# US 2013/0278299 A1 · Method for forming an electric signal representing a sound and a device therefor

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- Number: US 2013/0278299 A1
- Document ID: US20130278299A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/976,684
- Filed: 2011-12-22
- Published: 2013-10-24
- Earliest claimed: 2010-12-28
- Assignees: Research Electronics Leksand AB
- Inventors: Sven-Ake Eriksson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130278299A1

## CPC

- G05F 3/08: wherein the variable is DC
- G10H 3/187: {for distorting the signal, e.g. to simulate tube amplifiers (changing the tone color by non-linear elements G10H1/16)}
- H03F 2200/03: the amplifier being designed for audio applications
- H03F 2200/549: the amplifier comprising means to emulate the vacuum tube behaviour
- H03F 2203/45138: Two or more differential amplifiers in IC-block form are combined, e.g. measuring amplifiers
- G05F: SYSTEMS FOR REGULATING ELECTRIC OR MAGNETIC VARIABLES
- G10H: ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
- H03F: AMPLIFIERS

## Abstract

A method for driving a field effect transistor for shaping an electrical signal, representing a sound, to an output signal is disclosed. The method comprises modifying the input signal to an intermediate signal, and output of the intermediate signal to the field effect transistor for shaping the output signal. The method comprises the steps of adjusting the quiescent point of the field effect transistor such that the same is placed in the quadratic region of the transfer characteristics of the field effect transistors, and adjusting the amplitude of the intermediate signal, such that the same causes the potential swing between the gate terminal and the source terminal to at least partly be in the quadratic region of the transfer characteristics of the field effect transistor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for driving a field effect transistor for forming an electric input signal, representing a sound, to an output signal, which method comprises modifying the input signal to an intermediate signal, and output of said intermediate signal to the field effect transistor for forming the output signal, characterized by the steps of:
setting the quiescent point of the field effect transistor such that the same is placed in the quadratic region of a transfer characteristic of the field effect transistor by adjusting the potential between a gate terminal and a source terminal of the field effect transistor by means of the direct-current voltage level of the intermediate signal and the potential of the source terminal of the field effect transistor,
adjusting the amplitude of the intermediate signal such that the same causes the potential swing between the gate terminal and the source terminal to at least partly be in the quadratic region of the transfer characteristics of the field effect transistor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the amplitude of the intermediate signal is adjusted to be lower than the threshold voltage of the field effect transistor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
limiting the minimum potential between the drain terminal and the source terminal of the field effect transistor by means of at least one impedance arranged at at least the drain terminal thereof, which impedance causes that the maximum current that the field effect transistor can drive does not cause saturation of the transistor,
arranging a resistor in series with the output of the modifying means and the gate terminal of the field effect transistor,
adjusting the amplitude of the intermediate signal so that it causes the potential between the gate terminal and source terminal to a value that at least correspond to the maximum possible drain current.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method according to claim 3, wherein the method comprises the step of:
arranging a diode between the gate terminal of the field effect transistor and a potential.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A device for executing the method according to claim 1, for forming an electrical signal representing a sound, comprising a field effect transistor and an upstream connected modifying means, which device is characterized in that the quiescent point of the field effect transistor is in the quadratic region of the transfer characteristics of the field effect transistor, and the device further comprises means for controlling the potential between the gate terminal and the source terminal of the field effect transistor, by adding a direct-current voltage to the input signal by means of the modifying means, thus forming an intermediate signal, the modifying means outputs the intermediate signal to the field effect transistor.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The device according to claim 5, wherein the modifying means comprises means causing the amplitude of the intermediate signal to be lower than the threshold voltage of the field effect transistor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The device according to claim 5, wherein the device comprises:
at least one impedance provided at at least the drain terminal of the field effect transistor, which impedance causes a maximum drain current less than the maximum current of the saturated field effect transistor,
a resistor in series between the output of the modifying means and the gate terminal of the field effect transistor,
amplifying means in the modifying means for amplifying the intermediate signal to a value causing at least the maximum drain current.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The device according to claim 5, wherein the device comprises:
a diode arranged between the gate terminal of the field effect transistor and a potential.