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US5083095A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Plural source follower amplifier

Assignee: Knowles Electronics LLC
•
Filing: 1990-08-22
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Granted: 1992-01-21
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Expires: 2010-08-22
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Abstract

Abstract An amplifier having improved input impedance and reduced susceptibility to power supply ripple, particularly suited for use with a high impedance signal source, utilizes at least two field-effect transistors; the signal source is connected to the gate of the first FET, which is connected to a reference potential by a high resistance, whereas the source electrode of the first FET is connected to the reference potential (usually ground) through a much smaller load resistance and is also connected to the gate of the second FET. The source of the second FET is connected to the drain of the first FET and the drain of the second FET is connected to a power source, usually a low voltage source.

Inventors

  • 👤 Peter L. Madaffari

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 18:25
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03F; H03F3/00; H03F3/34; H03F3/343; H03F3/345; H03F3/50; H03F3/505; H04; H04R; H04R25/00; H04R25/45; H04R25/456

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 166 words
An impedance conversion amplifier that is effective to suppress ripple and other extraneous signals from a power supply comprising: first and second field-effect transistors (FETs) each having gate, source, and drain electrodes; input means for applying an A.C. input signal to the gate of the first FET, the input means including a very high impedance input resistor connected from the gate of the first FET to the reference potential; a load resistor connecting the source of the first FET to a reference potential; connector means connecting the drain and source of the first FET to the source and gate, respectively, of the second FET; and means for connecting the drain of the second FET to a low voltage power supply; whereby the first FET affords the functions of impedance conversion and gate bias for the second FET and the second FET provides a relatively constant operating voltage for the first FET, driving the drain of the first FET to near the A.C. potential of its gate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 166 words
An impedance conversion amplifier that is effective to suppress ripple and other extraneous signals from a power supply comprising: first and second field-effect transistors (FETs) each having gate, source, and drain electrodes; input means for applying an A.C. input signal to the gate of the first FET, the input means including a very high impedance input resistor connected from the gate of the first FET to the reference potential; a load resistor connecting the source of the first FET to a reference potential; connector means connecting the drain and source of the first FET to the source and gate, respectively, of the second FET; and means for connecting the drain of the second FET to a low voltage power supply; whereby the first FET affords the functions of impedance conversion and gate bias for the second FET and the second FET provides a relatively constant operating voltage for the first FET, driving the drain of the first FET to near the A.C. potential of its gate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
An impedance conversion amplifier according to claim 1 in which the input resistor is in the gigaohm range and the load resistor is in the kilohm range.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 15 words
An impedance conversion amplifier according to claim 2 in which the reference potential is ground.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
An impedance conversion amplifier according to claim 1 in which both FETs are formed on one semi-conductor base.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 61 words
An impedance conversion amplifier according to claim 1 and further comprising: a third FET having gate, source, and drain electrodes; means interconnecting the gate and drain electrodes, respectively, of the second and third FETs; and a load resistor connecting the source of the third FET to the reference potential; whereby the third FET affords a further impedance reduction for the amplifier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 32 words
An impedance conversion amplifier according to claim 5 in which the input means includes a very high impedance input resistor connected from the gate of the first FET to the reference potential.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 29 words
An impedance conversion amplifier according to claim 6 in which the input resistor is in the gigaohm range and each of the load resistors is in the kilohm range.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 15 words
An impedance conversion amplifier according to claim 7 in which the reference potential is ground.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 23 words
An impedance conversion amplifier according to claim 5 in which the second and third FETs comprise a single FET having two source electrodes
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 18 words
An impedance conversion amplifier according to claim 5 in which all FETs are formed on one semi-conductor base.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3801933A Cited
US3927383A Cited
US4063050A Cited
US4151480A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-01-20 1995-07-22 1996-01-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-01-20 1999-07-22 2000-01-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-01-20 2003-07-22 2004-01-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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