Cross-differential amplifier

Abstract

A cross-differential amplifier is provided. The cross-differential amplifier includes an inductor connected to a direct current power source at a first terminal. A first and second switch, such as transistors, are connected to the inductor at a second terminal. A first and second amplifier are connected at their supply terminals to the first and second switch. The first and second switches are operated to commutate the inductor between the amplifiers so as to provide an amplified signal while limiting the ripple voltage on the inductor and thus limiting the maximum voltage imposed across the amplifiers and switches.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cross-differential amplifier comprising: 
 an inductor connected to a dc power source at a first terminal;    a switch configured to selectively connect a second inductor terminal to a plurality of switch outputs;    a plurality of amplifiers each connected to one of the switch outputs at its supply terminal;    wherein the switch is operated so as to reduce the voltage ripple on the inductor.    
     
     
         2 . A cross-differential amplifier comprising: 
 an inductor connected to a dc power source at a first terminal;    a plurality of switches connected to the inductor at a second terminal of the inductor;    a plurality of amplifiers each connected to one of the switches at a supply terminal of each switch;    wherein the switches are operated so as to reduce the voltage ripple on the inductor.    
     
     
         3 . The cross-differential amplifier of  claim 2  wherein the number of amplifiers is two.  
     
     
         4 . A cross-differential amplifier comprising: 
 an inductor connected to a direct current power source at a first terminal;    a first active device and a second active device connected to the inductor at a second terminal of the inductor;    a third active device and a fourth active device connected to the first active device and the second active device to form an output; and    wherein two of the active devices are operated as switches commutating the supply inductor between the remaining two devices which are operated as amplifiers.    
     
     
         5 . The cross differential amplifier of  claim 4  wherein the amplifying devices are operated as controlled current sources.  
     
     
         6 . The cross differential amplifier of  claim 4  wherein the amplifying devices are operated as switches.  
     
     
         7 . A cross-differential amplifier comprising: 
 an inductor connected to a direct current power source at a first terminal;    a first switch and a second switch connected to the inductor at a second terminal;    a third switch and a fourth switch connected to the first switch and the second switch to form an output; and    wherein the first switch and the third switch are operated in a first phase to form a first current path from containing the power source, and the second switch and the fourth switch are operated in a second phase to form a second current path containing the power source.    
     
     
         8 . The cross-differential amplifier of  claim 7  wherein the first, second, third, and fourth switches are transistor devices.  
     
     
         9 . The cross-differential amplifier of  claim 7  wherein the first, second, third, and fourth switches are controlled current sources.  
     
     
         10 . The cross-differential amplifier of  claim 7  wherein the first, second, third, and fourth switches are three-terminal devices.  
     
     
         11 . The cross-differential amplifier of  claim 7  wherein the first, second, third, and fourth switches each further comprise a parallel capacitance.  
     
     
         12 . The cross-differential amplifier of  claim 7  wherein a parallel RLC circuit is connected to the outputs.  
     
     
         13 . The cross-differential amplifier of  claim 7  wherein an inverse class F load is connected to the outputs.  
     
     
         14 . The cross-differential amplifier of  claim 7  wherein a current-mode class D load is connected to the outputs.  
     
     
         15 . The cross-differential amplifier of  claim 7  wherein a class E/F xx  load is connected to the outputs.  
     
     
         16 . The cross-differential amplifier of  claim 7  wherein a class E/F odd  load is connected to the outputs.  
     
     
         17 . The cross-differential amplifier of  claim 7  wherein a class E/F x,odd  load is connected to the outputs.  
     
     
         18 . The cross-differential amplifier of  claim 7  wherein a series RLC circuit is connected across the output.  
     
     
         19 . The cross-differential amplifier of  claim 7  wherein a class E load is connected to the outputs.  
     
     
         20 . The cross-differential amplifier of  claim 7  wherein the cross-differential amplifier is tuned to operate as a class-E switching cross-differential amplifier.  
     
     
         21 . The cross-differential amplifier of  claim 7  wherein the cross-differential amplifier is tuned to operate as a class inverse F switching cross-differential amplifier.  
     
     
         22 . The cross-differential amplifier of  claim 7  wherein the cross-differential amplifier is tuned to operate as a current-mode class D switching cross-differential amplifier.  
     
     
         23 . The cross-differential amplifier of  claim 7  wherein the cross-differential amplifier is tuned to operate as a class-E/F xx  switching cross-differential amplifier.  
     
     
         24 . The cross-differential amplifier of  claim 7  wherein the output forms a primary winding section of a distributed active transformer.  
     
     
         25 . The cross-differential amplifier of  claim 7  wherein the output is connected to a primary winding section of a distributed active transformer.  
     
     
         26 . A cross-differential amplifier comprising: 
 an inductor connected to a direct current power source at a first terminal; and    a plurality of three-terminal devices forming the cross-differential amplifier, wherein two of the three-terminal devices are each connected to a second terminal of the inductor.    
     
     
         27 . The cross-differential amplifier of  claim 26  further comprising a capacitor and an inductor connected to an output, wherein the capacitor and inductor resonate at an operating frequency.  
     
     
         28 . The cross-differential amplifier of  claim 26  further comprising an output that connects to a primary winding section of a distributed active transformer.  
     
     
         29 . The cross-differential amplifier of  claim 26  wherein the plurality of three-terminal devices further comprises: 
 a first and second three-terminal device connected in series at first conducting terminals of each device;  
 a third and fourth three-terminal device connected in series at first conducting terminals of each device; and  
 wherein second conducting terminals of the first three-terminal device and the third three-terminal device are each connected to the second terminal of the inductor.  
 
     
     
         30 . The cross-differential amplifier of  claim 26  wherein the plurality of three-terminal devices further comprises: 
 a first and second transistor connected in series;  
 a third and fourth transistor connected in series; and  
 wherein the first transistor and the third transistor are each connected to the second terminal of the inductor.  
 
     
     
         31 . The cross-differential amplifier of  claim 26  wherein the plurality of three-terminal devices further comprises: 
 first and second complementary transistors connected in series with control terminals connected in parallel to form a first differential input;  
 third and fourth complementary transistors connected in series with control terminals connected in parallel to form a second differential input; and  
 wherein the first transistor and the third transistor are each connected to the second terminal of the inductor.  
 
     
     
         32 . The cross-differential amplifier of  claim 26  wherein the plurality of three-terminal devices further comprises: 
 first and second complementary transistors connected in series with control terminals connected in parallel to form a first differential input;  
 third and fourth complementary transistors connected in series with control terminals connected in parallel to form a second differential input; and  
 wherein the first transistor and the third transistor are each connected to the second terminal of the inductor, and the first and fourth transistors operate in phase and opposite to the second and third transistor.