Compound transistor connection loading for a current

Claim 2

In combination a differential amplifier having first and second current paths, means for biasing said amplifier to be responsive to first and second input signal levels for routing amplifier current to one or the other of said first and second paths, respectively, a compound transistor connection including plural cascadeconnected amplifier stages, said stages including a diodeconnected transistor input stage, means for connecting said input stage in series in said first current path, means for connecting the final one of said cascaded stages in series in only said second current path, and means for deriving an output signal from one of said paths.

Claim 3

The combination in accordance with claim 1 in which said one path is said second path and said deriving means comprises a transistor emitter follower stage having an input base electrode thereof coupled to said second path, and a resistor connected between collector and base electrodes of said emitter-follower, and having a resistance selected to limit current so that said emitter-follower stage conducts at different current levels in response to conduction in said first and second paths, respectively, but said resistor develops insufficient potEntial difference to draw said final stage into conduction when said current flows in said first path.

Claim 4

The combination in accordance with claim 1 in which said deriving means includes a charge parceling integrator, and means for capacitively coupling said one path to an input of said integrator, and said compound transistor connection includes sufficient stages so that said integrator is activated in response to only one of said input signal levels.

Claim 5

The combination in accordance with claim 1 in which there are provided in addition a further differential amplifier and compound transistor connection interconnected with each other and with said biasing means as aforesaid for the first-mentioned differential amplifier and compound transistor connection, and said deriving means includes means for deriving outputs from said first path of one of said differential amplifiers and said second path of the other of said differential amplifiers.

Claim 6

The combination in accordance with claim 1 in which said deriving means comprises an output connection, a storage capacitor connected across said output connection, a coupling capacitor coupled at one terminal to said second path, a diode-connected transistor connected in series between said coupling capacitor and said storage capacitor to be biased for conduction between such capacitors in response to attainment of a predetermined voltage difference between said signal excursions in said second path and said storage capacitor, and means, responsive to a nonconducting condition in said diode-connected transistor for restoring charge on said coupling capacitor to a predetermined reference level.

Claim 7

In combination, first and second electric current paths, means, responsive to first and second input signal levels, for routing current exclusively to one or the other of said paths, a compound transistor having first and second terminals between which current can flow through said transistor, said transistor also having a third terminal, connected through said transistor, to receive current flow from said first and second terminals, means for connecting said first and second terminals in series with said first path, and means for connecting said first and third terminals in series with said second path.

Claim 8

In combination, first and second electric current paths, means, responsive to first and second input signal levels, for routing current exclusively to one or the other of said paths, a compound transistor having first and second terminals between which current can flow through said transistor, said transistor also having a third terminal, connected through said transistor, to receive current flow from said first and second terminals, means for connecting said first and second terminals in series with said first path, and means for connecting said first and third terminals in series with said second path.

Claim 9

The combination in accordance with claim 6 in which said transistor comprises a plurality of transistors of the same conductivity type and each having base, emitter, and collector electrodes, means for connecting all of said collector electrodes to said first terminal, means for connecting said transistors in a cascade sequence with each transistor having its emitter electrode connected to the base electrode of the transistor following it in said sequence, means for interconnecting base and collector electrodes of an input transistor in said sequence, and means for connecting emitter electrodes of said input transistor and of an output transistor of said sequence to said second and third terminals, respectively.

Claim 10

In combination, first and second electric current paths, means for routing current exclusively to one or the other of said paths, a compound transistor including at least input and output transistor elements, means for connecting a first part of said elements, including said input element, to conduct at least part of said current routed to each of said first and second paths, and means for connecting a second part of said elements, including said output element, to conduct said current routed to only said second path.

Claim 11

In combination, first and second electric current paths, means for routing current exclusively to one or the other of said paths, a compound transistor including at least input and output transistor elements, means for connecting a first part of said elements, including said input element, to conduct at least part of said current routed to each of said first and second paths, and means for connecting a second part of said elements, including said output element, to conduct said current routed to only said second path.

Claim 12

The combination in accordance with claim 8 in which, said compound transistor elements are plural transistors having their collectors connected together to a terminal through which said current is supplied to both of said paths, said first part connecting means includes means for connecting an emitter electrode of said input element transistor to saId first path, and said second part connecting means includes means for connecting an emitter electrode of said output element transistor to said second path.

Claim 13

The combination in accordance with claim 9 in which, said compound transistor further includes means for connecting base-emitter junctions of said transistors in series so that the difference between voltages at said emitter electrode of said output transistor when current is routed to said first path and said second path, respectively, is a function of the numbers of said base-emitter junctions included in each current routing.