Abstract: A system includes a power source having multiple energy storage power cells. The system also includes multiple cell active balancing circuits. Each active balancing circuit is coupled across and associated with at least one of the power cells. Each active balancing circuit is also configured to provide energy to and draw energy from the at least one associated power cell. The system further includes an energy transfer bus configured to transfer energy between the active balancing circuits. In addition, the system includes a controller configured to control the transfer of energy between the active balancing circuits in order to control balancing of charges on the power cells. Each active balancing circuit could include a bi-directional direct current-to-direct current converter configured to convert and transfer DC energy between the associated power cell(s) and the energy transfer bus. The power source could include a battery, and the power cells could include battery cells within the battery.

Abstract: An improved amplifier input circuit for use as the input stage for a current feedback amplifier to reduce offset and limit overload currents. The circuit includes first and second bias current supplies, first and second diodes having anode and cathode terminals, a PNP transistor and a NPN transistor, first and second input terminals, and first and second current sense terminals. Currents flowing through the sense terminals are sensitive to an input current in the first input terminal. Bias currents from the first and second bias current supplies are divided, respectively, between the PNP transistor and first diode, and the NPN transistor and second diode. The base terminals of the transistors are connected in common to the second input terminal. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An improved current mirror is described which has utility as either a stand alone current source or as a gain block whenever current gain or transimpedance gain is required. When used as a current source the current mirror exhibits higher output impedance, and when used as a gain block, the current mirror exhibits improved higher frequency performance and high transimpedance gain than prior art current mirrors.

Abstract: A wideband closed loop amplifier is described which has improved accuracy over prior amplifiers. The closed loop amplifier includes (a) first and second differential amplifiers, (b) floating bias means connected between the output terminals of the first and second differential amplifiers, (c) an output stage including first and second output transistors; and (d) first and second bias sources connected to the collector terminals of the respective output transistors.

Abstract: Unity gain buffer amplifier circuits having a reduced input-to-output offset voltage characteristic are described. Compensation for the effects of base-to-emitter voltage variations and early voltage is employed.

Abstract: A wide-band direct-coupled transistor amplifier exhibits greatly improved settling time characteristics as the result of circuitry permitting the use of current feedback rather than voltage feedback in order to reduce the sensitivity of settling time and bandwidth to feedback elements without thereby affecting the manner in which feedback is applied externally by the user, reducing the sensitivity of settling time to the effects of temperature, eliminating saturation and turn-off problems within the amplifier that are related to bias control, to large input signals, and to high frequency input signals or those having fast rise times, and minimizing the sensitivity of settling time to power supply voltages.