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Wideband Amplifers

For applications such as television, amplifers that will pass very wide frequency bands; such as
from 30 to 4,500,000 cycles, are required. f a pentode resistance!coupled amplifer is
constructed with low plate load resistances, the hi"h!frequency response is e#tended. Low-
frequency compensation is achieved by a parallel $!% combination in series with the load
resistor. High-frequency compensation is achieved by a small coil in series with the load
resistor. &hese are called compensated amplifers. 'ther types of wideband amplifers are
possible.
(5,(),(*
Fi"ure 33. n the cathode follower, the
entire +output+ volta"e is fed bac, in
series to oppose the impressed si"nal
volta"e -i.
&he input capacitance of the followin" tube plus the wirin" capacitance are important factors
limitin" the hi"h!frequency response .pa"e (/01. For this reason, a circuit called the cathode
follower
(/
is often used between two wideband amplifyin" sta"es. &he circuit arran"ement is
shown in Fi". 33. &he cathode follower has a "rid!input capacitance that is much less than the
actual capacitance between "rid and cathode. &he "rid!input impedance is correspondin"ly hi"h.
&he internal impedance as measured at the output terminals is a low resistance
&he cathode follower acts li,e a step!down transformer and can be used for impedance
matchin". &he output volta"e and the input volta"e are in phase. &he +volta"e "ain+ is less than
unity and is
2 new approach to the desi"n of wideband amplifers is the so!called distributed amplifer.
29
n
this amplifer two identical artifcial transmission lines, composed of sections of inductance and
capacitance
Fi"ure 34. 3implifed circuit of a distributed amplifer that will pass a frequency band of
many millions of cycles.
.which may include the interelectrode capacitances1, are used. &he "rids of several tubes are
connected in +parallel+ across successive sections alon" one line, and the plates are connected in
+parallel+ across correspondin" sections of the other line, the arran"ement bein" shown in Fi".
34. &he lines are, of course, low!pass flters .pa"e 4)/1. &hey are terminated with m!derived
sections. &he cuto5 frequency is made considerably hi"her than the ma#imum frequency to be
amplifed, and the input impedance is essentially pure resistance, equalin" the iterative
impedance of the artifcial line. f an input si"nal volta"e is impressed, the frst tube amplifes
this si"nal and impresses an output si"nal on the upper line. &his si"nal divides equally, part
passin" to the left, where it is lost, and part "oin" toward the ri"ht. &he input si"nal travels
toward the ri"ht on the "rid line, where the amplifyin" action is repeated, and the output si"nal
impressed on the plate line a"ain divides, part "oin" to the left, where it is lost, and part "oin"
toward the ri"ht, where it is 6oined by the si"nal travelin" to the ri"ht from the frst tube. n this
way, the si"nals from the successive tubes build up, "ivin" an amplifed output. 2n amplifer,
constructed as shown in Fi". 35, was found to have a volta"e "ain of about 0 decibels from 7ero
cycles to 40,000,000 cycles, and the band width can be made wider if desired.

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