Abstract: A high power class D amplifier/modulator for use in Radio Frequency ranges that is capable of digital modulation schemes at high efficiencies is disclosed. The new amplifier design features an envelope tracker unit that uses digital pulse-width modulation (PWM) generation to create analog I and Q phase high voltage signal components and sign bits. The I and Q phase signal components and sign bits are fed into an Fs/4 modulator stage to produce an analog output that is an high power RF signal modulated by the analog input signal.

Abstract: A high power AM-band transmitter amplifier comprises four switches in an H-Bridge configuration and operates by adjusting the duty cycle of the voltage waveform on a transformer. The duty cycle is adjusted by changing the phase relationship between the diagonal switch pairs. An embodiment of the amplifier operates efficiently by the addition of a current source that may comprise inductor and capacitor circuits to assure zero voltage switching of all the switches. The inventive H-Bridge configuration can also be utilized in a phase modulated power supply.

Abstract: A highly efficient, tuned, switching power amplifier has components in a circuit configuration which minimizes switching losses and stored energy within the circuit. The circuit includes a pair of switches operating at the carrier frequency at substantially 50% duty. The switches are coupled through a transformer to a load, with the circuit being tuned, taking the particular load into account, so as to minimize the power loss in the switches by ensuring that immediately prior to, and during each, transition of each switch from its non-conducting (off) state to its conducting (on) state, both the voltage across the switch and the first derivative with respect to time of the voltage across the switch are substantially zero.

Abstract: A drive circuit generates a quasi-square wave for use in switching power amplifiers by supplying square wave signals which are 180.degree. out of phase, but otherwise identical, to the respective control inputs of two switching transistors. Opposite ends of the respective controlled paths of the transistors are connected to the input of the device which is being driven. The driven device input has a capacitance associated therewith, which normally results in a voltage loss as this capacitance is alternately charged and discharged. The circuit component values are selected so that this capacitance is charged while the switching transistors have yet to reach their threshold voltages, and thus at the moment when either transistor is switched to a conducting state the voltage across that transistors controlled path will be substantially zero, and the normal switching loss, which is a product of the square of that voltage, the input capacitance of the driven device, and the operating frequency, is eliminated.

Abstract: A combining circuit for Class-E RF power amplifiers includes a transformer for each power amplifier to be combined, the respective secondaries of the transformers being connected in series to the RF load of the system. Each of the transformers further has a tertiary winding, with one end connected to a first common circuit node, and the other end being connected to a second common circuit node via an inductance. A switchable reactive network is connected to the second common circuit node, and in the event that one of the power amplifiers is removed from the circuit, such as due to failure thereof, the primary terminating impedance of the transformer connected thereto will become a high impedance, and by appropriate switching of the reactive network, in combination with the remaining circuit components, the matching impedance necessary to maintain optimum operation of the remaining power amplifiers is achieved, with a benign VSWR being presented to the remaining power amplifiers.

Abstract: An apparatus for modulating signals for use in AM stereo transmission having left and right signal inputs feeding respective inverted and non-inverted inphase modulators and respective inverted and non-inverted quadrature modulators. The inverted and non-inverted inphase outputs are summed, the inverted and non-inverted quadrature outputs are summed, and the resulting inphase and quadrature signals are summed. The resulting signal is fed to a limiter and then to a broadcast transmitter, such as a difference transmitter, as a radio frequency input.

Abstract: A broad-band impedance-matching device for an RF vacuum tube power amplifier incorporates a circuit having multiple inductors and capacitors interconnected in an impedance-matching circuit, said circuit having a low impedance input and high impedance output and made up of a plurality of series connected inductors and capacitors. Impedance transformation is performed in a number of small steps, which enables the use of a much lower cue than would be necessary if the impedance transformation were done in a single step. The arrangement produces an impedance transformation which holds over a relatively broad band width, making in unnecessary for any fine tuning of the network.

Abstract: An RF tank circuit for a transmitter power amplifier stage including a half-wave length "folded" coaxial transmission line as an anode tuning device. The tank circuit has a grounded outer conductor and an ungrounded inner conductor, the latter to be operated at a high RF potential. The outer conductor is connected electrically to a third conductor which is adjustably extensible into the ungrounded inner conductor, hence, suggesting a folded effect for the outer conductor and the third conductor in combination. The third conductor has a bellows which can be expanded or contracted by drive means disposed exteriorly of the cavity, thereby to fine-tune the cavity to a selected frequency. The third conductor has mounting means which permit its extension into the inner conductor to be variable, thus allowing for coarse adjustment of the bandwidth, prior to the fine-tuning accomplished by suitable bellows-drive controls.

Abstract: A device to suppress the generation of second harmonic frequencies in a power amplifier tank circuit such as may be used in a radio frequency transmitter. The present invention employs a device connected between the outer conductor (which is normally at ground potential) and the inner conductor. Specifically, the device utilizes a metal strap, such as a copper strap, which is connected to the inside surface of the outer conductor in an electrically conductive manner and which is also connected to a capacitor disk movably mounted with respect to the inner conductor. The capacitor disk is mounted to an insulating arm or rod and may be projected back and forth within the space between the outer and inner conductors, thereby adjusting the impedance of the device. By sliding the rod toward the inner conductor, the loop formed by the copper strap becomes more straightened thereby changing the inductance of the circuit.