A New Power Amplifier System
The two characteristics of the thermionic amplifier tube which have given it unique supremacy over any other amplifying device have been its ability, first, to amplify signals without appreciable distortion, and, second, to amplify signals without requiring any appreciable energy from the signal source. The latter feature is due to the ability of the grid to control the flow of electron current from the filament to the plate without taking any material current itself. When the grid potential is more negative than that of the filament, no electron current flows into the grid, but when the grid potential is positive, part of the electron stream enters the grid. Consequently, in order that no appreciable energy shall be consumed in the grid circuit, amplifier tubes have usually been operated with their grids more negative than the filaments.
- Print ISSN
- 0097-5834
- Published
- 1930-11
- Content type
- Original Research
- DOI
- 10.5594/J05603