Patent ID: 6292055
Filing Date: 2001-09-18
Classification: H03F

Abstract:
An amplifier assembly having an input signal and an output signal, the amplifier assembly comprising:an output stage amplifier having a non-linear characteristic;a reference stage amplifier having a non-linear characteristic at least essentially identical to the non-linear characteristic of the output stage amplifier; and a correction assembly, coupled to an input of the output stage amplifier that compensates for the non-linearity of the characteristic of the output stage amplifier by combining the input signal with an output of the reference stage amplifier so as to counteract the non-linearity of the output stage characteristic; wherein the correction assembly comprises:a preamplifier;a distortion extractor that receives, as inputs, the output of the preamplifier and the output of the reference stage amplifier, wherein the distortion extractor outputs a distortion signal representative of the non-linear characteristic of the output stage amplifier; and a precorrection device, having (i) an input coupled to the output of the distortion extractor and (ii) an output coupled to an input of the output stage amplifier, for producing a combined signal comprising the distortion signal and the input signal, wherein the combined signal is provided as an input to the output stage amplifier;whereby the combined effect of the correction assembly and the reference stage amplifier at least essentially counteracts the non-linearity of the characteristic of the output stage amplifier.