Non-linear direct-current amplifier for measuring purposes

Details

Inventors: Brolde, Kurt;
Assignee: Endress & Hauser GmbH & Co. (Maulburg, DE)
Primary Examiner: Mullins; James B.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Pollock, Vande Sande & Priddy

A non-linear direct-current amplifier in particular for linearizing the output characteristic of a measuring transducer, comprising a main amplifier of which the overall gain is determined by means of one or more non-linear operational amplifier elements of which the individual outputs are connected by way of respective summing resistors with the input of the main amplifier, the input of each operational amplifier element being connected with the tapping of a resistive voltage divider connected between the output of the main amplifier and a reference potential source. Depending on the construction and connection of the operational amplifier elements, amplifier characteristics having increasing, decreasing or both types of slopes can be approximated by rectilinear sections.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION What we claim is: 1.
A non-linear direct current amplifier comprising: a main amplifier for receiving an input signal at an input port and generating a corresponding output signal at an output port; a voltage divider connected between the output port of said main amplifier and a reference potential and having a plurality of voltage tap-off points; and a plurality of non-linear feedback operational amplifiers connected between said voltage divider and the input port of said main amplifier, each non-linear feedback operational amplifier having a first input connected to at least one of said voltage tap-off points, an output connected to the input port of said main amplifier through a feedback diode and a particular summing resistor, and a second input connected to said output through a feedback resistor and said feedback diode to define a feedback loop for said feedback amplifier.
2.
The non-linear current amplifier of claim 1 wherein the first input of said non-linear feedback operational amplifiers is the non-inverting input of said amplifiers.
3.
The non-linear direct current amplifier of claim 1 including means for connecting the input of a linear operational amplifier circuit to the output port of said main amplifier and for connecting the output of said linear operational amplifier circuit to at least one voltage divider, said divider having a tap point connected to the input port of the main amplifier through a summing resistor.
4.
The non-linear direct current amplifier of claim 1 including means for connecting the input point of the main amplifier to the tap point of a voltage divider fed from a voltage source, to compensate an offset factor.
5.
The non-linear direct current amplifier of claim 1 wherein said main amplifier includes a first and second component operational amplifier, the first component amplifier including an inverting input for defining the input port of said main amplifier and an output for connection to an input of said second component amplifier, said second component amplifier having an output for defining the output port of said main amplifier

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