Circuits and methods for controlling quiescent current in amplifiers
US8305144B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 9, 2010 |
| Grant date | Nov 6, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 9, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03F2203/45681
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A power amplifier provides relatively stable quiescent current while maintaining relatively high signal gains and peak to quiescent current ratios. The power amplifier has an input stage and a current mirror stage and incorporates a control transistor between these stages. The control transistor transitions to the triode mode for small inputs and offset voltages thereby reducing the amplifier circuit's gain. However, the control transistor transitions from the triode region to saturation as the input signal becomes larger thereby allowing the amplifier circuit to maintain a relatively high gain for large inputs. Accordingly, better quiescent current characteristics can be obtained without significantly sacrificing performance.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.