Amplifier having dead zone of controllable width and position

Abstract

A first amplifier compares an input signal with the sum of a position control signal and a first width control signal and a second amplifier compares the position control signal with the sum of the input signal and a second width control signal, the second width control signal being derived from the same source as the first. Output circuitry combines unipolar output currents produced by the amplifiers to provide a net output current which flows in one sense to a load when the input signal is more positive than a first level and flows in the opposite sense when the input signal is more negative than a second level. No output current flows when the input signal lies within a dead zone defined by said levels, the position and width of the dead zone being separately and non-interactively controllable by said position and width signals.