CLIPPED AMPLIFIER

• US 20160191008A1
• Filed: 08/14/2014
• Published: 06/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Research Council Canada, The Governors of the University of Alberta (University of Alberta)
• Original Assignee: National Research Council Canada, The Governors of the University of Alberta (University of Alberta)
• Inventors: McCreery, Richar, Bergren, Adam Johan
• Granted Patent: US 10,164,595 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0091 Means for obtaining special acoustic effects combined with modulation G10H1/043
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/311 Distortion, i.e. desired non-linear audio processing to change the tone color, e.g. by adding harmonics or deliberately distorting the amplitude of an audio waveform distortion functions G10H2250/201, G10H2250/205
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 3/187 for distorting the signal, e.g. to simulate tube amplifiers changing the tone color by non-linear elements G10H1/16
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/34 Negative-feedback-circuit arrangements with or without positive feedback H03F1/02 - H03F1/30, H03F1/38 - H03F1/50, H03F3/50 take precedence ; for rejection of common mode signals H03F3/45479
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/342 in field-effect transistor amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/4508 using bipolar transistors as the active amplifying circuit H03F3/45278 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/45179 using MOSFET transistors as the active amplifying circuit H03F3/45278 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/45475 using IC blocks as the active amplifying circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 11/00 Limiting amplitude; Limiting rate of change of amplitude ; Clipping in general
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 7/08 incorporating negative feedback

Abstract

A clipping circuit for an amplifier, the clipping circuit using a tunneling junction. A molecular or other tunneling electronic-based component within a hybrid analog-tunneling circuit is used to produce soft or hard clipping capability with enhanced control over the output. The circuit may be used as a distortion circuit for an electric guitar signal or other electronic signals.

Claims

1. A circuit comprising:

an amplifier; and

a clipping circuit connecting an output of the amplifier to an input of the amplifier or to ground, the clipping circuit including an inorganic or organic tunneling junction.

2. The circuit of claim 1 in which the amplifier is an operational amplifier having an inverting input, a non-inverting input, and an output.

3. The circuit of claim 2 in which the clipping circuit connects the output of the operational amplifier to the inverting input of the operational amplifier.

4. The circuit of claim 3 in which an input line is connected to the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier.

5. The circuit of claim 4 further comprising a ground line connecting the input line to a ground, the ground line including a resistor.

6. The circuit of claim 3 in which an input line is connected to the inverting input of the operational amplifier, the input line including a resistor.

7. The circuit of claim 6 further comprising a ground line connecting the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier to a ground.

8. The circuit of claim 1 in which the amplifier is a transistor amplifier.

9. The circuit of claim 8 further comprising an input line connected to the input of the amplifier and a ground line connecting the input line to a ground, the ground line including a resistor.

10. The circuit of claim 8 in which the transistor amplifier comprises a bipolar junction transistor having an emitter, collector and base, the emitter being connected to a ground, the base connected as the input of the amplifier and the collector connected as the output of the amplifier.

11. The circuit of claim 9 in which the transistor amplifier comprises a field-effect transistor having a source, a drain and a gate, the source being connected to a ground, the gate connected as the input of the amplifier and the drain connected as the output of the amplifier.

12. The circuit of claim 1 in which the circuit is used as a distortion circuit for an electric guitar signal.

13. The circuit of claim 1 in which the tunneling junction is an organic tunneling junction.

14. The circuit claim 1 in which the tunneling junction is an inorganic tunneling junction.

16. The circuit of claim 9 in which the transistor amplifier comprises a bipolar junction transistor having an emitter, collector and base, the emitter being connected to a ground, the base connected as the input of the amplifier and the collector connected as the output of the amplifier.

17. The circuit of claim 9 in which the transistor amplifier comprises a field-effect transistor having a source, a drain and a gate, the source being connected to a ground, the gate connected as the input of the amplifier and the drain connected as the output of the amplifier.

18. The circuit of claim 5 in which the circuit is used as a distortion circuit for an electric guitar signal.

19. The circuit of claim 5 in which the tunneling junction is an organic tunneling junction.

20. The circuit of claim 5 in which the tunneling junction is an inorganic tunneling junction.

15. A method of operating a circuit in which the circuit includes an amplifier and a clipping circuit connecting an output of the amplifier to an input of the amplifier or to ground, the clipping circuit including an inorganic or organic tunneling junction, the method comprising altering an electronic output of the circuit by controlling the temperature of the tunneling junction.