US 10,511,262 B2 · High speed, high voltage, amplifier output stage using linear or class D topology

Abstract

Each sub-stage of an amplifier stage includes a resistor coupled to another resistor in an adjacent sub-stage or to a high DC voltage, the resistor and the other resistor forming part of a string of equal valued resistors; an FET having a source coupled to a cathode of a Zener diode coupled in parallel with a capacitor, a drain coupled to another sub-stage in the string, an output node of the amplifier stage, or the high DC voltage; and at least one active device coupled to a gate of the FET and coupled to the resistor for providing high impedance between a voltage on a node of the resistor and the gate of the FET and a low impedance between the at least one active device and the gate of the FET, the at least one active device coupled to both the cathode and an anode of the Zener diode.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An amplifier output stage comprising a string of sub-stages, each sub-stage comprising:

a resistor coupled to another resistor in an adjacent sub-stage or to a high DC voltage node, the resistor and the another resistor forming part of a string of equal valued resistors;
a field effect transistor having a gate, a source coupled to a cathode of a Zener diode coupled in parallel with a capacitor, a drain coupled to another sub-stage in the string of sub-stages, an output node of the amplifier output stage, or the high DC voltage node;
and
at least one active device coupled to the gate of the field effect transistor and coupled to the resistor for providing high impedance between a voltage on a node of the resistor and the gate of the field effect transistor and a low impedance between the at least one active device and the gate of the field effect transistor, the at least one active device coupled to both the cathode and an anode of the Zener diode.

1 more element

An amplifier output stage comprising a positive side and a negative side,

wherein the positive side is for connection at a positively powered end to a positive DC high voltage node and is connected at a positive side output end to an output node of the amplifier output stage,
wherein the negative side is for connection at a negatively powered end to a negative DC high voltage node and is connected at a negative side output end to the output node of the amplifier output stage,
the positive side comprising a plurality of power transistors connected in a cascode configuration between the positively powered end and a positive current control device connected to the positive side output end,
the negative side comprising a plurality of power transistors connected in a cascode configuration between the negative side output end and a negative current control device connected to the negatively powered end,
wherein a string of equal value resistors divide the positive voltage between the output node and the positively powered end with a low positive voltage node of each resistor coupled to a control node of a corresponding power transistor among the plurality of power transistors connected in the cascode configuration between the positively powered end and the positive side output end,
wherein a string of equal value resistors divide the negative voltage between the output node and the negatively powered end with a low negative voltage node of each resistor coupled to a control node of a corresponding power transistor among the plurality of power transistors connected in the cascode configuration between the negatively powered end and the negative side output end,
wherein the low positive voltage node of each resistor in the positive node is coupled to the control node of the corresponding power transistor via at least one active device that provides a high impedance load on the string of equal value resistors that divide the positive voltage between the output node and the positively powered end and that provides a low impedance and high current capability to drive the control node of the corresponding power transistor, and
wherein the low negative voltage side of each resistor in the negative node is coupled to the control node of the corresponding power transistor via at least one active device that provides a high impedance load on the string of equal value resistors that divide the negative voltage between the output node and the negatively powered end and that provides a low impedance and high current capability to drive the control node of the corresponding power transistor.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

High speed, high voltage, amplifier output stage using linear or class D topology

Life of this patent

High speed, high voltage, amplifier output stage using linear or class D topology

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16