Electronic amplification systems

An electronic amplification system incorporating a distributed amplifier including a number of individual amplifying members arranged in parallel to take a control signal from one common input line and to feed an amplified signal to one common output line, the arrangement being such that the control signal arrives sequentially at each amplifying member, and such that all the individual outputs add in phase to give the maximum output, which electronic amplification system also comprises:

• (a) comparison means, connected between the amplifier's input and output lines downline of the amplifier's last amplifying element, for comparing the shape of the control signal downline of the last amplifying element with the shape of the final power output signal, and for providing a difference signal indicative of any amplifier-induced distortion;
• (b) correction signal generating means, coupled to the comparison means, for forming in dependance upon the difference signal a correction signal which may be used to compensate for the amplifier-induced distortion;
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• (c) combiner means, connected between the correction signal generating means and the amplifier's output line downline of the connection with the comparison means, for combining the correction signal with the final power output signal so as substantially to cancel the amplifier-induced distortion.