IP Library Granted Patent US 7,342,457
Granted Patent B2
US 7,342,457 · App. 11/638,639 · Granted Mar 11, 2008

Cross-differential amplifier

Assignee: California Institute of Technology
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,342,457
App. No.
11/638,639
Granted
Mar 11, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cross-differential amplifier is provided. The cross-differential amplifier includes an inductor connected to a direct current power source at a first terminal. A first and second switch, such as transistors, are connected to the inductor at a second terminal. A first and second amplifier are connected at their supply terminals to the first and second switch. The first and second switches are operated to commutate the inductor between the amplifiers so as to provide an amplified signal while limiting the ripple voltage on the inductor and thus limiting the maximum voltage imposed across the amplifiers and switches.

Claims (28)

1. A device utilizing a cross-differential amplifier comprising:

an inductor connected to a power source at a first terminal;

switch means for reducing a voltage ripple on the inductor; and

a plurality of amplifiers connected to the switch means.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a class inverse F load coupled to an output of the cross-differential amplifier.

3. The device of claim 1 comprising a class D load coupled to an output of the cross-differential amplifier.

4. The device of claim 1 comprising a class E/F xx load coupled to an output of the cross-differential amplifier.

5. The device of claim 1 comprising a class E/F odd load coupled to an output of the cross-differential amplifier.

6. The device of claim 1 comprising a class E load coupled to an output of the cross-differential amplifier.

7. The device of claim 1 comprising a class E/F xx load coupled to an output of the cross-differential amplifier.

8. The device of claim 1 comprising a switch for reducing a voltage ripple on the inductor at a radio frequency.

9. A system utilizing a cross-differential amplifier comprising:

an inductor;

a first active device connected to the inductor for reducing the voltage ripple on the inductor; and

second active device means for amplifying a signal, the second active device means connected to the first active device to form an output.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the second active device means is operated as a controlled current source.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the second active device means amplifies the signal at a radio frequency.

12. The system of claim 9 comprising a class E load coupled to the output.

13. The system of claim 9 comprising a class E/F xx load coupled to the output.

14. The system of claim 9 comprising a class E/F odd load coupled to the output.

15. A method for operating a cross-differential amplifier comprising:

step means for operating a first switch and a second switch to reduce a voltage ripple on an inductor;

step means for operating a third switch and a fourth switch to generate an output; and

step means for forming a first current path containing a power source and a second current path containing the power source.

16. The method of claim 15 comprising step means for operating the cross differential amplifier at a radio frequency of operation.

17. The method of claim 15 comprising step means for operating the first and second switches at a radio frequency of operation.

18. The method of claim 15 comprising step means for operating the first, second and third switches at a radio frequency of operation.

19. The method of claim 15 comprising step means for operating the first, second, third, and fourth switches at a radio frequency of operation.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 24, 2009
From: HAJIMIRI, SEYED-ALI; KEE, SCOTT D.; AOKI, ICHIRO
To: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Reel/Frame 023565/0152 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Apr 2, 2007
From: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
To: NASA
Reel/Frame 019114/0077 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 1120883300 · Aug 22, 2005
Continuation 1038577700 · Mar 11, 2003
Provisional Application 6036342300 · Mar 11, 2002
Related Publication 20070096828A1 · May 3, 2007