Abstract: A current amplifier of the type having the principal conduction paths of first and second transistors connecting the input and output terminals respectively of the current amplifier to its common terminal, with a direct-coupled feedback connection between the input terminal and an interconnection of the control electrodes of the first and second transistors, is provided with capability for selectively providing or not providing current gain between its input and output terminals. To this end, a third transistor of complementary conductivity type has its principal conduction path included in the direct coupled feedback connection, being arranged to have its control electrode selectively clamped to the common terminal of the current amplifier to cause the current amplifier to exhibit current gain between its input and output terminals.

Abstract: A current source circuit selectively supplying at least one regulated output current. A reset pulse is provided concurrently with current source inhibit. The current source is adapted to low voltage circuits and dissipates minimal power for all modes of operation.

Abstract: Improved voltage regulators of a type wherein a feedback network is used for developing an error signal having a magnitude dependent upon the degree to which a portion of the voltage being regulated departs from a voltage proportional to the extrapolated bandgap potential of the material from which first and second semiconductor junctions in the network are formed. More particularly, this error signal is generated at the output of a differential-input amplifier which differentially compares (a) a relatively large reference potential (m+n) times the offset potential across the first semiconductor junction, and (b) a relatively small reference potential m times the offset potential across the second semiconductor junction, augmented by a portion of the voltage being regulated. The factor m is a positive number at least unity; and the factor n, a positive number less than unity.

Abstract: First and second transistors are connected in long-tailed-pair amplifier configuration, with interconnected emitter electrodes connected to a constant current generator that supplies the tail current. Input signals applied to the base electrodes of these transistors are pre-distorted by diodes connecting the base electrodes of the first and second transistors to a common node point. These diodes are provided forward bias currents from constant current generators, so they float with regard to common-mode components of the input signals and do not impair the common-mode signal rejection of the long-tailed-pair amplifier configuration.

Abstract: A complementary or quasi-complementary Class B transistor amplifier stage, the halves of which have their output circuits serially connected between relatively negative and relatively positive operating supply voltages to receive direct current and are operated in push-pull with each other for signal to supply a common load from the interconnection of their output circuits, has driver circuitry including a pair of field effect transistors operated in push-pull to supply respective halves of the Class B transistor amplifier. A p-channel field effect transistor with source electrode connected to the relatively positive operating supply voltage drives one half of the Class B transistor amplifier stage from its drain electrode, and an n-channel field effect transistor with source electrode connected to the relatively negative operating supply voltage drives the other half of the Class B transistor amplifier stage.

Abstract: A circuit for preventing latch up of a differential-input stage, which includes both bipolar and field-effect transistors, without degrading performance including means for clamping the base electrode of the slave transistor of a current mirror whenever the potential thereacross approaches a level sufficient to forward bias the base collector junction thereof to forestall its reaching such level.

Abstract: The transient photo-currents generated in the collector-base junction of an amplifier transistor responsive to transient ionizing radiation are counteracted by those similarly generated in an auxiliary p-n semiconductor junction in inverse-parallel connection with the emitter base junction of the amplifier transistor. To provide more perfect counteraction of these photo-currents, this auxiliary semiconductor junction, operated in reverse-bias, is matched in characteristics with the collector-base junction of the amplifier transistor, and the base-to-collector potential of the amplifier transistor is arranged to be substantially the same as the reverse-bias potential across the auxiliary semiconductor junction.

Abstract: A folded-cascode amplifier conventionally comprises an "input" transistor of a first conductivity type receiving input signals at its base electrode, an "output" transistor of a second conductivity type, complementary to the first, connected in common-base amplifier configuration with its base electrode connected to receive fixed bias potential, and a current source supplying the combined "input" transistor collector current and "output" transistor emitter current to an interconnection between the "input" transistor collector electrode and "output" transistor emitter electrode. In the folded-cascode amplifiers herein disclosed the base electrode of the "output" transistor has the input-signal-responsive emitter potential of the "input" transistor applied to it.

Abstract: An amplifier transistor has its base-to-collector voltage maintained substantially zero, and its collector-base junction has in inverse-parallel connection therewith an auxiliary semiconductor junction exposed to the same transient ionizing radiation environment. Photo-currents generated in the collector-base junction of the amplifier transistor responsive to transient ionizing radiation are counteracted by the photo-currents concurrently generated in the auxiliary semiconductor junction, so amplification can continue without being unduly hampered by such radiation.

Abstract: Voltage boosting circuits of a type using a plurality of inverters with parallelled inputs, each inverter arranged to pump charge into a respective pair of booster capacitors--rather than one respective booster capacitor--to develop an output voltage in each stage which is doubled in amplitude over the voltage used to power the inverter in that stage. To this end, the inverter in each successive stage of the voltage boosting circuit is powered by the output voltage of the preceding stage.

Abstract: Gate-turn-off silicon controlled rectifiers (GTO's) are selectively rendered conductive to control the direction of rotation of a bi-directional motor. To this end a digital logic network is responsive to either one or both of a pair of remotely located switches being operated to either a first or a second condition, for controlling a transistorized gate signal generating network to apply an operating voltage to the gate electrode of the appropriate one(s) of the GTO's. The gate signal generating network includes circuitry for grounding the gates of the GTO's, turning them off if on and thereby inhibiting operation of the motor, whenever either of two operating conditions obtains.

Abstract: A signal sampling circuit is disclosed which accommodates itself to operation during the presence of high noise levels encountered, for example, when attempting to monitor and control, and thus optimize, the functioning of an internal combustion engine. Noise detection means is provided for detecting the presence or absence of noise pulses during either a request for a signal sample or during a signal sampling period. When the noise detector indicates the presence of noise during the request or during the sampling period, the derived information is disregarded and either reread during the next, noise-free period or is resampled shortly after the sampling interval in which the discarded information was obtained.

Abstract: A current mirror amplifier (CMA) has master and slave mirroring transistors of bipolar type, input and output terminals to which the collector electrodes of the master and slave mirroring transistors respectively connect, and a common terminal to which the emitter electrodes of the mirroring transistors connect. The master mirroring transistor is provided with collector-to-base feedback for applying base potential to it which conditions its collector-to-emitter path to conduct input current applied between the common and input terminals of the CMA. The current gain of the CMA as between its input and output terminals is determined by the ratio of the transconductance of the slave mirroring transistor to that of the master mirroring transistor, whenever the base potential of the master mirroring transistor is applied to the base electrode of the slave mirroring via a transmission gate rendered transmissive responsive to a first level control potential being applied thereto.

Abstract: A constant duration and level of spark is obtained over a wide range of engine speeds in an ignition circuit, including a gate-turn-off device having a main current path connected in series with the primary winding of an ignition coil. An operating voltage is selectively applied, in timed relation to the operation of the internal combustion engine, to an LC resonant circuit for shocking the resonant circuit into oscillation. These oscillations are applied to the gate electrode of the gate-turn-off device, turning the gate-turn-off device off and on each successive half cycle, for inducing a relatively high level spark voltage in the secondary winding of the ignition coil.

Abstract: A multiplex addressing system for use with a multi-element array of liquid crystal electro-optic devices wherein all elements of a selected row are turned on by applying a predetermined activating voltage to all the elements of the row, then erasing the selected and non-selected elements in the row by a lesser and a greater amount to effect predetermined on and off responses, to take advantage of the highly non-linear erase response of the electro-optic devices.

Abstract: Current feedback is used to adjust the quiescent emitter current of an r-f amplifier transistor to prescribed idling or stand-by value, to avoid undesirable quiescent base-input-impedance conditions, but is disabled upon application of r-f drive to the base electrode of the r-f transistor so that operation which is other than Class A is not interfered with.

Abstract: A voltage multiplying circuit comprising a plurality of booster capacitors and switch means for first connecting the capacitors in parallel with a voltage source to charge, then reconnecting the capacitors in series with the source and in parallel with a storage capacitor, to dump the cumulative voltage into the storage capacitor, is characterized in that control signals for actuating the switch means are phased to forestall the formation of a path for leakage current that undesirably discharges the capacitors and reduces the conversion efficiency of the voltage multiplying circuit.

Abstract: Transistor memory cells which may be operated in both the erasable "read only" and the "random access" modes. Each cell includes a plurality of MOS transistors interconnected to permit random access storage and at least two MNOS transistors. The latter may be set, one to one threshold level and the other to a second threshold level to represent read only storage of a logic 1, and the threshold levels may be reversed to represent read only storage of a logic 0. The MOS transistors may be randomly accessed both for read and write independently of what the MNOS transistors are storing.

Abstract: Series-connected, field-effect transistors (FET's) of complementary conductivity types are employed to mix two or more input signals. The transistors are quiescently biased in their linear operating range. Each input signal is applied to the gate electrode of one FET and the gate electrode of the corresponding FET of opposite conductivity type in the series string. The output signal containing sum and difference frequencies is available at a common drain connection between two adjacent transistors of opposite conductivity types at the center of the string.

Abstract: A circuit for producing a band-gap reference voltage comprising first and second current amplifiers connected in a regenerative feedback loop and which includes a starting circuit. The latter initiates current flow in the loop and is automatically disconnected from the loop once the circuit output voltage reaches the band-gap value.