High fidelity floating bridge amplifier
OwnerJoseph Norman Berryinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A high fidelity audio amplifier is provided having a solid-state floating bridge output stage and a preceding solid-state driver stage configured to operate with negligible voltage fluctuations and minimal current fluctuations, resulting in reduced driver stage distortion, freedom from driver stage clipping, and high and linear impedance at the driver input terminals, without significant increase in circuit complexity. The voltage gain and current gain sections of the amplifier form self-contained units which may be separately housed and remotely operated to enhance utility and isolate sensitive voltage gain circuits from the radiated electrical noise and heat of the output stage.
Claims19
An audio amplifier, including:
- a) a solid-state floating bridge output stage including first and second output gain device means (3,4) each having an input terminal, a supply terminal, and an output terminal, a first DC power source means (1) connected between said supply terminal of said first output gain device means and said output terminal of said second output gain device means, and a second DC power source means (2) connected between said supply terminal of said second output gain device means and said output terminal of said first output gain device means;
- b) first and second amplifier output terminal means (C,D) for connecting a load across said output terminals of said first and second output gain device means respectively;
- c) a solid-state driver stage for said solid state floating bridge output stage including first and second driver gain device means (7,8) each having an input terminal, a supply terminal, and an output terminal, said first driver gain device means having its supply terminal connected to the supply terminal of said second output gain device means and its output terminal connected to said input terminal of said first output gain device means, and through a first series impedance means (9), to said first amplifier output terminal means;
- said second driver gain device means having its supply terminal connected to the supply terminal of said first output gain device means and its output terminal connected to said input terminal of said second output gain device means, and through a second series impedance means (10), to said second amplifier output terminal means;
- d) first and second amplifer input terminal means (A,B) for receiving a differential analog signal and presenting it to the input terminals of said first and second driver gain device means respectively;
- and
- e) bias means (19,20) for establishing the quiescent operating currents of said output and driver stages.
A method of incorporating a driver stage in a floating bridge amplifier output stage that minimizes distortion in the driver stage, maximizes amplifier output voltage swing, and provides a high and linear driver stage input impedance, comprising:
- a) providing a solid-state floating bridge output stage including first and second output gain device means (3,4) each having an input terminal, a supply terminal, and an output terminal, a first DC power source means (1) connected between said supply terminal of said first output gain device means and said output terminal of said second output gain device means, and a second DC power source means (2) connected between said supply terminal of said second output gain device means and said output terminal of said first output gain device means;
- b) providing first and second amplifier output terminal means (C,D) for connecting a load across said output terminals of said first and second output gain device means respectively;
- c) providing a solid-state driver stage for said solid state floating bridge output stage including first and second driver gain device means (7,8) each having an input terminal, a supply terminal, and an output terminal, said first driver gain device means having its supply terminal connected to the supply terminal of said second output gain device means and its output terminal connected to said input terminal of said first output gain device means, and through a first series impedance means (9), to said first amplifier output terminal means;
- said second driver gain device means having its supply terminal connected to the supply terminal of said first output gain device means and its output terminal connected to said input terminal of said second output gain device means, and through a second series impedance means (10), to said second amplifier output terminal means;
- d) providing first and second amplifier input terminal means (A,B) for coupling a differential analog signal to said input terminals of said first and second driver gain device means respectively;
- and
- e) providing bias means (19,20) for establishing the quiescent operating currents of said output and driver stages.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.