Improvements in and relating to thermionic valve oscillators and amplifiers

Abstract

Abstract 524,314. Valve generating circuits. WIGAN, E. R. Jan. 27, 1939, No. 2798. [Class 40 (v)] In an oscillator or amplifier, in which the amplifying section is backcoupled through a resistance-capacity network in which the phase shift is dependent on frequency, and so proportioned that the shift of frequency round the complete amplifier-network chain is zero at some frequency within the frequency band over which the amplifier gain is high, the frequency of oscillation or selective amplification is adjustable by step switches and the elements are such that the sum of the markings corresponding to the switch positions is proportional to the frequency developed by the oscillator. Increments of frequency may be produced by adding resistance in parallel with resistance in the network or by adding capacity in series with a capacity in the network. With a network as shown in Fig: 8 the frequency generated is proportional to 1/ R 1 R 2 if a resistance R3 is added to the network approximately equal to one half of the output impedance of the amplifier. When frequency is varied by changing capacities C 1 C 2 so that the ratio C 1 /C 2 remains constant, a variable resistance r is provided to correct for changes in the output impedance of the amplifier Fig. 8. The correct adjustment of R 3 or r, Figs. 7 and 8, may be checked by switching in resistances Ra, Rb or impedances Za, Zb when no change in frequency should be produced provided Ra/Rb+p+r=R2C1/R 1 C 1 + R 2 C 2 or Za/Zb=R 2 C 1 /R 1 C 1 +R 2 C 2 . An inductance may be included in the anode circuit of one or more of the amplifying valves to increase the frequency range over which the phase shift is negligible. A potentiometer may be provided across the output of the network to enable the amount of reaction to be adjusted. The amplifiers may be provided with negative feedback Fig. 9 which may be adjusted by resistance 17 to control the amount of reaction. The valve 6 may be a pentode working on a point of inflection of its characteristic to reduce second harmonic distortion. A cathode follower may be interposed between the amplifier output and the feedback path Fig. 10 (not shown). The output may be maintained constant by automatic control as by the use in the feedback path of an element the resistance of which varies with the current flowing. A variable condenser or resistance associated with the network may be provided for trimming or to compensate for temperature changes as well as for changes in the output impedance of the amplifier. The Specification gives a mathematical analysis of the conditions necessary to ensure that the law of frequency addition is obtained and describes resistance and condenser networks to give decade control up to 16 Kc. Specifications 395,596, 489,849 and 497,148 are referred to.

Inventors

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