Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the output power level of an amplifier that is highly insensitive to temperature variations. The method intentionally shuts down the amplifier for a very short period of time in order to reveal the detector diode's thermally induced error voltage. This voltage is then stored for a subsequent subtraction from the total detected voltage after the amplifier is turned back on. The detector diode is therefore compensated against itself to obtain a higher level of detection accuracy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus incorporating a single self-compensating diode power detector in the feedback loop of a pulsed amplifier for exploiting the discontinuous nature of the pulsed amplifier to extract any thermally induced error voltage by a single power detector between the transmission bursts and use it to correct the power detector voltage during the bursts to obtain a true power indicative voltage, independent of temperature variation.

Abstract: A controlled power amplifier system (211) wherein a sample (225) of the output power level of an on/off switched power amplifier (215) is compared with a reference signal (227) to produce a power level control signal (275) that controls the output power level of the power amplifier (215). When the power amplifier (215) is switched off, the control signal (275) is maintained at the level it had just prior to the transition from an on to an off state. The switching is performed offset from the ends of each switched power amplifier pulse envelope to allow the pulse amplitude to be leveled in the center of the pulse and yet allow the pulse rise and fall times of the pulse envelope to follow the power amplifier input.

Abstract: A breakerless ignition system in which an electronic advance circuit (30) generates an electrical trigger signal (SPKE) and a mechanical advance circuit generates a mechanical trigger signal (PCP). The mechanical trigger signal (PCP) and electrical trigger signal (SPKE) are combined in a trigger circuit (28) to generate an activation signal to a power switching device (40) which causes an ignition circuit (32) to fire a spark plug (54). In operation the electrical trigger signal (SPKE) normally provides an accurate timing signal to ignite the plug (54) and the trigger circuit (28) masks the mechanical trigger signal (PCP) to prevent double firing. Upon failures or special conditions when the (SPKE) signal is absent the (PCP) signal will provide operation in a back-up mode to ignite plug (54).