Distributed amplifier: Difference between revisions

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The '''distributed amplifier''' is an unconventional technique that allows  
The '''distributed amplifier''', sometimes called a ''chain amplifier'' or ''traveling-wave amplifier'', is an unconventional technique that allows an amplifier designer to escape the tradeoff between gain and bandwidth.
an amplifier designer to escape the tradeoff between gain and bandwidth.


==Problem==
==Problem==
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where t<sub>r1</sub> is the risetime of the first amplifier and t<sub>r2</sub> that of second amplifier.
where t<sub>r1</sub> is the risetime of the first amplifier and t<sub>r2</sub> that of second amplifier.


For example, cascading two amplifiers having a gain of 10 and a rise time of 3 ns, and a gain of 12  
For example, cascading two amplifiers having a gain of 10 with a rise time of 3 ns,  
and a rise time of 4 ns, respectively, will result in a mid-band gain of 120 and a rise time of 5 ns.
and a gain of 12 with a rise time of 4 ns, respectively, will result in a mid-band  
gain of 120 and a rise time of 5 ns.


Consider a designer who is working with a technology that produces
Consider a designer who is working with a technology that produces
amplifier stages like the first amplifier in the example above.  If he needs
amplifier stages like the first amplifier in the example above.   
a total gain of 100 with a rise time of 3 ns, he/she is constrained by the
If a total gain of 100 with a rise time of 3 ns is required, the designer is constrained  
gain-bandwidth trade-off and is unable to meet both goals simultaneously.
by the gain-bandwidth trade-off and is unable to meet both goals simultaneously.


==Solution==
==Solution==
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by using ten instances of the ×10, 3 ns amplifier from the earlier example connected to form a distributed amplifier.
by using ten instances of the ×10, 3 ns amplifier from the earlier example connected to form a distributed amplifier.


The key difference between a distributed conventional cascaded-stage amplifier is that in the former,  
The key difference between a distributed conventional cascaded-stage amplifier is that in  
the input of  each stage is the original signal, not the output of a previous stage, thus eliminating  
the former, the input of  each stage is the original signal, not the output of a previous stage,
the cumulative degradation of rise time that occurs in cascaded stages.
thus eliminating the cumulative degradation of rise time that occurs in cascaded stages.


One of the most important challenges when building distributed amplifiers is avoiding reflections in the signal path.   
One of the most important challenges when building distributed amplifiers is avoiding reflections in the signal path.   
For example, when the input signal reaches the input of one stage, parasitic capacitance of that stage must not  
For example, when the input signal reaches the input of one stage, parasitic capacitance of  
cause an impedance discontinuity in the signal path, which would cause reflection.   
that stage must not cause an impedance discontinuity in the signal path, which would cause reflection.   
[[File:Tek 581 vertical output amp.png|thumb|right|400px| [[581|Tektronix 581]] distributed vertical amplifier schematic (click to enlarge)]]
[[File:Tek 581 vertical output amp.png|thumb|right|400px| [[581|Tektronix 581]] distributed vertical amplifier schematic (click to enlarge)]]
Since eliminating the parasitic capacitance is not possible, the approach is usually to  
Since eliminating the parasitic capacitance is not possible, the approach is usually to  
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In the fall of 1948, [[Howard Vollum]] and [[Dick Rhiger]] built a 6 ns rise time distributed amplifier under a US government contract (for radar applications).  The prototype was attached externally to an early [[511]] oscilloscope.   
In the fall of 1948, [[Howard Vollum]] and [[Dick Rhiger]] built a 6 ns rise time distributed amplifier under a US government contract (for radar applications).  The prototype was attached externally to an early [[511]] oscilloscope.   


Vollum, Belleville and Rhiger went on to design the 50 MHz [[517]] oscilloscope incorporating a distributed vertical amplifier.
Vollum, Belleville and Rhiger went on to design the 50 MHz [[517]] oscilloscope (1951) incorporating a distributed vertical amplifier.


The [[581|580 series]] (1959) were the last Tektronix scopes to use distributed amplifiers.
The [[581|580 series]] (1959) were the last Tektronix scopes to use distributed amplifiers.
Distributed amplifiers can also be realized in integrated circuits, in which form the technique is still being used for millimeter-wave applications<ref>e.g. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7163635</ref>.


==See also==
==See also==


* [[Distributed deflection plates]]
* [[Distributed deflection plates]]
<references />


==Products==
==Products==

Latest revision as of 23:46, 27 November 2024

The distributed amplifier, sometimes called a chain amplifier or traveling-wave amplifier, is an unconventional technique that allows an amplifier designer to escape the tradeoff between gain and bandwidth.

Problem

With conventional amplifiers, if the gain of one stage is not enough, the designer has to cascade stages. The midband gain of the resulting two-stage amplifier is calculated by simply multiplying the midband gains of each of the stages. However, the bandwidth (3 dB cutoff frequency) of the two-stage amplifier is lower than the bandwidth of each of the stages by itself. In most situations the resulting rise time, tr, is closely approximated by

tr = (tr12 + tr22)1/2

where tr1 is the risetime of the first amplifier and tr2 that of second amplifier.

For example, cascading two amplifiers having a gain of 10 with a rise time of 3 ns, and a gain of 12 with a rise time of 4 ns, respectively, will result in a mid-band gain of 120 and a rise time of 5 ns.

Consider a designer who is working with a technology that produces amplifier stages like the first amplifier in the example above. If a total gain of 100 with a rise time of 3 ns is required, the designer is constrained by the gain-bandwidth trade-off and is unable to meet both goals simultaneously.

Solution

Distributed amplifier principle

In a distributed amplifier, several stages are connected together to form what in effect is a "transmission line with gain". The gain is the sum (not the product) of the gains of the stages, whereas the bandwidth of a distributed amplifier is the bandwidth of each of the stages.

Thus, it is possible to construct an amplifier with a gain of 100 and a rise time of 3 ns by using ten instances of the ×10, 3 ns amplifier from the earlier example connected to form a distributed amplifier.

The key difference between a distributed conventional cascaded-stage amplifier is that in the former, the input of each stage is the original signal, not the output of a previous stage, thus eliminating the cumulative degradation of rise time that occurs in cascaded stages.

One of the most important challenges when building distributed amplifiers is avoiding reflections in the signal path. For example, when the input signal reaches the input of one stage, parasitic capacitance of that stage must not cause an impedance discontinuity in the signal path, which would cause reflection.

Tektronix 581 distributed vertical amplifier schematic (click to enlarge)

Since eliminating the parasitic capacitance is not possible, the approach is usually to reduce the capacitance of the transmission line around each amplifier input (thereby increasing its impedance) so that the amplifier's parasitic capacitance can substitute for the capacitance of that region of the transmission line.

The design of distributed amplifiers is closely related to the design of lumped-element delay lines made from L-C sections. This, in turn, is based on the notion that a transmission line can be modeled as a series of L-C sections.

In a properly designed and constructed distributed amplifier, the input signal passes by (and is applied to) the inputs of each of the stages, and is finally absorbed by a terminator, which has the characteristic impedance of the input transmission line of distributed amplifier. In practice, there are several limits that apply to the distributed amplifier technique. One of these is the real component of the input impedance of many amplifying devices. The real component necessarily causes energy loss in the transmission line, which limits the number of stages.

History

Symmetrical distributed amplifier in 513 scope

The idea of a distributed amplifier goes back to British Patent 460,562 by W.S. Percival in 1936.

In 1948, Edward Ginzton, Hewlett, Jasberg and Noe published a paper on distributed amplifiers in the Proceedings of the IRE, first using the term "distributed amplifier". Around the same time, Hewlett met Logan Belleville of Tektronix in a Portland restaurant and described the concept on a napkin.

In the fall of 1948, Howard Vollum and Dick Rhiger built a 6 ns rise time distributed amplifier under a US government contract (for radar applications). The prototype was attached externally to an early 511 oscilloscope.

Vollum, Belleville and Rhiger went on to design the 50 MHz 517 oscilloscope (1951) incorporating a distributed vertical amplifier.

The 580 series (1959) were the last Tektronix scopes to use distributed amplifiers.

Distributed amplifiers can also be realized in integrated circuits, in which form the technique is still being used for millimeter-wave applications[1].

See also

Products

Second distributed amplifier in 585A scope

These Tektronix instruments contain distributed amplifiers:

Reading

Patents that may apply to distributed amplifier

Page Title Inventors Filing date Grant date Links
Patent GB 460562A Improvements In and Relating to Thermionic Valve Circuits W.S.Percival 1935-07-24 1937-01-25
Patent US 2930986A Distributed amplifier John Kobbe Bill Polits 1956-02-29 1960-03-29