Current amplifier

Claim 2

A current amplifier comprising, in combination: an input current path between an input terminal and a common terminal, said path including first non-linear resistive means for conducting an input current and developing a voltage thereacross responsive to said input current; an output current path between an output terminal and said common terminal, said path including second non-linear resistive means for conducting an output current and developing a voltage thereacross responsive to said output current, said second non-linear resistive means having a current-versus-voltage characteristic proportional to that of said first non-linear resistive means; a transistor having a base electrode and having emitter and collector electrodes and an emitter-to-collector path therebetween which is serially connected with said second nonlinear resistive means and included in said output current path; differential amplifier means for responding to the difference between the voltage across said first non-linear resistive means and the voltage across said second non-linear means to supply a control current proportional to said voltage difference; and means for applying said control current to the base electrode of said transistor.

Claim 3

A current amplifier comprising: an input, an output and a common terminals; a differential amplifier having an inverting input port electrically connected between said input and said common terminals, having a non-inverting input port and having an output port; a transistor having a collector electrode and having base and emitter electrodes with a base-emitter circuit therebetween to which the output port of said differential amplifier is coupled, said transistor emitter electrode being electrically connected to said output terminal; a first non-linear resistance network electrically connected across the inverting input port of said differential amplifier; and a second non-linear resistance network electrically connected between said transistor collector electrode and said common terminal as well as across the non-inverting input of said differential amplifier, the conductances of said first and said second non-linear resistance networks being in substantially fixed ratio to each other for a range of values of similar applied voltages.

Claim 4

A current amplifier comprising: an input, an output and a common terminals; a differential amplifier having an inverting input port electrically connected between said input and said common terminals, having a non-inverting input port and having an output port; a transistor having a collector electrode and having base and emitter electrodes with a base-emitter circuit therebetween to which the output port of said differential amplifier is coupled, said transistor emitter electrode being electrically connected to said output terminal; a first non-linear resistance network electrically connected across the inverting input port of said differential amplifier; and a second non-linear resistance network electrically connected between said transistor collector electrode and said common terminal as well as across the non-inverting input of said differential amplifier, the conductances of said first and said second non-linear resistance networks being in substantially fixed ratio to each other for a range of values of similar applied voltages.

Claim 5

A current amplifier as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of said first and said second non-linear resistance networks includes a plurality n of serially connected diodes.

Claim 6

An amplifire comprising: first and second terminals for application of an operating potential therebetween; a pair of input terminals for receiving input signals referred to said operating potential; an output terminal; first and second and third transistors, of a first conductivity type, each having a base and an emitter and a collector electrode, the base electrodes of said first and said second transistors being respectively electrically connected to separate ones of a pair of input terminals and their emitter electrodes being coupled to each other and direct current conductively coupled to said first terminal; first and second resistive means electrically connecting the collector electrodes of said first transistor and of said third transistor, respectively, to said second terminal; means for electrically connecting said second transistor collector electrode to said output terminal; means for electrically connecting said third transistor emitter electrode to said output terminal; fourth and fifth transistors, of a second conductivity type complementary to said first, each having a base and an emitter and a collector electrode, their emitter electrodes being coupled to each other and direct current conductively coupled to said second terminal; their base electrodes being connected respectively to said first transistor collector electrode and to said third transistor collector electrode; means for electrically connecting said fourth transistor collector electrode to said third transistor base electrode; and means for direct current conductively coupling said fifth transistor collector electrode to said first terminal.

Claim 7

An amplifire comprising: first and second terminals for application of an operating potential therebetween; a pair of input terminals for receiving input signals referred to said operating potential; an output terminal; first and second and third transistors, of a first conductivity type, each having a base and an emitter and a collector electrode, the base electrodes of said first and said second transistors being respectively electrically connected to separate ones of a pair of input terminals and their emitter electrodes being coupled to each other and direct current conductively coupled to said first terminal; first and second resistive means electrically connecting the collector electrodes of said first transistor and of said third transistor, respectively, to said second terminal; means for electrically connecting said second transistor collector electrode to said output terminal; means for electrically connecting said third transistor emitter electrode to said output terminal; fourth and fifth transistors, of a second conductivity type complementary to said first, each having a base and an emitter and a collector electrode, their emitter electrodes being coupled to each other and direct current conductively coupled to said second terminal; their base electrodes being connected respectively to said first transistor collector electrode and to said third transistor collector electrode; means for electrically connecting said fourth transistor collector electrode to said third transistor base electrode; and means for direct current conductively coupling said fifth transistor collector electrode to said first terminal.

Claim 8

an amplifier as set forth in claim 4 wherein: a current mirror amplifier has an input circuit corresponding to said means for direct current conductively coupling said fifth transistor collector electrode to said first terminal and has an output circuit electrically connecting said fourth transistor collector electrode to said first terminal.

Claim 9

An amplifier as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means for electrically connecting said fourth transistor collector electrode to said third transistor base electrode comprises at least one further transistor of said first conductivity type preceding said third transistor and being in Darlington cascade therewith.

Claim 10

An amplifier as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means for electrically connecting said second transistor collector electrode to said output terminal comprises at least one further transistor of said first conductivity type connected in common-base amplifier configuration and cascaded with said second transistor.

Claim 11

An amplifier as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first and said second resistive means are non-linear resistive means having proportionally related current versus potential characteristics.

Claim 12

A current amplifier comprising: input, output and common terminals; a first transistor means of a first conductivity type having an emitter electrode connected to said output terminal and having a base and a collector electrode; a first and a second resistance with respective conductance characteristics proportionally related in the ratio l:k, k being a positive number, said first resistance connected between said input and said common terminals, said second resistance connected between said common terminal and the collector electrode of said first transistor means; a second and a third transistor means of a second conductivity type complementary to said frist, having respective base electrodes connected to said input terminal and to the collector electrode of said first transistor means, each having a collector and an emitter electrodes, and having transconductance characteristics proportionally related in the ratio 1:k; direct current conductive means connecting the joined emitter electrodes of said second and third transistor means to said common terminal; means for proViding a current gain of -1/k between its input connection to the collector electrode of said third transistor means and its output connection to the collector electrode of said second transistor means; and means connecting the collector electrode of said second transistor means to the base electrode of said first transistor means.

Claim 13

A current amplifier comprising: input, output and common terminals; a first transistor means of a first conductivity type having an emitter electrode connected to said output terminal and having a base and a collector electrode; a first and a second resistance with respective conductance characteristics proportionally related in the ratio l:k, k being a positive number, said first resistance connected between said input and said common terminals, said second resistance connected between said common terminal and the collector electrode of said first transistor means; a second and a third transistor means of a second conductivity type complementary to said frist, having respective base electrodes connected to said input terminal and to the collector electrode of said first transistor means, each having a collector and an emitter electrodes, and having transconductance characteristics proportionally related in the ratio 1:k; direct current conductive means connecting the joined emitter electrodes of said second and third transistor means to said common terminal; means for proViding a current gain of -1/k between its input connection to the collector electrode of said third transistor means and its output connection to the collector electrode of said second transistor means; and means connecting the collector electrode of said second transistor means to the base electrode of said first transistor means.

Claim 14

A current amplifier as claimed in claim 10 wherein k is a fraction less than unity.

Claim 15

A current amplifier as claimed in claim 10 wherein k is a number larger than unity.

Claim 16

A current amplifier comprising: an input, an output and a common terminal; first and second transistors of a first conductivity type and a third transistor of a second conductivity type dissimilar to the first, each of said transistors having a base and an emitter and a collector electrodes; first and second circuit nodes similarly electrically connected to said transistor base electrode and to said second transistor base electrode, respectively; a first non-linear resistance connected between said first circuit node and said common terminal; a second non-linear resistance connected between said second circuit node and said common terminal; a first electrical connection, being from said input terminal to said first circuit node; a second electrical connection, being from said first transistor collector electrode to said third transistor base electrode; direct current conductive means; an electrical interconnection of the emitter electrodes of said first and said second transistors both to each other and to said common terminal through said direct current conductive means; means for applying an operating potential to said second transistor collector electrode; a third electrical connection, being between said third transistor emitter electrode and said output terminal; and a fourth electrical connection, being between said third transistor collector electrode and said second circuit node.

Claim 17

A current amplifier comprising: an input, an output and a common terminal; first and second transistors of a first conductivity type and a third transistor of a second conductivity type dissimilar to the first, each of said transistors having a base and an emitter and a collector electrodes; first and second circuit nodes similarly electrically connected to said transistor base electrode and to said second transistor base electrode, respectively; a first non-linear resistance connected between said first circuit node and said common terminal; a second non-linear resistance connected between said second circuit node and said common terminal; a first electrical connection, being from said input terminal to said first circuit node; a second electrical connection, being from said first transistor collector electrode to said third transistor base electrode; direct current conductive means; an electrical interconnection of the emitter electrodes of said first and said second transistors both to each other and to said common terminal through said direct current conductive means; means for applying an operating potential to said second transistor collector electrode; a third electrical connection, being between said third transistor emitter electrode and said output terminal; and a fourth electrical connection, being between said third transistor collector electrode and said second circuit node.

Claim 18

A current amplifier as set forth in claim 12 wherein said first and said second non-linear resistances each comprise a serial connection of a number n of semiconductor rectifier elements.

Claim 19

A current amplifier as set forth in claim 13 wherein a resistor comprises said direct current conductive means.

Claim 20

A current amplifier as set forth in claim 13 wherein a semiconductor rectifier comprises said direct current conductive means.

Claim 21

A current amplifier as set forth in claim 13 wherein a direct current source comprises said direct current conductive means.

Claim 22

A current amplifier as set forth in claim 16 wherein n is a plurality and said current source comprises a fourth transistor of said first conductivity type having an emitter electrode connected to said common terminal, having a collector electrode connected to said electrical interconnection of the emitter electrodes of said first and said second transistors and having a base electrode connected to an interconnection between a pair of the semiconductor rectifier elements included within said first non-linear resistance.

Claim 23

A current amplifier as set forth in claim 16 wherein said direct current source comprises a fourth transistor of said first conductivity type having an emitter electrode connected to said common terminal, having a collector electrode connected to said electrical interconnection of the emitter electrodes of said first and said second transistors and having a base electrode connected to an interconnection between a pair of the semiconductor rectifier elements included within said second non-linear resistance.

Claim 24

A current amplifier as set forth in claim 13 wherein each of said first and said second non-linear resistances comprises a series connection of a plurality n of semiconductor rectifiers and at least one of said first and said second non-linear resistances further includes a fifth transistor havng a collector and an emitter electrodes, between which saId plurality n of semiconductor rectifiers included therewith are in serial connection with interconnections between adjoining ones of them and having a base electrode connected to one of said interconnections between adjoining semiconductor rectifiers.

Claim 25

A current amplifier as set forth in claim 12 wherein: a fourth transistor of said first conductivity type has an emitter electrode electrically connected to said common terminal, has a collector electrode electrically connected to each of the emitter electrodes of said first and said second transistors, has a path between its emitter and collector electrodes corresponding to said direct current conductive means, and has a base electrode; and a first semiconductor rectifier element is connected between the base and the emitter electrodes of said fourth transistor, being poled for simultaneously increased conduction therewith, and is included in at least one of said first and second non-linear resistances.

Claim 26

A current amplifier as set forth in claim 20 wherein said first semiconductor rectifier element is included in both of said first and said second non-linear resistances, each of which non-linear resistances further includes a number m of additional semiconductor rectifier elements serially connected with said first semiconductor rectifier element.

Claim 27

A current amplifier as set forth in claim 12 wherein: fourth and fifth transistors of said first conductivity type each have an emitter electrode electrically connected to said common terminal, each have a collector electrode connected to the emitter electrodes of said first and said second transistors, each having a path between its emitter and collector electrodes which together correspond to said direct current conductive means, and each have a base electrode; a first semiconductor rectifier element is connected between the base and the emitter electrodes of said fourth transistor, being poled for simultaneously increased conduction therewith, and is included in said first non-linear resistive network; and a second semiconductor rectifier element is connected between the base and the emitter electrodes of said fifth transistor being poled for simultaneously increased conduction therewith, and is included in said second non-linear resistive network.

Claim 28

A current amplifier as set forth in claim 12 including: fourth and fifth transistors of said first conductivity type, each having collector and emitter electrodes with a collector-to-emitter path therebetween and having a base electrode, the emitter electrodes of said fourth and fifth transistors each being connected to said common terminal and their base electrodes each being connected to said electrical interconnection of the emitter electrodes of said first and said second transistors, the collector-to-emitter paths of said first and said second transistors being respectively included in said first non-linear resistance and in said second non-linear resistance.

Claim 29

A current amplifier as claimed in claim 12 wherein at least one further transistor of said second conductivity type precedes said third transistor in Darlington cascade connection therewith to provide said second electrical connection via its base-emitter path.

Claim 30

A current amplifier as claimed in claim 12 having a current mirror amplifier with an input terminal connected to said second transistor collector electrode, a common terminal for connection to provide said means for supplying operating potential to said second transistor collector electrode and with an output terminal connected to said first transistor collector electrode.

Claim 31

A current amplifier comprising: input, output and common terminals; first, second and third transistors of a first conductivity type each having base and emitter and collector electrordes; first and second circuit nodes; first and second means for shifting potential levels, each for shifting a potential level by the same amount as the other, respectively connected between said first circuit node and said first transistor base electrode and between said second circuit node and said second transistor base electrode; a first resistance connected between said first circuit node and said common terminal; a second resistance connected between said second circuit node and said common terminal; a first electrical connection, being from said input terminal to said first circuit node; a second electrical connection, being from said first transistor collector electrode to said third transistor base electrode; direct current conductive means; an electrical interconnection of the emitter electrodes of said first and said second transistors both to each other and to said common terminal through said direct current conductive means; means for applying a quiescent current to said first transistor collector electrode; means for connecting said second transistor collector electrode to a point of operating potential; a third electrical connection, being between said third transistor emitter electrode and said output terminal; and a fourth electrical connection, being between said third transistor collector electrode and said second circuit node.

Claim 32

A current amplifier comprising: input, output and common terminals; first, second and third transistors of a first conductivity type each having base and emitter and collector electrordes; first and second circuit nodes; first and second means for shifting potential levels, each for shifting a potential level by the same amount as the other, respectively connected between said first circuit node and said first transistor base electrode and between said second circuit node and said second transistor base electrode; a first resistance connected between said first circuit node and said common terminal; a second resistance connected between said second circuit node and said common terminal; a first electrical connection, being from said input terminal to said first circuit node; a second electrical connection, being from said first transistor collector electrode to said third transistor base electrode; direct current conductive means; an electrical interconnection of the emitter electrodes of said first and said second transistors both to each other and to said common terminal through said direct current conductive means; means for applying a quiescent current to said first transistor collector electrode; means for connecting said second transistor collector electrode to a point of operating potential; a third electrical connection, being between said third transistor emitter electrode and said output terminal; and a fourth electrical connection, being between said third transistor collector electrode and said second circuit node.

Claim 33

A current amplifier as set forth in claim 26 wherein said first and said second resistances are nonlinear resistances with current characteristics in ratio 1:k at any potential over a range of potentials, k being a positive number.

Claim 34

A current amplifier as set forth in claim 27 wherein said first and said second resistances each comprise a serial connection of a plurality of n of semiconductor rectifier elements.