At&t Bell Laboratories

Bell Telephone Laboratories

At&t Laboratories, Limited

Scott H Early

Roger L Minear

Apparajan Ganesan

David M Savidge

Kyle L Burson

An integrated circuit amplifier for a high impedance microphone (100) of the capacitance type is disclosed. The subject amplifier circuit permits the further miniaturization of an electret microphone as it is capable of providing an input impedance simulating a resistor value of hundreds of megohms. The circuit particularly comprises duplicate coupling circuits (101a and 101b), a source of reference direct current voltage (103), and a gain providing circuit (102). The coupling circuits (101a and 101b) comprise a first pair of diodes (Q1 and Q2) symmetrically placed about one input terminal (IN1) of the microphone (100). Outputs of the reference voltage source (103) are provided to coupling circuits (101a and 101b) and through the coupling circuits to gain providing circuit 102. Such an arrangement facilitates power supply noise rejection and automatic canceling of direct current voltage drifts.

High input impedance circuit

Two input stages (10,12) are interconnected so that their input common mode voltage ranges to one side of signal ground are combined to provide a common mode voltage range substantially equal to the supply voltage. One stage has N-channel differential input transistors (N1,N2), while the other stage has P-channel differential input transistors (P3,P4). The input current branches of the stages are interconnected by current mirror transistors (N6,N7) so that signal current is shared. The output (22) is taken from one branch of the N-type stage (10) and coupled to an output stage (24) with frequency compensation (C,R).

CMOS Operational amplifier

An integrated circuit amplifier for a high impedance microphone (100) of the capacitance type is disclosed. The subject amplifier circuit permits the further miniaturization of an electret microphone as it is capable of providing an input impedance simulating a resistor value of hundreds of megohms. The circuit particularly comprises duplicate coupling circuits (101a and 101b), a source of reference direct current voltage (103), and a gain providing circuit (102). The coupling circuits (101a and 101b) comprise a first pair of diodes (Q1 and Q2) symetrically placed about one input terminal (IN1) of the microphone (100). Outputs of the reference voltage source (103) are provided to coupling circuits (101a and 101b) and through the coupling circuits to gain providing circuit 102. Such an arrangement facilitates power supply noise rejection and automatic canceling of direct current voltage drifts. A current repeater circuit (FIG. 8) is employed generally throughout the integrated circuit amplifier for driving various elements. The current repeater comprises at least one unipolar transistor to permit operation at low direct current voltages, while providing an accurately controlled current transfer ratio.

Current repeater

A display illuminating circuit for a repertory dialer telephone set allows for a subscriber to operate a desired repertory button in low ambient light emergency situations. The circuit illuminates the desired buttons by distinguishable colors of light-emitting elements. Activation of the illumination circuit occurs in response to the telephone set going off-hook and then only for a limited period to conserve battery life. A battery voltage monitoring arrangement provides an indication when a local battery needs to be replaced. In response to an activation signal provided by the voltage monitoring arrangement, the light-emitting elements flash at a level that is detectable by the subscriber going off-hook even in normal ambient light conditions.

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Indianapolis, IN, United States of America

Scott H Early