Simple circuit that uses a single transistor to accomplish capacitor storage followed by common-base switching supplies a pulse voltage, higher than that normally available from emitter-follower circuits, to drive a 100-watt transmitter

Keon, T.

Matchett, M. W.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

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October 1966	 Brief 66-10480 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
NASA Tech Briefs are issued to summarize specific innovations derived from the U. S. space 
program and to encourage their commercial application. Copies are available to the public from 
the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
Simple, One Transistor Circuit Boosts Pulse Amplitude 
The problem: 
A requirement existed to supply a pulse voltage, 
higher than that normally available from emitter-
follower circuits, to drive a 100-watt transmitter. 
The solution: 
A simple circuit that uses a single transistor to ac-
complish capacitor storage followed by common-base 
switching. 
How it's done: 
Capacitor C  is charged through R  and R2 to the 
supply line voltage, Vi. With no input pulse, both the 
emitter and base of the transistor are at the same p0-
tential, and the collector is cut off. With an input pulse 
V2 present, the potential of C  with respect to ground 
is increased by V2. The emitter becomes more positive 
than the base and the transistor is switched on. This
results in an output pulse, V3 that is equal to Vi--V2, 
minus negligible losses in C  and the transistor. 
Notes: 
1. In order for Cl to reach approximate full charge 
between pulses, the ratio of charging interval to 
charging time constant must be much greater than 
the ratio of discharge interval to discharge time 
constant. - 
2. In tests, this circuit has produced a good output 
waveform at about twice the amplitude of the sup-
ply line voltage, Vi. 
3. Inquiries concerning this innovation may be made 
to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
Goddard Space Flight Center 
Greenbelt, Maryland 20771 
Reference: B66-10480 
-.	
(continued overleaf) 
This documentwas prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19660000478 2020-03-11T17:38:16+00:00Z
Patent status: 
No patent action is contemplated by NASA. 
Source: M. W. Matchett and T. Keon 
of Cutler Hammer 
under contract to 
Goddard Space Flight Center 
(GSFC-501)
•i 
S 
Brief 66-10480	 Category 01


Simple, one transistor circuit boosts pulse amplitude

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