US4378531A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Negative resistance oscillator suited for partial integration
Assignee: RCA Licensing Corp
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Filing: 1981-03-10
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Granted: 1983-03-29
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Expires: 2001-03-10
Abstract
Abstract A novel negative resistance oscillator is disclosed for partial integration. The oscillator has a tank circuit and a load, which are non-integrated, and active circuitry, which is integrated. The active circuit consists of a current "source" and two current "sinks", arranged to provide a negative resistance. The oscillator, which is designed to drive an erase head in a tape recorder, as a part of a tape recorder integrated circuit, requires only a single additional pin, has a controlled peak current range, a large dc voltage swing for a given dc supply potential, and an efficient dc to ac current conversion ratio.
Inventors
- 👤 Glenn B. Gawler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 22:53
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03B; H03B7/00; H03B7/02; H03B7/06; H03H; H03H11/00; H03H11/46; H03H11/52
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
354 words
A negative resistance oscillator comprising: A. a first terminal for connection to a positive dc bias potential; a second terminal for connection to a reference dc potential; and a third terminal, B. a resonant tank circuit including an inductance which is connected between said first and said third terminal; C. means for coupling a load to said resonant tank circuit, D. a current source comprising a first transistor gain element having (1) the emitter thereof conductively connected to said first terminal, (2) the base thereof connected to the node of a three branch circuit in which: (a) the first branch includes a first diode connected to conduct current to said node from said first terminal; (b) the second branch includes a second diode connected to conduct current to said node from said third terminal; and (c) the third branch is connected to said second terminal and comprises a first current sink to withdraw a controlled current I CC from said node, any decrease in current in said second branch increasing the current in said first branch and vice versa; and (3) the collector thereof connected through a load including a third diode to said second terminal, the source current occurring in said collector having a first proportionality (M1) to said controlled current (I CC ), when said diode in said second branch is nonconductive, and E. a second current sink comprising a second transistor gain element having (1) the emitter thereof conductively connected to said second terminal, (2) the collector thereof connected in a sense to withdraw from said third terminal a current which has a second proportionality (M2) to said source current [(M1) (I CC )] substantially greater than one, when the diode in said second branch is nonconductive, oscillation occurring between a first state in which said first branch is conductive and the oscillator output current is equal to said controlled current (I CC ) times said first (M1) and second (M2) proportionality; (I.sub.CC) (M1) (M2) and a second state in which said second branch is conductive and the oscillator output current is approximately equal to said controlled current (I CC ).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
354 words
A negative resistance oscillator comprising: A. a first terminal for connection to a positive dc bias potential; a second terminal for connection to a reference dc potential; and a third terminal, B. a resonant tank circuit including an inductance which is connected between said first and said third terminal; C. means for coupling a load to said resonant tank circuit, D. a current source comprising a first transistor gain element having (1) the emitter thereof conductively connected to said first terminal, (2) the base thereof connected to the node of a three branch circuit in which: (a) the first branch includes a first diode connected to conduct current to said node from said first terminal; (b) the second branch includes a second diode connected to conduct current to said node from said third terminal; and (c) the third branch is connected to said second terminal and comprises a first current sink to withdraw a controlled current I CC from said node, any decrease in current in said second branch increasing the current in said first branch and vice versa; and (3) the collector thereof connected through a load including a third diode to said second terminal, the source current occurring in said collector having a first proportionality (M1) to said controlled current (I CC ), when said diode in said second branch is nonconductive, and E. a second current sink comprising a second transistor gain element having (1) the emitter thereof conductively connected to said second terminal, (2) the collector thereof connected in a sense to withdraw from said third terminal a current which has a second proportionality (M2) to said source current [(M1) (I CC )] substantially greater than one, when the diode in said second branch is nonconductive, oscillation occurring between a first state in which said first branch is conductive and the oscillator output current is equal to said controlled current (I CC ) times said first (M1) and second (M2) proportionality; (I.sub.CC) (M1) (M2) and a second state in which said second branch is conductive and the oscillator output current is approximately equal to said controlled current (I CC ).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
A negative resistance oscillator as set forth in claim 1 wherein a first resistance is provided for conductively connecting the emitter of said first transistor to said first terminal, a second resistance is provided in said first branch in series with said first diode, and a third resistance is provided in said second branch in series with said second diode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A negative resistance oscillator as set forth in claim 2 wherein the second resistance is equal to the third resistance, and the first resistance is selected to achieve a first proportionality (M1) approximately equal to unity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A negative resistance oscillator as set forth in claim 2 wherein a fourth resistance is included in said collector connected load and serially connected with said third diode, and a fifth resistance is provided conductively connecting said emitter of said second transistor to said second terminal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
A negative resistance oscillator as set forth in claim 4 wherein: the second resistance is equal to the third resistance, and the first resistance is selected to achieve for said first proportionality (M1) a value approximately equal to unity, and said fourth and fifth resistances are selected to achieve for said second proportionality a value substantially greater than unity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A negative resistance oscillator as set forth in claim 4, wherein said inductance is a portion of a transformer, the primary of which is connected between said first and third terminals, and said means for coupling a load to said resonant tank circuit is the secondary of said transformer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A negative resistance oscillator suited for partial integration as set forth in claim 4, wherein said first and second current sink are integrated on a common substrate while said resonant tank circuit and load are separated therefrom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
304 words
A negative resistance circuit comprising: A. a first terminal for connection to a positive dc bias potential; a second terminal for connection to a reference dc potential; and a third terminal at which said negative resistance appears; B. a current source comprising a first transistor gain element having (1) the emitter thereof conductively connected to said first terminal, (2) the base thereof connected to the node of a three branch circuit in which: (a) the first branch includes a first diode connected to conduct current to said node from said first terminal, (b) the second branch includes a second diode connected to conduct current to said node from said third terminal; and (c) the third branch is connected to said second terminal and comprises a first current sink to withdraw a controlled current (I CC ) from said node, any decreases in current in said second branch increasing the current in said first branch and vice versa; and (3) the collector thereof connected through a load including a third diode to said second terminal, the source current occurring in said collector having a first proportionality (M1) to said controlled current (I CC ) when said diode in said second branch is nonconductive, and C. a second current sink comprising a second transistor gain element having (1) the emitter thereof conductively connected to said second terminal, (2) the collector thereof connected in a sense to withdraw from said third terminal a current which has a second proportionality (M2) to said source current [(M1) (I CC )] substantially greater than one, when the diode in said second branch is nonconductive, the circuit having a first state in which said first branch is conductive and said second branch is nonconductive, and a second state in which said second branch is conductive and said first branch is nonconductive.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
304 words
A negative resistance circuit comprising: A. a first terminal for connection to a positive dc bias potential; a second terminal for connection to a reference dc potential; and a third terminal at which said negative resistance appears; B. a current source comprising a first transistor gain element having (1) the emitter thereof conductively connected to said first terminal, (2) the base thereof connected to the node of a three branch circuit in which: (a) the first branch includes a first diode connected to conduct current to said node from said first terminal, (b) the second branch includes a second diode connected to conduct current to said node from said third terminal; and (c) the third branch is connected to said second terminal and comprises a first current sink to withdraw a controlled current (I CC ) from said node, any decreases in current in said second branch increasing the current in said first branch and vice versa; and (3) the collector thereof connected through a load including a third diode to said second terminal, the source current occurring in said collector having a first proportionality (M1) to said controlled current (I CC ) when said diode in said second branch is nonconductive, and C. a second current sink comprising a second transistor gain element having (1) the emitter thereof conductively connected to said second terminal, (2) the collector thereof connected in a sense to withdraw from said third terminal a current which has a second proportionality (M2) to said source current [(M1) (I CC )] substantially greater than one, when the diode in said second branch is nonconductive, the circuit having a first state in which said first branch is conductive and said second branch is nonconductive, and a second state in which said second branch is conductive and said first branch is nonconductive.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
73 words
A negative resistance circuit as set forth in claim 8 wherein a first resistance (R3) is provided for conductively connecting the emitter of said first transistor to said first terminal, a second resistance (R2) is provided in said first branch in series with said first diode, and a third resistance is provided in said second branch in series with said second diode, the circuit parameters establishing the following inequality R.sub.2 /R.sub.3 (M1) (M2)>1.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3986152A
Cited
US4230999A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-03-28 | 1986-09-27 | 1987-03-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-03-28 | 1990-09-27 | 1991-03-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-03-28 | 1994-09-27 | 1995-03-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |