Transconductance amplifier with transformer coupled forward feed

• US 4,884,038 A
• Filed: 03/25/1988
• Issued: 11/28/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: National Research Council Canada
• Original Assignee: Canadian Patents and Development Limited
• Inventors: Miljanic, Petar N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mottola, Steven
• Application Number:
  US07/173,630
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 330/107, 330/149, 330/151, 330/165, 330/166, 330/167, 330/302, 323/355, 323/356, 323/357, 323/358
• US Class Current: 330/165
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/38 DC amplifiers with modulator at input and demodulator at output; Modulators or demodulators specially adapted for use in such amplifiers switched capacitor amplifiers H03F3/005

Abstract

A transconductance amplifier for emitting an output current that is a replica of a input voltage has its accuracy enhanced by a current comparator having a first magnetic core, a second magnetic core, a pair of ratio windings electromagnetically coupled with both the cores, and a detection winding electromagnetically coupled with the first core but not with the second core. A first of the ratio windings is connected in series with the output current of the transconductance amplifier. A high value resistor is connected in series with the second of the ratio windings across the input voltage of the transconductance amplifier whereby the current in the second ratio winding accurately reproduces the waveform of the input voltage. A further amplifier has its input connected to the detection winding. The output of this amplifier is so connected as to add a correcting current to the output current of the transconductance amplifier and thus provide the necessary accuracy enhancement.

Claims

1. The combination of a transconductance amplifier for emitting an output current to a load that is a replica of an input voltage, and means for enhancing the accuracy of such replica, said enhancing means comprising:

(a) a current comparator comprising

(i) first magnetic core means,

(ii) second magnetic core means,

(iii) a pair of ratio windings electro-magnetically coupled with both said core means, and

(iv) detection winding means electro-magnetically coupled with the first core means but not with the second core means,

(b) means connecting a first of said ratio windings in series with the output current of the transconductance amplifier,

(c) a resistor connected to the second of said ratio windings to form a first series circuit,

(d) means connecting such first series circuit across the input voltage of the transconductance amplifier whereby the current in said second ratio winding accurately reproduces the waveform of said input voltage, and

(e) a current source for injecting into the output current of the transconductance amplifier a current proportional to an error current in the detection winding means.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said current source comprises

(f) amplifying means having an input and an output,

(g) means connecting the input of the amplifier means to the detection winding means, and

(h) means connecting the output of the amplifier means to add a correcting current to the output current of the transconductance amplifier.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the input voltage is an A.C. voltage and the output current of the transconductance amplifier is an A.C. current that is a replica of the waveform of the A.C. input voltage, wherein the means (h) connecting the output of the amplifier means to the load includes a further resistor.

4. The combination of claim 2, wherein the input voltage is a D.C. voltage and the output current of the transconductance amplifier is a D.C. current that reproduces the magnitude of the D.C. input voltage, wherein the means (h) connecting the output of the amplifier means to the load comprise a deviation winding electromagnetically coupled with both the core means.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein said first core means comprises a pair of first cores, and the detection winding means comprises a pair of detection windings electromagnetically coupled each with a respective one of said first cores, the means (g) connecting the input of the amplifier means to the detection winding means comprising an ampere turn detection circuit.

11. The combination of claim 1, further combined with

(f) a second transconductance amplifier having a higher transconductance than the accuracy-enhanced transconductance amplifier,

(g) a further current comparator comprising

(i) first magnetic core means,

(ii) second magnetic core means,

(iii) a pair of ratio windings electro-magnetically coupled with both said core means,

(iv) first detection winding means electro-magnetically coupled with both said core means, and

(v) second detection winding means electro-magnetically coupled with the first core means but not with the second core means and connected in parallel with the first detection winding means,

(h) means connecting a first of said ratio windings of the further current comparator in series with the output current of the accuracy-enhanced transconductance amplifier,

(i) means connecting a second of said ratio windings of the further current comparator in series with the output current of the second transconductance amplifier, and

(j) a current source for injecting into the output current of the second transconductance amplifier a current proportional to error currents in the detection winding means of the further current comparator.

6. The combination of a transconductance amplifier for emitting an A.C. output current to a load that is a replica of the waveform of an A.C. input voltage, and means for enhancing the accuracy of such replica, said means comprising:

(a) a current comparator comprising

(i) a first magnetic core,

(ii) a second magnetic core,

(iii) a pair of ratio windings electro-magnetically coupled with both said cores,

(iv) a detection winding electromagnetically coupled with the first core but not with the second core,

(b) means connecting a first of said ratio windings in series with the output current of the transconductance amplifier,

(c) a resistor connected to the second of said ratio windings to form a first series circuit,

(d) means connecting such first series circuit across the input voltage of the transconductance amplifier whereby the current in said second ratio winding accurately reproduces the waveform of said input voltage, and

(e) a current source for injecting into the output current of the transconductance amplifier a current proportional to an error current in the detection winding.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein said current source comprises

(f) a second amplifier having an input and an output,

(g) means connecting the input of the second amplifier to the detection winding, and

(h) means connecting the output of the second amplifier to add a correction current to the output current of the transconductance amplifier.

8. The combination of claim 7, including

(i) a third amplifier having an input and an output,

(j) a pair of series-connected resistors forming a second series circuit connected across the load,

(k) means connecting the input of the third amplifier to a junction point between said pair of resistors, and

(l) means connecting the output of the third amplifier to add a further correction current to the output current of the transconductance amplifier.

9. The combination of claim 6, including

(f) a compensating winding electromagnetically coupled with the first core but not with the second core,

(g) means connecting the compensating winding in parallel with said second ratio winding to compensate for the impedance of said second ratio winding.

10. The combination of claim 9, including

(h) a second amplifier having an input and an output;

(i) a pair of series-connected resistors forming a second series circuit,

(j) means connecting the input of the fourth amplifier between a junction point between said further pair of resistors and a junction point in said first series circuit between the first resistor and the second ratio winding, and

(k) means connecting the output of the fourth amplifier across said fourth series circuit.