IP Library Granted Patent US 9,124,222
Granted Patent B2
US 9,124,222 · App. 13/827,139 · Granted Sep 1, 2015

Internally, resistively, sensed darlington amplifier

Inventor: Joseph Cuggino (Westford, MA)
Assignee: HITTITE MICROWAVE CORPORATION
H03F3/195H03F1/302H03F3/19H03F2200/555H03F2200/93
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,124,222
App. No.
13/827,139
Granted
Sep 1, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An internally, resistively, sensed Darlington amplifier includes a Darlington amplifier, at least an input transistor, an output transistor, a resistive divider, a signal input node, and a signal output node. The Darlington amplifier is responsive to an input signal and configured to generate an output signal. An internal bias setting resistor is coupled between the signal output node, a collector of the output transistor, and the resistive divider. The bias setting resistor is configured to set and regulate the bias current of the Darlington amplifier.

Claims (29)

1. An internally, resistively, sensed Darlington amplifier comprising:

a Darlington amplifier including at least an input transistor, an output transistor, a resistive divider, a signal input node, and a signal output node, the Darlington amplifier responsive to an input signal and configured to generate an output signal; and

an internal bias setting resistor having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the signal output node and a collector of the input transistor, the second end being coupled to a collector of the output transistor and the resistive divider, the internal bias setting resistor configured to set and regulate a bias current of the Darlington amplifier.

2. The internally, resistively, sensed Darlington amplifier of claim 1 in which the Darlington amplifier is implemented on an integrated circuit chip and/or within a common package.

3. The internally, resistively, sensed Darlington amplifier of claim 1 in which the Darlington amplifier and the internal bias setting resistor are included on an integrated circuit chip and/or housed in a common package.

4. The internally, resistively, sensed Darlington amplifier of claim 1 in which the resistive divider includes a feedback resistor and a divider resistor.

5. The internally, resistively, sensed Darlington amplifier of claim 4 further including one or more diodes coupled in series between the divider resistor and a ground, the one or more diodes configured to adjust DC voltage at the signal input node to compensate for temperature and process variations in the input transistor and the output transistor.

6. The internally, resistively, sensed Darlington amplifier of claim 5 further including at least one inductor coupled in series between the feedback resistor and the divider resistor, the at least one inductor configured to provide isolation of the divider resistor and/or the one or more diodes from the signal input node.

7. The internally, resistively, sensed Darlington amplifier of claim 6 further including at least one capacitor coupled between the at least one inductor and a ground terminal, the at least one capacitor configured to provide RF bypassing around the divider resistor.

8. The internally, resistively, sensed Darlington amplifier of claim 1 further including a capacitor connected in parallel with the internal bias setting resistor, the capacitor configured to short the internal bias setting resistor at high frequencies.

9. An internally, resistively, sensed Darlington amplifier comprising:

a Darlington amplifier including at least an input transistor, an output transistor, a resistive divider comprising a feedback resistor and a divider resistor, a signal input node, and a signal output node, the Darlington amplifier responsive to an input signal and configured to generate an output signal;

an internal bias setting resistor coupled between the signal output node and a collector of the output transistor, the internal bias setting resistor further coupled between the signal output node and the resistive divider, the internal bias setting resistor configured to set and regulate a bias current of the Darlington amplifier; and

one or more diodes coupled in series between the divider resistor and a ground, the one or more diodes configured to adjust DC voltage at the signal input node to compensate for temperate and process variations in the input transistor and the output transistor.

10. The internally, resistively, sensed Darlington amplifier of claim 9 in which the Darlington amplifier is implemented on an integrated circuit chip and/or within a common package.

11. The internally, resistively, sensed Darlington amplifier of claim 9 in which the Darlington amplifier and the internal bias setting resistor are included on an integrated circuit chip and/or housed in a common package.

12. The internally, resistively, sensed Darlington amplifier of claim 9 further including at least one capacitor coupled in parallel with the diode and the divider resistor, the at least one capacitor configured to provide isolation of the divider resistor and/or the one or more diodes from the signal input node.

13. The internally, resistively, sensed Darlington amplifier of claim 12 further including at least one inductor coupled in series between the feedback resistor and the divider resistor, the at least one inductor configured to provide isolation of the divider resistor and/or the one or more diodes from the signal input node.

14. The internally, resistively, sensed Darlington amplifier of claim 13 further including at least one capacitor coupled between the at least one inductor and a ground terminal, the at least one capacitor configured to provide RF bypassing around the divider resistor.

15. The internally, resistively, sensed Darlington amplifier of claim 9 further including a capacitor connected in parallel with the internal bias setting resistor, the capacitor configured to short the internal bias setting resistor at high frequencies.

16. An internally, resistively, sensed Darlington amplifier comprising:

a Darlington amplifier including at least an input transistor, an output transistor, a resistive divider, a signal input node, and a signal output node, the Darlington amplifier responsive to an input signal and configured to generate an output signal;

an internal bias setting resistor coupled between the signal output node and a collector of the output transistor, the internal bias setting resistor further coupled between the signal output node and the resistive divider, the internal bias setting resistor configured to set and regulate a bias current of the Darlington amplifier; and

a capacitor connected in parallel with the internal bias setting resistor, the capacitor configured to short the internal bias setting resistor at high frequencies.

17. The internally, resistively, sensed Darlington amplifier of claim 16 in which the Darlington amplifier is implemented on an integrated circuit chip or a transistor package.

18. The internally, resistively, sensed Darlington amplifier of claim 17 in which the internal bias setting transistor is implemented on the integrated circuit chip or the transistor package.

19. The internally, resistively, sensed Darlington amplifier of claim 16 in which the resistive divider includes a feedback resistor and a divider resistor.

20. The internally, resistively, sensed Darlington amplifier of claim 19 further including one or more diodes coupled in series between the divider resistor and a ground, the one or more diodes configured to adjust DC voltage at the signal input node to compensate for temperature and process variations in the input transistor and the output transistor.

21. The internally, resistively, sensed Darlington amplifier of claim 20 further including at least one capacitor coupled between the at least one inductor and a ground terminal, the at least one capacitor configured to provide RF bypassing around the divider resistor.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 26, 2016
From: HITTITE MICROWAVE CORPORATION
To: HITTITE MICROWAVE LLC
Reel/Frame 039482/0038 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2013
From: CUGGINO, JOSEPH
To: HITTITE MICROWAVE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 030793/0064 →
Continuity (1)
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