Amplifiers – With semiconductor amplifying device – Including differential amplifier
Patent
1982-05-26
1984-10-23
Mullins, James B.
Amplifiers
With semiconductor amplifying device
Including differential amplifier
307355, 307565, 330296, 330311, H03F 345
Patent
active
044790945
ABSTRACT:
A differential amplifier having a pair of common base transistors with emitter electrodes adapted for coupling to an input signal and collector electrodes coupled to a voltage source through a pair of resistors. A pair of clamping diodes is connected, in opposing polarity, across the collector electrodes to limit the differential voltages produced at such collector electrodes. A bias circuit is provided between the voltage source and the common base electrodes of the transistors to provide a bias voltage at the common base electrodes which is as close to the voltage of the voltage supply without biasing either one of such pair of transistors into saturation. The bias circuit includes a first resistor connected between the voltage source and the common base electrodes and, in parallel with such first resistor, second resistor and serially connected diode. The emitter electrodes of the pair of transistors is connected to a current source matched to a current source coupled to the bias circuit so that the voltage drop produced across the bias circuit is equal to the voltage drop produced between the voltage source and the collector electrodes of the pair of transistors. With such arrangement, such differential amplifiers may be used in a cascade connected multi-gain stage of a comparator circuit with level shifting provided therein with Zener connected transistors following the cascaded gain stages thereby reducing the effect of process created variations in the Zener connected transistors and the pair of clamping diodes on such comparator circuit.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3461397 (1969-08-01), Cunningham
"A Fast, Latching Comparator for 12 Bit A/D Applications", by George Erdi, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, vol. SC-15, No. 6, Dec. 1980, pp. 949-954.
"A 100 .mu.V 120ns Strobed Comparator", by Robert W. Webb and Rodrigo T. Barroso, 1979 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference, pp. 130-131.
"Advanced Micro Devices--Linear and Interface Data Book", 1979, pp. 2-19 to 2-26.
"A New High-Speed Comparator, The Am685", by Jim Giles and Alan Seales, pp. 2-39 to 2-47.
Mullins James B.
Pannone Joseph D.
Raytheon Company
Sharkansky Richard M.
LandOfFree
Differential amplifier does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Differential amplifier, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Differential amplifier will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1601338