Regenerative Operation of a Diode-Clamped Linear Amplifier and Its Application as an Electronic Load

Abstract

This paper presents operating characteristics of a diode-clamped linear amplifier (DCLA) in regenerative-operating conditions. The DCLA consists of series-connected MOSFETs, series-connected dc power supplies, and clamping diodes. The circuit configuration is similar to that in a diode-clamped multilevel inverter. The DCLA uses complementary MOSFETs. One of the series-connected MOSFETs is only operates in the active state, while the other MOSFETs are in that on- or off- state. Thus, the DCLA is much smaller in the power loss than a conventional class-B amplifier. In addition, the DCLA enables the regeneration of the electric power from the ac terminals to the dc power supplies, when connected to a regenerative load. The power loss under a regenerative condition is theoretically derived and verified by using the experimental setup of the 12-series DCLA. As a result, the experimental setup have demonstrated that the loss in the DCLA in a regenerative operation is only 8% of the regenerative power.