The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 06, 1993
Filed:
Nov. 20, 1991
Bryan A Weaver, Dallas, TX (US);
Continental Electronics Corporation, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
An amplifier has at least several stages activated only to one of two bi-level states controlled in response to the value of an input source exceeding a threshold for each stage. Each stage has a different threshold. The thresholds and source are arranged so that the stages change between the bi-level states as the value of the source changes relative to the thresholds of the different stages. Bi-level outputs of the stages are summed together. The values of the thresholds are continuously varied by a small amount relative to a predetermined maximum value for the source in response to a noise source that is independent of the signal source. A power supply for the stages includes an AC-DC converter having plural primary windings and several secondary windings, one for each of the stages. The windings are coupled together so that at all times loading of the primary windings by the secondary windings as a result of activation of the output stages is approximately equal. The stages are controlled so that the sum of the outputs of the stages remains a predetermined function despite one or a few of the stages failing.