circuit for driving a load in response to an input voltage, comprising: an emitter follower stage including a saturable transistor having its emitter connected to said load, the base of said saturable transistor being connected through a diode to the input voltage; a first power supply connected to the collector of said saturable transistor and providing a voltage of substantially the same magnitude as the voltage required at the base of said saturable transistor to saturate the same; an auxiliary transistor of the same conductivity type as said saturable transistor, the emitter of said auxiliary transistor being connected to the collector of said saturable transistor; a second power supply connected to the collector of said auxiliary transistor and providing a voltage of the same polarity as and a greater magnitude than the voltage provided by said first power supply; and bias means for interconnecting the base of said auxiliary transistor for response to the input signal, said bias means providing, for an input signal of any given magnitude, a signal at the base of said auxiliary transistor which is greater in magnitude than the signal At the base of said saturable transistor, said bias means comprising, with said second power supply, a resistor connected between the collector and the base of said auxiliary transistor and a resistor connected between the base of said auxiliary transistor and the base of said saturable transistor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
237 words
A unipolar multilevel power amplifier circuit for driving a load in response to an input voltage, comprising: an emitter follower stage including a saturable transistor having its emitter connected to said load, the base of said saturable transistor being connected through a diode to the input voltage; a first power supply connected to the collector of said saturable transistor and providing a voltage of substantially the same magnitude as the voltage required at the base of said saturable transistor to saturate the same; an auxiliary transistor of the same conductivity type as said saturable transistor, the emitter of said auxiliary transistor being connected to the collector of said saturable transistor; a second power supply connected to the collector of said auxiliary transistor and providing a voltage of the same polarity as and a greater magnitude than the voltage provided by said first power supply; and bias means for interconnecting the base of said auxiliary transistor for response to the input signal, said bias means providing, for an input signal of any given magnitude, a signal at the base of said auxiliary transistor which is greater in magnitude than the signal At the base of said saturable transistor, said bias means comprising, with said second power supply, a resistor connected between the collector and the base of said auxiliary transistor and a resistor connected between the base of said auxiliary transistor and the base of said saturable transistor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
218 words
A bipolar multilevel power amplifier circuit for driving a load in response to an input voltage, comprising: a complementary emitter follower stage including a pair of saturable transistors of opposite conductivity type being connected in a common emitter configuration with said load, the base of each of said transistors being connected through a resistor to the input voltage; a pair of first power supplies of opposite polarity, each connected to the collector of a corresponding one of said saturable transistors and providing a voltage of substantially the same magnitude as the input voltage required to saturate the related saturable transistor; a plurality of auxiliary transistors, at least one corresponding to each of said saturable transistors, each auxiliary transistor being of the same conductivity type as the saturable transistor with which it corresponds, the emitter of at least one of said auxiliary transistors of each conductivity type being connected to the collector of the corresponding one of said saturable transistors, the base of each of said auxiliary transistors connected directly to the input voltage; and a plurality of second power supplies, each interconnected with the collector of a corresponding one of said auxiliary transistors, each providing a voltage of the same polarity as and a greater magnitude than the voltage provided by related ones of said first power supplies.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
218 words
A bipolar multilevel power amplifier circuit for driving a load in response to an input voltage, comprising: a complementary emitter follower stage including a pair of saturable transistors of opposite conductivity type being connected in a common emitter configuration with said load, the base of each of said transistors being connected through a resistor to the input voltage; a pair of first power supplies of opposite polarity, each connected to the collector of a corresponding one of said saturable transistors and providing a voltage of substantially the same magnitude as the input voltage required to saturate the related saturable transistor; a plurality of auxiliary transistors, at least one corresponding to each of said saturable transistors, each auxiliary transistor being of the same conductivity type as the saturable transistor with which it corresponds, the emitter of at least one of said auxiliary transistors of each conductivity type being connected to the collector of the corresponding one of said saturable transistors, the base of each of said auxiliary transistors connected directly to the input voltage; and a plurality of second power supplies, each interconnected with the collector of a corresponding one of said auxiliary transistors, each providing a voltage of the same polarity as and a greater magnitude than the voltage provided by related ones of said first power supplies.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
152 words
A unipolar multilevel power amplifier circuit for driving a load in response to an input voltage, comprising: an emitter follower stage including a saturable transistor having its emitter connected to said load, the base of said transistor being connected through a resistor to the input voltage; a first power supply connected to the collector of said saturable transistor and providing a voltage of substantially the same magnitude as the input voltage required to saturate said saturable transistor; an auxiliary transistor of the same conductivity type as said saturable transistor, the emitter of said auxiliary transistor being connected to the collector of the said saturable transistor, the base of said auxiliary transistor connected directly to the input voltage; and a second power supply connected to the collector of said auxiliary transistor and providing a voltage of the same polarity as and a greater magnitude than the voltage provided by said first power supply.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
152 words
A unipolar multilevel power amplifier circuit for driving a load in response to an input voltage, comprising: an emitter follower stage including a saturable transistor having its emitter connected to said load, the base of said transistor being connected through a resistor to the input voltage; a first power supply connected to the collector of said saturable transistor and providing a voltage of substantially the same magnitude as the input voltage required to saturate said saturable transistor; an auxiliary transistor of the same conductivity type as said saturable transistor, the emitter of said auxiliary transistor being connected to the collector of the said saturable transistor, the base of said auxiliary transistor connected directly to the input voltage; and a second power supply connected to the collector of said auxiliary transistor and providing a voltage of the same polarity as and a greater magnitude than the voltage provided by said first power supply.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3483425A
Cited
US3622899A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-12 | 1977-05-14 | 1977-11-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-12 | 1981-05-14 | 1981-11-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-12 | 1985-05-14 | 1985-11-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |