IP Library Granted Patent US 7,279,969
Granted Patent B2
US 7,279,969 · App. 11/315,252 · Granted Oct 9, 2007

Signal amplification method and amplifier array

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,279,969
App. No.
11/315,252
Granted
Oct 9, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

An amplifier array includes a servo amplifier, which has a reference signal input, a return signal input, and an output signal connection, which supplies an output signal path, a reference signal generator, which supplies reference signals with different level heights to the reference signal input, and with a return, which supplies a signal, attenuated by a value of the feedback attenuation, from the output path as a return signal to the return signal input, whereby the servo amplifier supplies an amplified difference between the reference signal and return signal in the output signal path. The amplifier array has a connectable bypass gain path, which in the connected state is supplied phase-coupled to the reference signal generator and which supplies a bypass output signal in the output path.

Claims (20)

1. A signal amplification method comprising the steps of:

amplifying a difference between a reference signal, having different level heights, and a return signal, attenuated by feedback attenuation, of an output signal path by a servo gain path; and

connecting the servo gain path during operation with great changes in level to a bypass gain path, which is supplied phase-coupled to the reference signal and supplies the output signal path together with the servo gain path.

2. The signal amplification method according to claim 1 , wherein the servo gain path is operated with a smaller bandwidth with a connected bypass gain path than without a connected bypass gain path.

3. The signal amplification method according to claim 2 , wherein a controllable amplification of the bypass gain path is set to a function of a reciprocal value of the feedback attenuation.

4. The signal amplification method according to claim 3 , wherein the difference between the reference signal and return signal is determined by a sensor.

5. The signal amplification method according to claim 4 , wherein the amplification of the bypass gain path is controlled by a controller coupled to the sensor as a function of the determined difference.

6. The signal amplification method according to claim 5 , wherein a difference between the maximum values of the return signal and the maximum values of the reference signal and/or a difference between the minimum values of the return signal and the minimum values of the reference signal are formed.

7. The signal amplification method according to claim 6 , wherein overproportionally higher pulse changes in the bypass gain path are set during operation with high signal levels of the reference signal than at low signal levels of the reference signal.

8. An amplifier array comprising:

a servo amplifier that has a reference signal input, a return signal input, and an output signal connection, which supplies an output signal path; and

a reference signal generator, which supplies reference signals with different level heights to the reference signal input, and with a return that supplies a signal attenuated by a value of a feedback attenuation from the output path as a return signal to the return signal input,

wherein the servo amplifier supplies an amplified difference between the reference signal and return signal in the output signal path, and

wherein the amplifier array has a connectable bypass gain path, which in a connected state is supplied phase-coupled to the signal of the reference signal generator, and which supplies a bypass output signal in the output path.

9. The amplifier array according to claim 8 , wherein a bandwidth of the servo amplifier is modifiable between variably large values, and wherein the servo amplifier functions with smaller bandwidths with the connected bypass gain path than without the connected bypass gain path.

10. The amplifier array according to claim 8 , wherein the bypass gain path has a controllable amplification, and wherein the amplifier array sets the controllable amplification to a function of the reciprocal value of the feedback attenuation.

11. The amplifier array according to claim 8 , further comprising a sensor, which determines the difference between the reference signal and return signal.

12. The amplifier array according to claim 11 , further comprising a controller, which is coupled to the sensor, for controlling the amplification of the bypass gain path depending on the determined difference.

13. The amplifier array according to claim 12 , wherein the sensor forms a difference between maximum values of the return signal and maximum values of the reference signal and/or a difference between minimum values of the return signal and minimum values of the reference signal.

14. The amplifier array according to claim 13 , wherein the amplifier array sets a controllable amplification of the bypass amplifier to a function of a reciprocal value of the feedback attenuation overproportionally greater pulse changes in the bypass gain path during operation with high signal levels of the reference signal than at low signal levels of the reference signal.

Assignments (11)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059358/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059262/0105 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059333/0222 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2018
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047103/0206 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2018
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 046426/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2017
From: ATMEL CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 041715/0747 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Apr 7, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038376/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 3, 2014
From: ATMEL CORPORATION
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC. AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031912/0173 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2012
From: ATMEL GERMANY GMBH
To: ATMEL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
Reel/Frame 027952/0260 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2011
From: ATMEL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 025899/0710 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 16, 2006
From: BRENNDOERFER, KNUT; GROPPER, KARL-JOSEF; KARTHAUS, UDO; KNOTZ, HERBERT; SCHABEL, STEFAN
To: ATMEL GERMANY GMBH
Reel/Frame 017577/0946 →