Combined amplifiers which consume substantially constant current

Claim 2

Combined amplifiers which consume substantially constant current, comprising: a source of direct current voltage; first and second amplifying means coupled to said direct current voltage source and consuming first and second currents respectively in response to respective signals coupled to input terminals of said first and second amplifying means; means for sensing said current consumed by said first amplifying means; energy storage means coupled to said source of direct current voltage; and controlled current conducting means coupled to said means for sensing current consumed by said first amplifying means and coupled to said energy storage means and said second amplifying means for being controlled by said current flow in said sensing means for providing a path for storage of energy in said energy storage means and a path for current through said second amplifying means, said current consumption in said first amplifying means being substantially the complement of the sum of said storage current and said current consumed by said second amplifying means such that the current drawn from said direct current voltage source is substantially constant.

Claim 3

Combined amplifiers according to claim 1 wherein said first amplifying means includes load circuit means for having current flow induced therein in response to said signals coupled to an input terminal of said first amplifying means and said sensing means are coupled to said load circuit means for sensing said load current.

Claim 4

Combined amplifiers according to claim 2 wherein controlled current conducting means includes an active current conducting device the main current conducting path of which is coupled in series with said energy storage means and in series with said second amplifying means for controlling the sum of said charging current of said energy storage means from said direct current voltage source and said current consumed by said second amplifying means from said direct current voltage source such that said sum is substantially the complement of said current consumed by said first amplifying means.

Claim 5

Combined amplifiers which consume substantially constant current, comprising: a direct current voltage source; first and second amplifying means coupled to said direct current voltage source; sensing means coupled to said first amplifying means for sensing current consumed therein; energy storage means coupled to said direct current voltage source; controllable current conducting means coupled to said sensing means and responsive to variations in current flow therethrough for providing a path for operating current in said second amplifying means and a path for energy storage current in said energy storage means and for maintaining the sum of said operating and energy storage current substantially the complement of said current consumed in said first amplifying means for maintaining the sum of said current consumed in said first amplifying means and said combined energy storage current and operating current for said second amplifying means substantially constant.

Claim 6

Combined amplifiers which consume substantially constant current, comprising: a direct current voltage source; first and second amplifying means coupled to said direct current voltage source; sensing means coupled to said first amplifying means for sensing current consumed therein; energy storage means coupled to said direct current voltage source; controllable current conducting means coupled to said sensing means and responsive to variations in current flow therethrough for providing a path for operating current in said second amplifying means and a path for energy storage current in said energy storage means and for maintaining the sum of said operating and energy storage current substantially the complement of said current consumed in said first amplifying means for maintaining the sum of said current consumed in said first amplifying means and said combined energy storage current and operating current for said second amplifying means substantially constant.

Claim 7

Combined amplifiers which consume substantially constant current, comprising: a source of direct current voltage; a first current path coupled thereto, said first current path including first amplifying means for consuming a first current thereto in response to signals coupled thereto; a second current path coupled to said direct current voltage source, said second current path including second amplifying means for consuming a second current in response to signals coupled thereto; A third current path coupled to saiD source of direct current voltage, said third current path including energy storage means; sensing means coupled to said first current path for sensing current consumed by said first amplifying means; active current conducting means coupled to said sensing means and to said second and third current paths for controlling current flow in said second and third current paths in response to said current consumed by said first amplifying means for making the sum of the currents in said second and third current paths substantially the complement of the current in said first current path such that the sum of the currents flowing in said three current paths from said direct current voltage source is substantially constant.

Claim 8

Combined amplifiers which consume substantially constant current, comprising: a source of direct current voltage; a first current path coupled thereto, said first current path including first amplifying means for consuming a first current thereto in response to signals coupled thereto; a second current path coupled to said direct current voltage source, said second current path including second amplifying means for consuming a second current in response to signals coupled thereto; A third current path coupled to saiD source of direct current voltage, said third current path including energy storage means; sensing means coupled to said first current path for sensing current consumed by said first amplifying means; active current conducting means coupled to said sensing means and to said second and third current paths for controlling current flow in said second and third current paths in response to said current consumed by said first amplifying means for making the sum of the currents in said second and third current paths substantially the complement of the current in said first current path such that the sum of the currents flowing in said three current paths from said direct current voltage source is substantially constant.

Claim 9

Combined amplifiers according to claim 5 wherein said first amplifying means includes load circuit means for having current flow induced therein in response to signals coupled to an input terminal of said first amplifying means and said second means are coupled to said load circuit means for sensing said load current.

Claim 10

Combined amplifiers according to claim 6 wherein the main current conducting path of said active current conducting means is coupled in series with said second current path and in series with said third current path for controlling the sum of said charging current in said energy storage means from said direct current voltage source and said current consumed by said second amplifying means from said direct current voltage source such that said sum is substantially the complement of said current consumed by said first amplifying means.

Claim 11

Combined amplifiers which consume substantially constant current, comprising: a source of direct current voltage; first and second summing terminals; first, second, and third current paths coupled to said source of direct current voltage, said first current path including first amplifying means for consuming a first current in response to signals coupled thereto, said second current path including second amplifying means for consuming a second current path in response to signals coupled thereto, and said third current path including energy storage means for storing energy in response to current flow therethrough, said second and third paths further being coupled at said first summing terminal and said first, second, and third paths being coupled at said second summing terminal; controlled current conducting means coupled to said first amplifying means and to said first and second summing terminals and responsive to current flow in said first amplifying means for controlling the sum of currents in said second and third current paths through said first summing terminal such that the sum of currents flowing from said second summing terminal is substantially constant.

Claim 12

Combined amplifiers which consume substantially constant current, comprising: a source of direct current voltage; first and second summing terminals; first, second, and third current paths coupled to said source of direct current voltage, said first current path including first amplifying means for consuming a first current in response to signals coupled thereto, said second current path including second amplifying means for consuming a second current path in response to signals coupled thereto, and said third current path including energy storage means for storing energy in response to current flow therethrough, said second and third paths further being coupled at said first summing terminal and said first, second, and third paths being coupled at said second summing terminal; controlled current conducting means coupled to said first amplifying means and to said first and second summing terminals and responsive to current flow in said first amplifying means for controlling the sum of currents in said second and third current paths through said first summing terminal such that the sum of currents flowing from said second summing terminal is substantially constant.