Texas Instruments licenses Pass patent

Nelson Pass · 11th April 2006, 07:50 PM

Press Release from Pass Laboratories, April 10, 2006:

Pass Labs is pleased to announce that Texas Instruments
has purchased a non-exclusive license to U.S. patent
# 5,376,899. The amplifier topology, marketed by Pass
under the tradename "SuperSymmetry" provides a means of
achieving high performance with balanced symmetric feedback
and minimal gain stages.

SuperSymmetry has been the basis for amplifiers marketed
by Pass since the 1998 introduction of the X-1000, a 1000
watt power amplifier using only two gain stages - differential
input transistors driving complementary power output transistors.

"The beauty of the design lies in the combination of power
and simplicity. We believe that the highest quality sound
is achieved with a simple gain path, and SuperSymmetry gives
us high performance with minimal complexity and negative
feedback", says inventor Nelson Pass.

pinkmouse · 11th April 2006, 07:52 PM

Congratulations!

Any idea when real products will emerge?

peranders · 11th April 2006, 08:04 PM

Nelson!

What would a possible product be? An IC?

Blues · 11th April 2006, 08:07 PM

Congratulations Nelson! Thinking about the numbers (as in $$$), is it mind numbing or simply

.

You deserve it Mr. Pass, be the credit in monetary form or in words of praise.

Netlist · 11th April 2006, 08:33 PM

Truly a milestone for a new generation of chip amps.
Congrats Nelson.

/Hugo

dimitri · 11th April 2006, 08:38 PM

Very good, but you know, Nelson, this patent always looks suspicious to me...

dggs · 11th April 2006, 08:40 PM

Congratulations Mr. Pass!
Under the licensing agreement, can you still talk freely to the DIY world like before?

b-square · 11th April 2006, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dggs
Congratulations Mr. Pass!
Under the licensing agreement, can you still talk freely to the DIY world like before?

"non-exclusive license"

meaning nelson still owns the rights and is free to use it as he likes. of course, the legal meaning of "non-exclusive" and "license" may have recently been changed.

bb

Petter · 11th April 2006, 08:51 PM

Since I started the reverse engineering process (X100 thread), I believe I was probably the first to alert NP that SuperSymmetry was used in THS series balanced op-amps, at least according to the simplified datasheets. This must have been way back around the year 2001 or so.

So I got to brag a little there, but my point is that NP has been exceedingly gracious, helpful and motivational in his acceptance of our hobby efforts.

I am sure that he has gotten PR/Marketing benefits out of it. Now, he has gotten Intellectual Property revenue out of this, all the more power to him! My point is that NP would be unlikely to look at state of the art op-amps and thus less likely to find this patent breach unless he had been so open about his technology on this very forum.

Well done and well deserved. I hope you got a lot of money for it. It would also be nice to find out what plans TI had for this technology beyond op-amps like the THS4131 etc.

Petter

Bricolo · 11th April 2006, 08:59 PM

Great news, congratulations!

I hope we'll be informed of the peoducts that uses SuSy

11th April 2006, 07:50 PM	#1
Nelson Pass The one and only Join Date: Mar 2001	Texas Instruments licenses Pass patent Press Release from Pass Laboratories, April 10, 2006: Pass Labs is pleased to announce that Texas Instruments has purchased a non-exclusive license to U.S. patent # 5,376,899. The amplifier topology, marketed by Pass under the tradename "SuperSymmetry" provides a means of achieving high performance with balanced symmetric feedback and minimal gain stages. SuperSymmetry has been the basis for amplifiers marketed by Pass since the 1998 introduction of the X-1000, a 1000 watt power amplifier using only two gain stages - differential input transistors driving complementary power output transistors. "The beauty of the design lies in the combination of power and simplicity. We believe that the highest quality sound is achieved with a simple gain path, and SuperSymmetry gives us high performance with minimal complexity and negative feedback", says inventor Nelson Pass.

11th April 2006, 07:52 PM	#2
pinkmouse diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Chatham, England	Congratulations! Any idea when real products will emerge? __________________ Al I conceive of nothing, in religion, science or philosophy, that is more than the proper thing to wear, for a while. Charles Fort

11th April 2006, 08:04 PM	#3
peranders Electrons are yellow and more is better! diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Göteborg, Sweden Blog Entries: 4	Nelson! What would a possible product be? An IC? __________________ /Per-Anders (my first name) or P-A as my friends call me

11th April 2006, 08:07 PM	#4
Blues Lightning In A Bottle diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bremerton, WA	Congratulations Nelson! Thinking about the numbers (as in $$$), is it mind numbing or simply . You deserve it Mr. Pass, be the credit in monetary form or in words of praise. __________________ Quad Matched Toshiba 2SK1530/2SJ201 MOSFETs http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/swap-...ml#post2086375

11th April 2006, 08:51 PM	#9
Petter diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Scandinavia	Well deserved, NP! Since I started the reverse engineering process (X100 thread), I believe I was probably the first to alert NP that SuperSymmetry was used in THS series balanced op-amps, at least according to the simplified datasheets. This must have been way back around the year 2001 or so. So I got to brag a little there, but my point is that NP has been exceedingly gracious, helpful and motivational in his acceptance of our hobby efforts. I am sure that he has gotten PR/Marketing benefits out of it. Now, he has gotten Intellectual Property revenue out of this, all the more power to him! My point is that NP would be unlikely to look at state of the art op-amps and thus less likely to find this patent breach unless he had been so open about his technology on this very forum. Well done and well deserved. I hope you got a lot of money for it. It would also be nice to find out what plans TI had for this technology beyond op-amps like the THS4131 etc. Petter


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11th April 2006, 08:33 PM	#5
Netlist diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003	Truly a milestone for a new generation of chip amps. Congrats Nelson. /Hugo

11th April 2006, 08:40 PM	#7
dggs diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: silicon valley	Congratulations Mr. Pass! Under the licensing agreement, can you still talk freely to the DIY world like before?

11th April 2006, 08:59 PM	#10
Bricolo diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Grenoble, FR	Great news, congratulations! I hope we'll be informed of the peoducts that uses SuSy __________________ Just remember: in theory there's no difference between theory and practice. But in practice it usually is quite a bit difference... Bob Pease

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