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:
Mar. 18, 2003
Filed:
Sep. 14, 2001
Kenneth J. Petrosky, Severna Park, MD (US);
Northrop Grumman Corporation, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
A Class C bipolar transistor amplifier including circuit means having a non-linear, high-current, low-knee voltage transfer characteristic in series with the emitter RF choke of a common base bipolar transistor, which increases the emitter bias voltage, and in turn forces the amplifier deeper into Class C operation during overdrive, effectively limiting the output power. In one embodiment, a low ohmic resistor and a MOSFET device are connected in series with the emitter RF choke of a common base bipolar transistor Class C amplifier. An active feedback control loop implemented with conventional operational amplifier (OP AMP) circuitry controls the MOSFET device so as to operate in the knee region of its current-voltage characteristic during power overdrive. In a second embodiment, a single non-linear circuit element such as a constant current diode having a high-current, low-knee voltage transfer characteristic is connected in series with the emitter RF choke. The constant current diode consists of a depletion mode MOSFET or JFET having the gate directly connected to the drain.