US3946327A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Amplifier employing complementary field-effect transistors
Assignee: RCA Corp
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Filing: 1974-10-23
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Granted: 1976-03-23
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Expires: 1994-10-23
Abstract
Abstract Separate nonlinear load elements connected between the output terminal and each operating potential terminal of a complementary field-effect transistor amplifier determine the amplifier voltage gain and render it insensitive to variations in the operating potentials. The load elements may comprise other field-effect transistors whereby the effective amplifier gain is determined in accordance with a transconductance ratio. The transconductance ratio may be specified in terms of easily manipulated device parameters such as channel width-to-length ratios of the various transistors.
Inventors
- 👤 Sheng Teng Hsu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 05:01
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03F; H03F1/00; H03F1/30; H03F1/307; H03F1/308; H03F3/00; H03F3/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
In an amplifier of the kind comprising a first terminal for receiving an input signal, a second terminal for providing an output signal, third and fourth terminals for receiving a direct current operating potential thereacross, first and second complementary field effect transistors, each transistor having source, gate and drain electrodes, the source electrodes of said first and second transistors being connected to said third and fourth terminals, respectively, said gate electrodes being connected to said first terminal, and said drain electrodes being connected to said second terminal, said first and second transistors being quiescently biased such that both are in saturation, the improvement comprising: first voltage dependent variable conductance means continuously connected between said second and third terminals, said first means for conducting current therebetween in the same relative sense as said first transistor and having a conductance which increases as the potential difference between said second and third terminals increases; and second voltage dependent variable conductance means continuously connected between said second and fourth terminals, said second means for conducting current therebetween in the same relative sense as said second transistor and having a conductance which increases as the potential difference between said second and fourth terminals increases.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
In an amplifier of the kind comprising a first terminal for receiving an input signal, a second terminal for providing an output signal, third and fourth terminals for receiving a direct current operating potential thereacross, first and second complementary field effect transistors, each transistor having source, gate and drain electrodes, the source electrodes of said first and second transistors being connected to said third and fourth terminals, respectively, said gate electrodes being connected to said first terminal, and said drain electrodes being connected to said second terminal, said first and second transistors being quiescently biased such that both are in saturation, the improvement comprising: first voltage dependent variable conductance means continuously connected between said second and third terminals, said first means for conducting current therebetween in the same relative sense as said first transistor and having a conductance which increases as the potential difference between said second and third terminals increases; and second voltage dependent variable conductance means continuously connected between said second and fourth terminals, said second means for conducting current therebetween in the same relative sense as said second transistor and having a conductance which increases as the potential difference between said second and fourth terminals increases.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
The amplifier as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second variable conductance means comprises third and fourth field effect transistors, respectively, the gate electrode of each being connected to the drain electrode thereof, the drain-to-source path of said third transistor being connected between said second and third terminals and the drain-to-source path of said fourth transistor being connected between said second and fourth terminals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The amplifier as set forth in claim 2 wherein said third and fourth field-effect transistors have conduction paths of complementary conductivity types.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The amplifier as set forth in claim 2 wherein said third and fourth field-effect transistors have conduction paths of non-complementary conductivity types.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
177 words
An amplifier, comprising, in combination: first, second, third and fourth terminals, said first terminal for receiving an input signal to be amplified, said second terminal for providing an output signal, said third and fourth terminals for receiving a direct current operating potential thereacross; first and second complementary field effect transistors, each having source, gate and drain electrodes, said gate electrodes being connected to said first terminal, said drain electrodes being directly connected to said second terminal, said source electrodes being connected to separate ones of said third and fourth terminals; a third field effect transistor having a conduction channel and a gate electrode, said conduction channel being connected between said second and third terminals, said gate electrode being connected to a selected one of said second and third terminals for receiving turn-on bias; and a fourth field effect transistor having a conduction channel and a gate electrode, said conduction channel being connected between said second and fourth terminals, said gate electrode being connected to a selected one of said second and fourth terminals for receiving turn-on bias.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
177 words
An amplifier, comprising, in combination: first, second, third and fourth terminals, said first terminal for receiving an input signal to be amplified, said second terminal for providing an output signal, said third and fourth terminals for receiving a direct current operating potential thereacross; first and second complementary field effect transistors, each having source, gate and drain electrodes, said gate electrodes being connected to said first terminal, said drain electrodes being directly connected to said second terminal, said source electrodes being connected to separate ones of said third and fourth terminals; a third field effect transistor having a conduction channel and a gate electrode, said conduction channel being connected between said second and third terminals, said gate electrode being connected to a selected one of said second and third terminals for receiving turn-on bias; and a fourth field effect transistor having a conduction channel and a gate electrode, said conduction channel being connected between said second and fourth terminals, said gate electrode being connected to a selected one of said second and fourth terminals for receiving turn-on bias.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The amplifier recited in claim 5 wherein said third and fourth field-effect transistors are complementary.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The amplifier recited in claim 5 wherein said third and fourth field-effect transistors are non-complementary.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
100 words
In combination: a complementary field effect transistor amplifier having an input terminal, an output terminal and two operating potential supply terminals; a first diode-connected field effect transistor connected between said output terminal and one of said supply terminals; a second diode-connected field effect transistor connected between said output terminal and the other of said supply terminals; and wherein each said diode-connected field effect transistor is poled in a sense to be forward biased upon application of an operating potential across said supply terminals thereby providing a voltage dependent load impedance for said amplifier which decreases as said operating potential increases.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
100 words
In combination: a complementary field effect transistor amplifier having an input terminal, an output terminal and two operating potential supply terminals; a first diode-connected field effect transistor connected between said output terminal and one of said supply terminals; a second diode-connected field effect transistor connected between said output terminal and the other of said supply terminals; and wherein each said diode-connected field effect transistor is poled in a sense to be forward biased upon application of an operating potential across said supply terminals thereby providing a voltage dependent load impedance for said amplifier which decreases as said operating potential increases.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination recited in claim 8 wherein said first and second diode-connected field-effect transistors are complementary enhancement-mode field effect transistors.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination recited in claim 8 wherein said first and second diode-connected field effect transistors are non-complementary enhancement-mode field effect transistors.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3365834A
Cited
US3872390A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-03-23 | 1979-09-22 | 1980-03-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-23 | 1983-09-22 | 1984-03-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-23 | 1987-09-22 | 1988-03-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |