2. amps-preamps
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Congratulations Atmasphere!

I noticed today that Ralph Karsten (whom regular and even occasional participants in this forum will of course recognize as the designer and proprietor of Atma-Sphere Music Systems, as well as a uniquely valuable contributor to the forum) was granted United States patent number 10,469,042 on November 5, 2019. It covers an audio amplification technique he had indicated here that he has been developing, which in simple terms appears to me to basically be a clever combination of an analog-to-pulse train converter (as used in traditional class D amplifiers for example, among other audio-related applications), with an output stage employing circlotron topology (analogous to the topology used in his OTL power amplifiers, but utilizing solid state devices).

Link to the Patent.

Congratulations Ralph!!

Best regards,
--Al


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almarg OP
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@timlub 

Hi Tim,

Thanks for the mention, but of course my knowledge of the design is limited to what is said in the patent. And the Abstract at the beginning, supplemented by the figures (especially the first three) seem to me to present a good concise overview.

Regarding your mention of tubes, the figures depict a circlotron output stage that is FET-based, and I suspect that is what Ralph has been developing. I note, though, that the second of the 20 claims broadens the scope of the patent such that it also encompasses tubes as well bipolar transistors when used in a similar configuration.  

Best regards,
-- Al

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almarg OP
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@erik_squires
FYI, patents are also presented at uspto.gov in an alternative format in which the claims section is identified more explicitly, and is placed near the beginning.

I chose the other format for the link I provided in my initial post, though, because with this alternative format it can be more difficult to find the figures/drawings.

In the immortal words of Roseanne Roseannadanna, it’s always something :-)

Best regards,
-- Al

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almarg OP
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I’m curious though, not being well versed in the entire history of switching amps, what parts are new here? The balanced outputs?
Hi Erik,

What is new is defined by the 20 very precisely worded claims stated in the "Claims" section of the patent (which are on the last two pages of the document I linked to).

Also, keep in mind that even if a design is comprised entirely of parts, sub-sections, or other elements none of which are new it may still be very patentable, as long as those elements are combined in a manner that meets the basic patentability requirements of being new, useful, and non-obvious to one reasonably skilled in the particular art.

Best regards,
-- Al


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