Patent US5471174A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US5471174A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Amplifier having an output stage with bias current cancellation

Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries LLC
•
Filing: 1994-12-05
•
Granted: 1995-11-28
•
Expires: 2014-12-05
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An amplifier circuit (10) receives a differential input signal and provides an amplified differential signal. A converter circuit (14) is responsive to the amplified differential signal and provides a single-ended signal. An output stage (16) is responsive to the single-ended signal for providing an output signal of the amplifier circuit. The output stage provides bias cancellation for the single-ended signal by injecting a current equal to the bias requirement of the input transistors (20, 38). The bias cancellation maintains a high input impedance and high gain and output drive for the output stage.

Inventors

  • 👤 Thomas D. Petty
  • 👤 Troy L. Stockstad
  • 👤 Robert L. Vyne

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 23:09
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03F; H03F3/00; H03F3/34; H03F3/343; H03F1/00; H03F1/56

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 137 words
A circuit, comprising: a first transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to an input of the circuit, said emitter being coupled to a first power supply conductor; a first current mirror circuit having an input coupled to said collector of said first transistor; a second current mirror circuit having an input and an output, said output being coupled to a first output of said first current mirror circuit and to said input of the circuit, said input being coupled to a second output of said first current mirror circuit; and a second transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to said input of the circuit, said emitter being coupled to said first power supply conductor, said collector providing an output signal of the circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 137 words
A circuit, comprising: a first transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to an input of the circuit, said emitter being coupled to a first power supply conductor; a first current mirror circuit having an input coupled to said collector of said first transistor; a second current mirror circuit having an input and an output, said output being coupled to a first output of said first current mirror circuit and to said input of the circuit, said input being coupled to a second output of said first current mirror circuit; and a second transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to said input of the circuit, said emitter being coupled to said first power supply conductor, said collector providing an output signal of the circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 120 words
The circuit of claim 1 wherein said first current mirror circuit includes: a third transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base and collector being coupled together to said collector of said first transistor, said emitter being coupled to a second power supply conductor; and a fourth transistor having a base, first and second collectors and an emitter, said base being coupled to said base and said collector of said third transistor, said emitter being coupled to said second power supply conductor, said first collector being coupled to said output of said second current mirror circuit and to said input of the circuit, said second collector being coupled to said input of said second current mirror circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 107 words
The circuit of claim 1 wherein said second current mirror circuit includes: a third transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base and collector being coupled together to said second output of said first current mirror circuit, said emitter being coupled to said first power supply conductor; and a fourth transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to said base and said collector of said third transistor, said emitter being coupled to said first power supply conductor, said collector being coupled to said first output of said first current mirror circuit and to said input of the circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 224 words
An amplifier output stage, comprising: a first transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to an input of the amplifier output stage, said emitter being coupled to a first power supply conductor; a first current mirror circuit having an output coupled to said collector of said first transistor; a second transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said collector being coupled to an input of said first current mirror circuit, said emitter being coupled to said first power supply conductor; a third transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to said collector of said first transistor, said emitter being coupled to a second power supply conductor, said collector being coupled to said base of said second transistor at a first node; a fourth transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to said first node, said emitter being coupled to said first power supply conductor; a second current mirror circuit having an input coupled to said collector of said fourth transistor; and a third current mirror circuit having an input coupled to a first output of said second current mirror circuit and having an output coupled to a second output of said second current mirror circuit and to said input of the amplifier output stage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 224 words
An amplifier output stage, comprising: a first transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to an input of the amplifier output stage, said emitter being coupled to a first power supply conductor; a first current mirror circuit having an output coupled to said collector of said first transistor; a second transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said collector being coupled to an input of said first current mirror circuit, said emitter being coupled to said first power supply conductor; a third transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to said collector of said first transistor, said emitter being coupled to a second power supply conductor, said collector being coupled to said base of said second transistor at a first node; a fourth transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to said first node, said emitter being coupled to said first power supply conductor; a second current mirror circuit having an input coupled to said collector of said fourth transistor; and a third current mirror circuit having an input coupled to a first output of said second current mirror circuit and having an output coupled to a second output of said second current mirror circuit and to said input of the amplifier output stage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 49 words
The amplifier output stage of claim 4 further including a fifth transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to said first node, said emitter being coupled to said first power supply conductor, said collector providing an output signal of the amplifier output stage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 38 words
The amplifier output stage of claim 5 further including: a current source coupled between said first node and said first power supply conductor; and a capacitor coupled between said first node and said base of said third transistor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 96 words
The amplifier output stage of claim 4 wherein said first current mirror circuit includes: a fifth transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base and collector being coupled together to said collector of said second transistor, said emitter being coupled to said second power supply conductor; and a sixth transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to said base and said collector of said fifth transistor, said emitter being coupled to said second power supply conductor, said collector being coupled to said collector of said first transistor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 155 words
The amplifier output stage of claim 4 wherein said second current mirror circuit includes: a fifth transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base and collector being coupled together to said collector of said fourth transistor, said emitter being coupled to said second power supply conductor; a sixth transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to said base and said collector of said fifth transistor, said emitter being coupled to said second power supply conductor, said collector being coupled to said input of said third current mirror circuit; and a seventh transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to said base and said collector of said fifth transistor, said emitter being coupled to said second power supply conductor, said collector being coupled to said output of said third current mirror circuit and to said input of the amplifier output stage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 111 words
The amplifier output stage of claim 4 wherein said third current mirror circuit includes: a fifth transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base and collector being coupled together to said first output of said second current mirror circuit, said emitter being coupled to said first power supply conductor; and a sixth transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to said base and said collector of said fifth transistor, said emitter being coupled to said first power supply conductor, said collector being coupled to said second output of said second current mirror circuit and to said input of the amplifier output stage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 228 words
An amplifier circuit, comprising: a differential input stage having first and second inputs coupled for receiving a differential input signal and having first and second outputs for providing an amplified differential signal; a converter circuit having first and second inputs coupled for receiving said amplified differential signal and having an output for providing a single-ended signal; and an output stage having an input coupled for receiving said single-ended signal and having an output for providing an output signal of the amplifier circuit, said output stage including, (a) a first transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to said input of said output stage, said emitter being coupled to a first power supply conductor, (b) a first current mirror circuit having an input coupled to said collector of said first transistor, (c) a second current mirror circuit having an input and an output, said output being coupled to a first output of said first current mirror circuit and to said input of said output stage, said input being coupled to a second output of said first current mirror circuit, and (d) a second transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to said input of said output stage, said emitter being coupled to said first power supply conductor, said collector providing the output signal of the amplifier circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 228 words
An amplifier circuit, comprising: a differential input stage having first and second inputs coupled for receiving a differential input signal and having first and second outputs for providing an amplified differential signal; a converter circuit having first and second inputs coupled for receiving said amplified differential signal and having an output for providing a single-ended signal; and an output stage having an input coupled for receiving said single-ended signal and having an output for providing an output signal of the amplifier circuit, said output stage including, (a) a first transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to said input of said output stage, said emitter being coupled to a first power supply conductor, (b) a first current mirror circuit having an input coupled to said collector of said first transistor, (c) a second current mirror circuit having an input and an output, said output being coupled to a first output of said first current mirror circuit and to said input of said output stage, said input being coupled to a second output of said first current mirror circuit, and (d) a second transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to said input of said output stage, said emitter being coupled to said first power supply conductor, said collector providing the output signal of the amplifier circuit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 122 words
The amplifier circuit of claim 10 wherein said first current mirror circuit includes: a third transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base and collector being coupled together to said collector of said first transistor, said emitter being coupled to a second power supply conductor; and a fourth transistor having a base, first and second collectors and an emitter, said base being coupled to said base and said collector of said third transistor, said emitter being coupled to said second power supply conductor, said first collector being coupled to said output of said second current mirror circuit and to said input of said output stage, said second collector being coupled to said input of said second current mirror circuit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 109 words
The amplifier circuit of claim 10 wherein said second current mirror circuit includes: a third transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base and collector being coupled together to said second output of said first current mirror circuit, said emitter being coupled to said first power supply conductor; and a fourth transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to said base and said collector of said third transistor, said emitter being coupled to said first power supply conductor, said collector being coupled to said first output of said first current mirror circuit and to said input of said output stage.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 314 words
An amplifier circuit, comprising: a differential input stage having first and second inputs coupled for receiving a differential input signal and having first and second outputs for providing an amplified differential signal; a converter circuit having first and second inputs coupled for receiving said amplified differential signal and having an output for providing a single-ended signal; and an output stage having an input coupled for receiving said single-ended signal and having an output for providing an output signal of the amplifier circuit, said output stage including, (a) a first transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to said input of said output stage, said emitter being coupled to a first power supply conductor, (b) a first current mirror circuit having an input and having an output coupled to said collector of said first transistor, (c) a second transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said collector being coupled to said input of said first current mirror circuit, said emitter being coupled to said first power supply conductor, (d) a third transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said based being coupled to said collector of said first transistor, said emitter being coupled to a second power supply conductor, said collector being coupled to said base of said second transistor at a first node, (e) a fourth transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to said first node, said emitter being coupled to said first power supply conductor, (f) a second current mirror circuit having an input coupled to said collector of said fourth transistor, and (g) a third current mirror circuit having an input coupled to a first output of said second current mirror circuit and having an output coupled to a second output of said second current mirror circuit and to said input of said output stage.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 314 words
An amplifier circuit, comprising: a differential input stage having first and second inputs coupled for receiving a differential input signal and having first and second outputs for providing an amplified differential signal; a converter circuit having first and second inputs coupled for receiving said amplified differential signal and having an output for providing a single-ended signal; and an output stage having an input coupled for receiving said single-ended signal and having an output for providing an output signal of the amplifier circuit, said output stage including, (a) a first transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to said input of said output stage, said emitter being coupled to a first power supply conductor, (b) a first current mirror circuit having an input and having an output coupled to said collector of said first transistor, (c) a second transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said collector being coupled to said input of said first current mirror circuit, said emitter being coupled to said first power supply conductor, (d) a third transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said based being coupled to said collector of said first transistor, said emitter being coupled to a second power supply conductor, said collector being coupled to said base of said second transistor at a first node, (e) a fourth transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to said first node, said emitter being coupled to said first power supply conductor, (f) a second current mirror circuit having an input coupled to said collector of said fourth transistor, and (g) a third current mirror circuit having an input coupled to a first output of said second current mirror circuit and having an output coupled to a second output of said second current mirror circuit and to said input of said output stage.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 80 words
The amplifier circuit of claim 13 wherein said output stage further includes: a fifth transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to said first node, said emitter being coupled to said first power supply conductor, said collector providing an output signal of the amplifier circuit; a current source coupled between said first node and said first power supply conductor; and a capacitor coupled between said first node and said base of said third transistor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 95 words
The amplifier circuit of claim 13 wherein said first current mirror circuit includes: a fifth transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base and collector being coupled together to said collector of said second transistor, said emitter being coupled to said second power supply conductor; and a sixth transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to said base and said collector of said fifth transistor, said emitter being coupled to said second power supply conductor, said collector being coupled to said collector of said first transistor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 153 words
The amplifier circuit of claim 13 wherein said second current mirror circuit includes: a fifth transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base and collector being coupled together to said collector of said fourth transistor, said emitter being coupled to said second power supply conductor; a sixth transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to said base and said collector of said fifth transistor, said emitter being coupled to said second power supply conductor, said collector being coupled to said input of said third current mirror circuit; and a seventh transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to said base and said collector of said fifth transistor, said emitter being coupled to said second power supply conductor, said collector being coupled to said output of said third current mirror circuit and to said input of said output stage.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 109 words
The amplifier circuit of claim 13 wherein said third current mirror circuit includes: a fifth transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base and collector being coupled together to said first output of said second current mirror circuit, said emitter being coupled to said first power supply conductor; and a sixth transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter, said base being coupled to said base and said collector of said fifth transistor, said emitter being coupled to said first power supply conductor, said collector being coupled to said second output of said second current mirror circuit and to said input of said output stage.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

JPS5917712A Cited
JPH01278108A Cited
US5406222A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1998-11-27 1999-05-29 1999-11-28 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2002-11-27 2003-05-29 2003-11-28 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2006-11-27 2007-05-29 2007-11-28 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag