Circuit for the generation of a control variable for the control of the transfer constant of electronically actuable amplifying and attenuating members

• US 4,278,945 A
• Filed: 10/01/1979
• Issued: 07/14/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ant Nachrichtentechnik GmbH, Telefunken Fernseh Und Rundfunk GmbH
• Original Assignee: Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs-GmbH
• Inventors: Schroder, Ernst, Wermuth, Jurgen
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Alfred E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Grigsby, T. N.
• Application Number:
  US06/080,949
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 333/14, 330/278, 330/282
• US Class Current: 330/278
• CPC Class Codes: G06G 7/24 for evaluating logarithmic or exponential functions, e.g. hyperbolic functions for multiplication, division or for evaluating powers or roots using logarithmic functions; gamma correction in television systems H04N5/20, H04N9/69
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 7/002 in untuned or low-frequency amplifiers, e.g. audio amplifiers H03G7/007, H03G7/001, H03G7/008, H03G7/02, H03G7/06 take precedence

Abstract

In a circuit for automatic dynamic compression or expansion the control voltage generator generates a control voltage which is linear against the logarithm of the input amplitude. This characteristic is achieved by a transfer member consisting of several transistors which are subject to different reference voltages and the series resistances of which are staggered.

Claims

1. A circuit for the generation of a control variable for the control of the transfer constant of electronically controllable amplifying or attenuating members in dependence upon a steady differentiable function, for an arrangement for the automatic dynamics-compression or -expansion comprising a rectifier having an input and an output the input of which is supplied by a signal which is provided for dynamics-compression or -expansion and a transfer element determining the control characteristic, having an input and an output, the input of which is coupled to the output of the rectifier and the output of which is coupled to the electronically controllable amplifying or attenuating members, the transfer element comprises at least two transistors, the bases of which are subjected to different reference voltages, and the emitter-collector current paths of which comprise different series resistances whereby one input terminal of the transfer element is wired to a junction of the current paths which junction is adjacent to the emitters of the transistors, and one output terminal is wired to a junction of the current paths which junction is adjacent to one of the collectors of the transistors.

2. A circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein the collectors of the transistors are interconnected and the series resistances are located between the emitters of the relevant transistors and a common junction, whereby the junction of the collectors forms the output and the junction of the resistors the input of the transfer element.

3. A circuit as defined in claim 2, wherein the input receives the input signal for the potential adaptation through one or several emitter-base sections of transistors.

4. A circuit as defined in claim 3, wherein in series to the current path of the transfer element there is wired the emitter-base-section of a least one further transistor for the formation of an identical magnitude current, the polarity of which is opposed to the current which can be tapped at the collector of the transfer element.

5. A circuit as defined in claim 4, wherein the complementary signal outputs are wired to the inputs of complementary current mirror circuits, the currents of which are employed for the symmetrical control of electronically controllable resistances designed in the form of diode chains.