Single-ended screen-regulated cathode-follower output stage for high-fidelity music amplifier
OwnerScott Frankland, Martin G. Reiffininventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A novel single-ended screen-regulated cathode-follower output topology for implementing vacuum-tube audio power amplifiers for the reproduction of high-fidelity music with minimal audible distortion. The screen regulation substantially reduces the distortions and noise in the current fed to the output tube by a non-regulated power supply. The noise and distortion of the power supply voltage are thereby prevented from intermodulating with and distorting the music signal.
Claims19
A vacuum tube amplifier comprising
- a single-ended cathode-follower output stage including an output tube having a plate, a cathode, and a screen grid,
- a power supply connected to said plate,
- output terminals for connection to a speaker system,
- circuitry connecting said cathode to said output terminals,
- a ground, and
- a voltage-regulator circuit connected to said screen grid for maintaining said screen grid at a constant potential with respect to said ground.
A vacuum tube amplifier for amplifying a music signal with minimal audible distortion and comprising
- a drive stage including at least two tubes connected in series to share the voltage across the drive stage,
- a cathode-follower output stage connected to said drive stage,
- an output transformer connected to said cathode-follower output stage,
- means for connecting said output transformer to a loudspeaker system,
- said cathode-follower output stage including at least one output tube having a screen grid, and
- a voltage-regulator circuit connected to said output tube screen grid to maintain the voltage of the screen grid at an approximately constant voltage as the plate current varies during operation of the amplifier.
A vacuum tube amplifier for amplifying a music signal with minimal audible distortion and comprising
- a cathode-follower output stage including a vacuum tube having a control grid, a plate, a cathode, and a screen grid,
- an amplification circuit connected to said control grid,
- an unregulated power supply connected to said plate,
- an output transformer connected to said cathode,
- output terminals for connecting said output transformer to a speaker system, and
- a voltage-regulator circuit connected to said screen grid for supplying thereto a substantially constant voltage substantially free of noise and other distortion,
- whereby the music signal output by the amplifier is substantially free of modulation by the noise and other distortion inherent in the unregulated power supply.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.