Abstract: The present disclosure provides a RF power amplifier and a method for manufacturing a Doherty power amplifier. The RF power amplifier includes at least one transistor, a harmonic termination circuit, and an impedance inverter. The harmonic termination circuit has one terminal directly connected to the drain electrode of the transistor and contributes as a part of a harmonic matching network for the transistor at the second harmonic and/or the third harmonic of the fundamental frequency. The impedance inverter is configured to perform impedance inversion of a static load or a modulated load at the fundamental frequency without affected by the harmonic termination circuit.

Abstract: A high frequency circuit includes a transistor having an input electrode that inputs a high frequency signal and an output electrode that outputs the high frequency signal, a transmission line that is connected to any one of the input electrode and the output electrode, and transmits the high frequency signal, a coupling line electrically separated from the transmission line to an extent that an electromagnetic field coupling is enabled with the transmission line, and a resonance circuit that is connected between a first end of the coupling line and a reference potential, and minimizes an impedance between the first end and the reference potential at a resonance frequency.

Abstract: A circuit having an input and an output, the circuit comprising: a first amplifier having a first input, a second input and an output coupled to the output of the circuit; a first capacitor having a first terminal coupled to the first input of the first amplifier and a second terminal coupled to the output of the first amplifier; a first resistor having a first terminal coupled to the first input of the first amplifier and a second terminal; a buffer having an output coupled to the second terminal of the first resistor and an input; a second resistor having a first terminal coupled to the output of the first amplifier and a second terminal coupled to the input of the buffer; a second capacitor coupled between the input of the buffer and ground; and a third resistor coupled between the input of the buffer and the input of the circuit.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to reducing insertion loss in a transceiver while improving an operating efficiency of the transceiver. To do so, the transceiver may include isolation circuitry with harmonic distortion rejection circuitry, an electrostatic discharge filter, an out-of-band noise filter, and/or a matching network. In particular, the harmonic distortion rejection circuitry may enable a second harmonic signal to pass from a power amplifier of a transmitter of the transceiver to ground. The electrostatic discharge filter may also provide a path to ground for electrostatic discharge, and the out-of-band noise filter may provide a path to ground for noise signals. The isolation circuitry may substantially remove or decrease interference caused by undesirable signals while reducing a power consumption and thus improving an operating efficiency of the transceiver.

Abstract: A power amplifier unit includes a power amplifier circuit that amplifies a radio-frequency input signal, a first impedance matching circuit that performs impedance matching for an output signal of the power amplifier circuit, a second-order harmonic termination circuit on an output side of the first impedance matching circuit and that reflects at least part of even-ordered and odd-ordered harmonics contained in a signal input from the first impedance matching circuit to output the at least part of the harmonics from an input terminal as a radio-frequency signal and outputs a radio-frequency signal containing a fundamental and the remainder of the harmonics from an output terminal, and a filter that is on a subsequent stage of the second-order harmonic termination circuit, that attenuates at least part of the even-ordered and odd-ordered harmonics, and that outputs a radio-frequency signal including the fundamental and the remainder of the even-ordered and odd-ordered harmonics.

Abstract: Low noise amplifiers (LNAs) with low noise figure are provided. In certain embodiments, an LNA includes a single-ended LNA stage including an input for receiving a single-ended input signal from an antenna and an output for providing a single-ended amplified signal, a balun for converting the single-ended amplified signal to a differential signal, and a variable gain differential amplification stage for amplifying the differential signal from the balun. Implementing the LNA in this manner provides low noise figure, high gain, flexibility in controlling gain, and less sensitivity to ground/supply impedance.

Abstract: Disclosed in the present invention are a balanced radio frequency power amplifier, a chip and a communication terminal. The radio frequency power amplifier divides, by means of a 90-degree power splitter unit, a radio frequency input signal into two equal-amplitude signals having a phase difference of 90 degrees, the two radio frequency input signals are amplified and then inputted into an adjustable 90 -degree power combiner, and the values of a adjustable capacitor and an adjustable resistor in the adjustable 90-degree power combiner are controlled by means of a control unit, so as to synthesize the two radio frequency input signals into one radio frequency input signal when the phase difference and amplitude difference of the two signals at different frequencies are the smallest, and to input the radio frequency input signal into a circuit of the next stage by means of a specific radio frequency transmission path.

Abstract: A filter device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first filter and a second filter that are connected in parallel between a first terminal and a second terminal. The first filter includes multiple series arm resonators. The series arm resonators are disposed in series in a path from the first terminal via the first filter to the second terminal. The series arm resonators include a first series arm resonator and a second series arm resonator. Under a condition that a value obtained by dividing a difference between an antiresonance frequency and a resonance frequency of each series arm resonator by the resonance frequency is defined as a fractional bandwidth, a first fractional bandwidth of the first series arm resonator is different from a second fractional bandwidth of the second series arm resonator.

Abstract: A multi-radio frequency anti-interference method includes a wireless device scheduling a terminal device and a plurality of analog radio frequency circuits, to prevent coexistence of a first signal and a second signal. The first signal is a signal from the wireless device, and the second signal is a signal from the terminal device to the wireless device.

Abstract: A power amplifier circuit includes a power amplifier, first and second filters, and first and second output paths. The power amplifier is able to amplify both of a first signal and a second signal. The frequency of the second signal is higher than that of the first signal. The first filter includes a first inductor and attenuates the second signal amplified in the power amplifier. The first inductor serves as a path for the first signal amplified in the power amplifier. The second filter includes a first capacitor and attenuates the first signal amplified in the power amplifier. The first capacitor serves as a path for the second signal amplified in the power amplifier. The first signal outputted from the first filter is supplied to the first output path. The second signal outputted from the second filter is supplied to the second output path.

Abstract: Provided is an amplification circuit that includes: a low-noise amplifier that includes an FET as an amplification element and that amplifies a radio-frequency signal inputted to the gate of the FET; an input matching network that matches the input impedance of the low-noise amplifier; and a switch that is serially connected between ground and a node on a line connecting the input matching network and the gate of the FET to each other.

Abstract: This electronic notch filter is able to receive an input signal and deliver a filtered signal having an amplitude, at a cut-off frequency, that is attenuated with respect to that of the input signal. It comprises a module for integrating the input signal during several successive time windows, each time window starting at a respective initial time instant and having a duration substantially equal to the inverse of the cut-off frequency, the initial temporal time instants of at least two distinct windows being separated by a temporal shift of a value greater than or equal to a predefined reference duration, each integration of the input signal during a respective temporal window resulting in a respective intermediate signal; and a module for summing the intermediate signals coming from the integration module; the filtered signal depending on the sum of said intermediate signals.

Abstract: A wireless multi-band device comprises a radiating system comprising a ground plane layer, a boosting element, and a radiofrequency system, wherein the radiofrequency system comprises a tunable reactive element.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement having two interconnected high-frequency components, namely a first component and a second component, is described. A connection for transferring high-frequency signals is arranged between the first component and the second component. The connection includes at least one inner conductor, which is at least partially enclosed by an outer conductor. The inner conductor is connected to the first component and to the second component in order to transfer high-frequency signals. The second component includes a contact surface on a connecting surface and the inner conductor is pressed using a pressure force onto the contact surface, to establish a high-frequency connection between the first component and the second component.

Abstract: An active balun circuit includes first and second transistors having emitters electrically coupled to each other and configured to output differential signals and a circuit element coupled between the connection point of the emitter of the first transistor and the emitter of the second transistor and a reference potential. The impedance of the circuit element at a particular frequency of the input signal appears significantly larger than impedances at other frequencies. An input signal from an input terminal is inputted to the base of the first transistor. The reference potential is applied to the base of the second transistor. A supply voltage is applied to the collector of the first transistor and the collector of the second transistor. A signal from the collector of the first transistor and a signal from the collector of the second transistor are outputted as the differential signals.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for power amplifiers with positive envelope feedback are provided herein. In certain implementations, a power amplifier system includes a power amplification stage that amplifies a radio frequency signal, at least one envelope detector that generates one or more detection signals indicating an output signal envelope of the power amplification stage, and a wideband feedback circuit that provides positive envelope feedback to a bias of the power amplification stage based on the one or more detection signals. The power amplifier system further includes a supply modulator that controls a voltage level of a supply voltage of the power amplification stage based on the one or more detection signals such that the supply voltage is modulated with the output signal envelope through positive envelope feedback.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for controlling gain of a single stage cascode FET amplifier are presented. According to one aspect, a series-connected resistor and capacitor is coupled to a gate of a cascode FET transistor of the amplifier, the capacitor providing a short at frequencies of operation of the amplifier. According to another aspect, values of the resistor can be used to control gain of the amplifier. According to yet another aspect, the resistor is a variable resistor whose value can be controlled/adjusted to provide different gains of the amplifier according to a linear function of the resistor value. An input matching network coupled to an input of the amplifier can be used to compensate for different noise figure degradations from different values of the resistor.

Abstract: An adaptive dynamic audio hum extractor eliminates line frequency hum components and associated higher harmonics from an audio signal. An audio signal containing line frequency hum can be processed by providing dynamically controlled notch filters at the fundamental line frequency and additional harmonic multiples of the fundamental frequency. The audio signal is detected to provide dynamic control of the depth of the notch filters. Alternatively, an audio signal containing hum can be processed by dividing the spectrum into at least two frequency bands, an unaltered high band combined with a dynamically processed low band. The adaptive dynamically controlled notch filters vary the depth of the notches in relation to the envelope or time averaged level of the bandwidth limited audio signal. This allows masking of the hum components with higher levels of audio, thereby providing transparency devoid of audio path notches.

Abstract: A stub whose end is connected to an end of a transmission line, and a coupled line disposed in parallel with each of the transmission line and the stub, and electromagnetically coupled to each of the transmission line and the stub are included, and the stub and the coupled line operate as a first resonator for resonating with an odd order harmonic included in the amplified signal, and the transmission line, the stub, and the coupled line operate as a second resonator for resonating with an even order harmonic included in the amplified signal.

Abstract: An extractor includes a band pass filter and a band elimination filter. One filter of the band pass filter and the band elimination filter includes at least one serial arm resonator and at least one parallel arm resonator that are each defined by an acoustic wave resonator. Any one of the at least one serial arm resonator and the at least one parallel arm resonator includes, among a divided resonator group divided resonator including a plurality of divided resonators coupled in series to each other, a first divided resonator group that is a largest in number of the divided resonators coupled in series and a smallest in capacitance.

Abstract: A multiplexer includes a filter arranged in a first path, a filter arranged in a second path, and a filter arranged in a third path, in which a frequency of intermodulation distortion (IMD) generated from a transmission signal in a pass band of the filter and a transmission signal in a pass band of the filter is included in a pass band of the filter. The filters includes one or more series arm resonant circuits arranged on the first path and one or more parallel arm resonant circuits arranged in a path connecting corresponding nodes on the first path and the ground, in which at least one resonant circuit among the resonant circuits closest to a common terminal in one or more series arm resonant circuits and one or more parallel arm resonant circuits is defined by a divided resonator group defined by multiple divided resonators connected in series.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated wideband Radio Frequency (RF) amplifier, based on a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology. In an embodiment the amplifier addresses the shortcomings of conventional wideband amplifiers and is based on a distributed amplifier (DA) topology which typically exhibit severe performance degradation when externally loaded with parasitic circuit elements. In an embodiment of the present invention a buffer amplifier at the output of a conventional DA is able to compensate the impact of parasitic elements. The disclosed circuit can be implemented by fabricating the wideband RF amplifier integrated circuit (IC) on a 130 nm CMOS technology or other comparable CMOS technologies.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a chip main circuit, a damper and a passive component. The chip main circuit is coupled to a power source and performs a predetermined function. The damper is coupled to an output terminal of the chip main circuit. The passive component is coupled to the chip main circuit via the damper.

Abstract: Methods and devices for improving AM-AM and AM-PM performance of an RF amplifier are presented. According to one aspect, input and output harmonic terminations coupled to the input and output of the amplifier are tuned at frequencies near to, but different than, a second harmonic frequency of an RF signal to be amplified. Improved AM-AM and AM-PM performance is obtained when i) the input harmonic termination is tuned at a frequency that is below the second harmonic frequency and the output harmonic termination is tuned at a frequency that is above the second harmonic frequency, and ii) the input harmonic termination is tuned at a frequency that is farther away from the second harmonic frequency than the frequency used for tuning of the output harmonic termination.

Abstract: An output network connected to an output of a nonlinear unmatched power amplifier that provides an amplified voltage signal at a fundamental frequency. The output network includes multiple acoustic resonators configured to match multiple harmonic frequencies of the amplified voltage signal to one of substantially zero impedance, appearing as a short, or substantially infinite impedance, appearing as an open, resulting in zero voltage or zero current, respectively, to avoid power distribution at the higher harmonic frequencies. Each higher harmonic frequency is higher than a first harmonic frequency of the multiple harmonic frequencies, which is a fundamental frequency.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to power amplifier matching circuits used for matching impedance and harmonic control in a device, such as a cellular phone. In one example, a power amplifier matching circuit includes two DVCs, four inductors, a transistor, and a capacitor. Utilizing the two DVCs, the impedance matching ratio and the center frequency of the circuit are capable of adjustment as needed. Moreover, the inclusion of the two DVCs may also prevent harmonic frequencies from undesirably passing through the power amplifier matching circuit to the antenna of a cellular device. The power amplifier matching circuit may be used in conjunction with an amplifier, where the output of the amplifier is proportional to the current in the circuit.

Abstract: The present invention breaks up the frequency bands which can be filtered by a simple low-loss band-pass or low pass filter. The second harmonic frequency is reduced by use of a non-linear clipper element which controls the driving waveform symmetry and can reduce the harmonics by as much as 5-15 db which makes the filter much simpler and allows the amplifier to remain wide-band. The output waveform from the amplifier is symmetrical or nearly symmetrical.

Abstract: One aspect of this disclosure is a power amplifier module that includes a power amplifier configured to provide a radio frequency signal at an output, an output matching network coupled to the output of the power amplifier and configured to provide impedance matching at a fundamental frequency of the radio frequency signal, and a harmonic termination circuit coupled to the output of the power amplifier. The power amplifier is included on a power amplifier die. The output matching network can include a first circuit element electrically connected to an output of the power amplifier by way of a pad on a top surface of a conductive trace, in which the top surface has an unplated portion between the pad the power amplifier die. The harmonic termination circuit can include a second circuit element. The first and second circuit elements can have separate electrical connections to the power amplifier die. Other embodiments of the module are provided along with related methods and components thereof.

Abstract: A wireless communication device and a filter are provided. The filter has an input end and an output end and includes a first energy storage element, a first series resonant circuit, a second series resonant circuit, a first parallel resonant circuit and a second parallel resonant circuit. The first and the second series resonant circuits respectively have a first capacitor and a first inductor connected in series. The first and the second parallel resonant circuits respectively have a second capacitor and a second inductor connected in parallel. The first series resonant circuit and the first parallel resonant circuit are electrically connected in cascade between a first end of the first energy storage element and a ground, and the second series resonant circuit and the second parallel resonant circuit are electrically connected in cascade between a second end of the first energy storage element and the ground.

Abstract: A circuit for frequency-dependent matching of a high-frequency amplifier stage includes high-frequency stage with an output to a total high-frequency path that divides a total frequency band into a plurality of partial frequency paths for respectively preset partial frequency bands. The outputs of the plurality of partial frequency paths are reunited again into the total high-frequency path, following the processing of the partial frequency bands of these partial frequency paths. The partial frequency paths include a matching network surrounded by a first and second pass filter. At least one partial frequency path is switchable, when a control signal is supplied thereto.

Abstract: A power spectral density (PSD) shape may be modified based upon the transmitter power setting of a transmitter. The power associated with notched frequencies and adjacent frequencies may be adjusted responsive to a change in transmitter power setting. As a result of adjusting the power for the notched frequencies and adjacent frequencies when operating at the different transmitter power setting, the performance of the transmission system is improved. The PSD shape may be considered dynamic, being modified responsive to a change in transmitter power setting by adjusting power associated with notches in the PSD shape based on the transmitter power setting and PSD constraint.

Abstract: A frequency-selective circuit includes a signal input port, a signal output port, and a frequency response control block. The frequency response control block includes a mixer module and a filter module. The mixer module has a first port electrically connected to a signal path between the signal input port and the signal output port, a second port electrically connected to the filter module, and a local oscillator (LO) port. The mixer module operates according to an LO input received by the LO port. The filter module is electrically connected to the second port of the mixer module.

Abstract: A limiting circuit has a signal input and a signal output for limiting an output signal that is present at the signal output and that can be fed to a further circuit connected to the output of the limiting circuit. A voltage connection for feeding a bias voltage and a transistor are present, wherein the gate connection of the transistor is connected to the voltage connection by means of a first matching circuit and to the signal input by means of a second matching circuit.

Abstract: A wideband driver amplifier with embedded passive filtering and gain peaking is described. The wideband driver amplifier comprises a voltage to current circuit, a passive band-selection filter, and a current to voltage circuit. The driver amplifier features an Embedded CLC-Ladder band-selection filter and thereby immune to process variations.

Abstract: A processing chip for a digital microphone and related input circuit and a digital microphone are described herein. In one aspect, the input circuit for a processing chip of a digital microphone includes: a PMOS transistor, a resistor, a current source, and a low-pass filter. The described processing chip possesses high anti high-frequency interference capabilities and the described input circuit possesses high high-frequency power supply rejection ratio.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for amplifying multiple input signals to generate multiple output signals. An example system includes a first channel, a second channel, and a third channel. The first channel is configured to receive one or more first input signals, process information associated with the one or more first input signals and a first ramp signal, and generate one or more first output signals. The second channel is configured to receive one or more second input signals, process information associated with the one or more second input signals and a second ramp signal, and generate one or more second output signals. The first ramp signal corresponds to a first phase. The second ramp signal corresponds to a second phase. The first phase and the second phase are different.

Abstract: A low-noise amplifier (LNA) filter for use with global navigation satellite system (GNSS) devices is disclosed. A first LNA stage, which is configured to connect to an antenna configured to receive GNSS signals, includes an LNA. A second LNA stage, which is connected to the output of the first LNA stage, has a surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter and an LNA. A third LNA stage, which is connected to the output of the second LNA stage, also has a SAW filter and an LNA.

Abstract: Embodiments of circuitry, which includes an operational transconductance amplifier and a passive circuit, are disclosed. The passive circuit is coupled to the operational transconductance amplifier. Further, the passive circuit receives an input signal and the operational transconductance amplifier provides an output current, such that the passive circuit and the OTA high-pass filter and integrate the input signal to provide the output signal.

Abstract: A low noise amplifier including a variable gain amplifier stage configured to accept an input signal and to provide a load driving signal; a tunable bandpass filter connected as a load to the variable gain amplifier stage, wherein the bandpass filter includes a cross-coupled transistor pair, and at least one cross-coupled compensation transistor pair biased in a subthreshold region configured to add a transconductance component when the load driving signal is of a magnitude large enough to decreases a transconductance of the cross-coupled transistor pair; and, a controller circuit configured to tune the bandpass filter. The filter can be tuned in respect to the frequency and the quality factor Q.

Abstract: An apparatus, which includes a first electronic device, a first nonlinear capacitance compensation circuit, and a capacitance compensation control circuit, is disclosed. The first electronic device has a first nonlinear capacitance and is coupled to the first nonlinear capacitance compensation circuit, which has a first compensation capacitance and receives a first compensation control signal. The capacitance compensation control circuit adjusts the first compensation capacitance using the first compensation control signal to at least partially linearize the first nonlinear capacitance.

Abstract: A circuit for frequency-dependent matching of a high-frequency amplifier stage includes high-frequency stage with an output to a total high-frequency path that divides a total frequency band into a plurality of partial frequency paths for respectively preset partial frequency bands. The outputs of the plurality of partial frequency paths are reunited again into the total high-frequency path, following the processing of the partial frequency bands of these partial frequency paths. The partial frequency paths include a matching network surrounded by a first and second pass filter. At least one partial frequency path is switchable, when a control signal is supplied thereto.

Abstract: Devices and methods for iteratively sampling a wideband signal in order to recover one or more narrowband signals are disclosed. In one aspect, a wideband signal is received and the signal is sampled using a sampling device, which includes an amplifier with an initial gain level, to produce a plurality of sampled signals. A first set of narrowband signals may be recovered from the plurality of sampled signals. Then, the wideband signal is re-sampled to produce a second plurality of sampled signals. The re-sampling includes increasing the gain of the amplifier to a second level and suppressing a component of the wideband signal. A second set of narrowband signals may then be recovered from the second set of sampled signals.

Abstract: A home use sound reproduction system for Hi-fi, with digital signal transfer from a playback unit via a control unit to one or more active loudspeakers, each including or arranged beside an amplifier unit. The control unit is arranged to control sound parameters and send both a digital sound information signal and a power signal for powering the amplifier units, and to superimpose the single ended or differential digital signal together with the power signal on at least one common lead in a cable.

Abstract: An amplifier includes an amplifying element that amplifies an input signal; an output terminal that outputs the signal amplified by the amplifying element; a matching circuit disposed in series between the amplifying element and the output terminal, and performing impedance matching; an impedance converter disposed in series between the amplifying element and the matching circuit or between the matching circuit and the output terminal; and a first resonator and a second resonator connected at the ends of the impedance converter.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is disclosed. The integrated circuit includes an amplifier and a capacitor array coupled to the amplifier. The capacitor array is configured to be coupled in parallel to an inductor that is external to the integrated circuit, and the capacitor array and the external inductor comprise a tank circuit. The integrated circuit includes a resistor array coupled in parallel with the capacitor array. The resistor array is utilized to provide an overall frequency response of the capacitor array and resistor array that is opposite of a frequency response of the external inductor over a predetermined frequency range.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to integration of signal sampling within a transistor amplifier stage. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a amplifier stage including a transistor to receive a source signal and produce an output signal, wherein the transistor includes multiple fingers for at least a first electrode of the transistor. The amplifier stage uses connections to some of the fingers of the first electrode for production of the output signal, and uses one or more other fingers for the first electrode of the transistor for a separate function from the production of the output signal.

Abstract: A power amplification circuit amplifies and then outputs transmission signals of a first frequency and a second frequency, which are different from each other. When the transmission signal of the first frequency is input, a first switch is turned ON, a first LC parallel resonant circuit enters a resonant state and the transmission signal is transmitted using a line containing a first capacitor as a main line. When the transmission signal of the second frequency is input, a second switch is turned ON, a second LC parallel resonant circuit enters a resonant state and the transmission signal is transmitted using a line containing a second capacitor as a main line. Therefore, a transmission signal does not pass through, using as a main line, a line into which a switch has been incorporated.

Abstract: A tunable wide band driver amplifier is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes a first band selection circuit selectively connected between an output terminal of an amplifier and a circuit ground. The first band selection circuit configured to adjust an amplification band from a first frequency band to a second frequency band. The apparatus also includes a first harmonic reduction circuit selectively connected between the first band selection circuit and the circuit ground and configured to reduce 2nd harmonic frequencies associated with the first frequency band when the amplification band is set to the first frequency band.

Abstract: An amplifier for use in a buoyant cable antenna operable to receive signals within a frequency band includes: a first amplifier operable to provide amplified signals based on the received signals; a bandpass filter arranged to pass filtered signals within a first portion of the frequency band, the filtered signals being based on the amplified signals; an attenuator arranged in parallel with said bandpass filter and operable to attenuate signals within a second portion of the frequency band, the attenuated signals being based on the amplified signals; and a second amplifier operable to provide an amplified output including first amplified signals within the first portion of the frequency band and to provide second amplified signals within the second portion of the frequency band. The first amplified signals have a first gain, the second amplified signals have a second gain, and the first gain is more than the second gain.

Abstract: A circuit breaker comprising first and second JFETs, each comprising a gate, drain and source connection, the JFETs sources being operatively connected to each other to form a common-source connection and adapted to be connected to and operating to open an external circuit when the current flowing through the JFETs exceeds a predetermined threshold, the JFETs' gates, and common-source connection being operatively connected to a gate driver circuit which causes the JFETs to turn off when the predetermined threshold is exceeded; whereupon the current flows through the common-source connection into the second gate and into the gate driver circuit which causes the gate driver circuit to turn off the first and second JFETs and open the circuit breaker. Also claimed is a method of sensing an overloaded circuit comprising leading and trailing JFETs in a circuit that open the circuit and prevent current flow when a predetermined threshold is exceeded.