Feed-forward amplifier
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorRonald M. Bauman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A feed-forward amplifier in which samples of the input and output signals a main amplifier are adjusted in amplitude and algebraically combined to produce a sample of the error introduced into the output signal by distortion and noise in the main amplifier. This error sample is amplified to produce a correction signal by a subsidiary amplifier which itself introduces noise and distortion. The correction signal is algebraically combined with the output signal of the main amplifier and a fraction of the resultant output signal is fed back to the input of the subsidiary amplifier to render the output signal substantially free of error caused by either of the main and the subsidiary amplifiers.
Claims10
A feed-forward-compensated amplifier comprising:
- a main amplifier channel including a main amplifier for receiving an input signal and producing an amplified signal therefrom;
- a feed-forward channel including error means connected to the input and the output of the main amplifier for producing an error signal which is a function of the error introduced into the amplified input signal by the main amplifier, and a subsidiary amplifier connected to the error means for receiving the error signal and producing a correction signal therefrom;
- first coupling means for coupling a plurality of inputs together in algebraic summing relationship,
- the output of the feed-forward channel and the output of the main amplifier channel being connected as inputs to the first coupling means so that the correction signal is summed with the amplified signal to produce a feed-forward-compensated output signal;
- and
- feedback means connected to the output of the first coupling means for returning a fraction of the output signal to the input of the subsidiary amplifier,
- whereby an output signal is obtained which is substantially free of error caused by both the main and the subsidiary amplifiers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.