US4230953A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Non-linear control circuit
Assignee: National Semiconductor Corp
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Filing: 1978-07-31
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Granted: 1980-10-28
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Expires: 1998-07-31
Abstract
Abstract A low-Q mechanical resonator is operated in its series resonance mode in a circuit that includes an amplifier and voltage variable phase shifter. As the phase shift is varied, the resonator will shift its frequency to compensate the phase shift. The result is a voltage variable oscillator frequency. The low-Q resonator has a non-linear phase versus frequency characteristic so that frequency is not a linear function of control voltage. A plural emitter transistor is employed in one side of a non-linear differential control amplifier. The resulting non-linear transfer characteristic is used to compensate the non-linear oscillator characteristic so that the frequency versus control voltage is linear.
Inventors
- 👤 Milton E. Wilcox
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 10:10
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03B; H03B5/00; H03B5/30; H03B5/32; H03B5/36; H03B5/366
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A control circuit having a non-linear transfer characteristic as a function of an applied control potential, said circuit comprising: a differential amplifier stage having a differential control input, a common mode input, and an output; and a differential control stage having a differential output coupled to said control input of said differential amplifier stage, and a differential input, said differential control stage including a pair of transistors each constructed so as to have substantially different characteristics whereby the signal transfer characteristic from said common mode input to said differential amplifier stage output is a non-linear function of said potential applied to said input of said differential control stage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
A control circuit having a non-linear transfer characteristic as a function of an applied control potential, said circuit comprising: a differential amplifier stage having a differential control input, a common mode input, and an output; and a differential control stage having a differential output coupled to said control input of said differential amplifier stage, and a differential input, said differential control stage including a pair of transistors each constructed so as to have substantially different characteristics whereby the signal transfer characteristic from said common mode input to said differential amplifier stage output is a non-linear function of said potential applied to said input of said differential control stage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The control circuit of claim 1 wherein one of said transistors is a plural emitter transistor and said circuit further includes means for controlling the flow of current in said emitters so that each emitter has a different threshold as a function of base potential.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The control circuit of claim 2 wherein the other transistor of said pair has a single emitter coupled through a resistor voltage divider to a current source and each emitter of said plural emitter transistor is coupled through a separate resistor to a separate point on said voltage divider.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The control circuit of claim 3 wherein said differential output of said differential control stage is coupled to an emitter load device, said emitter load device comprising: a dual emitter transistor and means for coupling an emitter to each side of said differential output.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3428827A
Cited
US3643107A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-10-28 | 1984-04-28 | 1984-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-10-28 | 1988-04-28 | 1988-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-10-28 | 1992-04-28 | 1992-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |