In Cordell's book in the chapter about evolving a simple amp, he introduces the use of a darlington VAS.
In his example, and pretty much every example of this circuit I've looked at, the collector of the first transistor is grounded, instead of being connected to the collector of the common emitter VAS transistor. He states early in the section that there is "a very good reason for this", and that it will be expanded upon. Unfortunately, he never mentions why, or at least I can't find it. Why is this done?
When I look at it, the first thing that strikes me is that the grounded version can source a lot more current, where as if it were connected to the collector of the other transistor, it would be limited by the current source. I suppose the common emitter transistor would also command less current since it would be sharing with the other transistor. Is this the reason?
The thing is, in that same section he uses another transistor to limit current in the event of negative clipping, so it seems like too much current here is considered a bad thing, and that the current source would limit this from happening, and thus making my earlier thought incorrect.
What is going on in this circuit that I am missing?
In his example, and pretty much every example of this circuit I've looked at, the collector of the first transistor is grounded, instead of being connected to the collector of the common emitter VAS transistor. He states early in the section that there is "a very good reason for this", and that it will be expanded upon. Unfortunately, he never mentions why, or at least I can't find it. Why is this done?
When I look at it, the first thing that strikes me is that the grounded version can source a lot more current, where as if it were connected to the collector of the other transistor, it would be limited by the current source. I suppose the common emitter transistor would also command less current since it would be sharing with the other transistor. Is this the reason?
The thing is, in that same section he uses another transistor to limit current in the event of negative clipping, so it seems like too much current here is considered a bad thing, and that the current source would limit this from happening, and thus making my earlier thought incorrect.
What is going on in this circuit that I am missing?
"beta enhanced" is another term for this VAS/TIS improvement - calling it Darlington is unfortunate
we want the extra current gain of the added Q - but not the parasitic Miller multiplied Zcb feeding back to the input
by connecting the input Q collector to gnd the parasitic AC feedback is avoided, the low Z EF input Q drives the "Voltage Gain" Q Miller multiplied Zcb without trouble
we want the extra current gain of the added Q - but not the parasitic Miller multiplied Zcb feeding back to the input
by connecting the input Q collector to gnd the parasitic AC feedback is avoided, the low Z EF input Q drives the "Voltage Gain" Q Miller multiplied Zcb without trouble
ok, so is the short version that we have the enhanced beta of a darlington, but since the e.f.'s collector is grounded, and thus has no voltage change, it's input capacitance does not change with signal?
just hedging since others will find details to point out and claim a simple "yes" was "wrong"
http://www.essex.ac.uk/csee/research/audio_lab/malcolmspubdocs/J10 Enhanced cascode.pdf may be helpful
http://www.essex.ac.uk/csee/research/audio_lab/malcolmspubdocs/J10 Enhanced cascode.pdf may be helpful
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