Patent · US Expired

Gain-controlled amplifier

US3950708A · kind A · utility

6Cited by
1References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 4, 1974
Grant dateApr 13, 1976
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 4, 1994

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03G3/00
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The collector potential of a resistively loaded common base amplifier tends to change if its emitter current is altered to affect its emitter resistance and thereby control its gain. This tendency arises because of the change in transistor collector current, which is substantially the same value as the change in its emitter current, acting on the resistive load in accordance with Ohm's Law. A control current is applied to diode means to develop a potential thereacross, which is applied to the base emitter junction of the transistor to control its emitter current. This establishes a known proportion of control current to transistor emitter and collector currents. Changes in the transistor collector current are then compensated for by another current proportional to the control current applied at the transistor collector electrode, thereby to counteract the tendency for the transistor collector potential to change as the gain of the common-base transistor amplifier is changed.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.