Patent ID: 8427241

Claim:
An amplifier for amplifying an input signal, comprising: a plurality of semiconductor amplifying elements, each comprising a control terminal to which a signal may be applied for controlling the flow of current between additional input and output terminals, and a source of bias voltage providing power for said amplifying elements, said plurality of amplifying elements being connected in series, such that the output terminal of a first element of the series is connected to the input terminal of the next element of the series, and so on, the input signal being applied to the control terminal of the first element of the series, and the output terminal of the last element of the series being connected to an output circuit, wherein capacitors are connected between the control terminals of each of the amplifying elements in the series, except the first, and ground, the value of each said capacitor being chosen to optimize the impedance of and power output by the corresponding amplifying elements; wherein capacitors are connected in parallel across the input and output terminals of each of the amplifying elements in the series except the first, whereby current leaking due to control terminal capacitance is compensated for, and the amplifying elements operate in substantial synchronism; and wherein the values of said capacitors connected in parallel across the input and output terminals of each of the amplifying elements in the series except the first are chosen such that the voltage swings across the corresponding amplifying elements, the current gain provided by the corresponding amplifying elements, and the current flowing through the corresponding amplifying elements are substantially equal.