A protection and attenuation circuit for sensitive AC loads is described. The circuit provides AC power protection and attenuation utilizing high-efficiency switch-mode techniques to attenuate an AC power signal by incorporating a bidirectional, transistorized switch driven from a pulse width modulation signal, PWM. The circuit monitors characteristics of the AC power signal driving a known load and characteristics of the load or other elements and determines the duty cycle of the pulse width modulated signal, PWM, based upon the duration and amplitude of the over-voltage, over-current, over-limit or other event.

An active electrode has an electrode for sensing an electric potential and generating an input signal, and a shield placed near the electrode but being electric insulated from the electrode. An integrated amplifier (10) has an input connected to the at least one electrode for receiving the input signal, and providing a buffered path outputting a buffered output signal. The shield being connected to the output of the integrated amplifier to actively drive the electrical potential of the shield, thereby providing an active shielding of the electrode. The buffered path includes a first mixer (11) in front of the integrated amplifier for frequency shifting the input signal from a basic frequency range to a higher frequency range, and a second mixer (12) on the output of the integrated amplifier for frequency shifting the amplified signal from the higher frequency range back to the basic frequency range. The active electrode may be used for recording EEG signals.

A transmit circuit for sending and/or receiving at least one single-ended signal and for sending a differential signal on two transmission lines, including: a differential amplifier for sending signal parts of a differential signal via the two transmission lines, two impedance matching resistances that are situated between the transmission lines, connected in series, for the impedance matching of the differential amplifier; a switch that is connected in series between the impedance matching resistances; at least one single-ended transmit amplifier for sending or receiving a single-ended signal via an associated one of the transmission lines, each of the at least one single-ended transmit amplifiers being connected to a terminal of the switch that is connected, via the corresponding impedance matching resistance to the associated transmission line.

A transmit circuit for sending and/or receiving at least one single-ended signal and for sending a differential signal on two transmission lines, including: a differential amplifier for sending signal parts of a differential signal via the two transmission lines, two impedance matching resistances that are situated between the transmission lines, connected in series, for the impedance matching of the differential amplifier; a switch that is connected in series between the impedance matching resistances; at least one single-ended transmit amplifier for sending or receiving a single-ended signal via an associated one of the transmission lines, each of the at least one single-ended transmit amplifiers being connected to a terminal of the switch that is connected, via the corresponding impedance matching resistance to the associated transmission line.

A limiter circuit is integrated into an RF power amplifier. The limiter circuit automatically starts adding attenuation at the input of the RF power amplifier after a predetermined input power level threshold is exceeded, thereby extending the safe input drive level to protect the amplifier. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the limiter circuit is implemented using a pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistor (PHEMT) device or a metal semiconductor field effect transistor (MESPET) device. Diode connected transistors or Schottky diodes may also be used in the limiter circuit.

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide an amplifier for signal amplification. Certain aspects further describe methods and apparatus for applying overload protection for such amplifier. For example, one method generally includes detecting an overload condition of an amplifier based on a signal at a node of the amplifier, and controlling a parameter of an input signal of the amplifier such that the parameter of the input signal is maintained below a threshold based on the detection of the overload condition. The parameter of the input signal may include, for example, a voltage level or a duty cycle of the input signal.

A power-adjustable RF (radio frequency) output circuit is disclosed, which includes a RF frequency source transformer, wherein: one output end of the RF frequency source transformer is connected with a gate of a power amplifier module, another output end of the RF frequency source transformer is connected with a gate bias voltage control circuit; a source of the power amplifier module is connected with ground; the gate of the power amplifier module is connected with a resistor which is connected with ground, a drain of the power amplifier module is connected with a fixed voltage DC (direct current) power supply and also connected with a RF filtering network for outputting a RF power through the RF filtering network.

Disclosed here is an apparatus that comprises an amplifier having first and second input nodes, first and second resistors, a first electrostatic discharge protection circuit coupled between the first input node and the first resistor, and a second electrostatic discharge protection circuit coupled between the second input node and the second resistor.

Disclosed here is an apparatus that comprises an amplifier having first and second input nodes, first and second resistors, a first electrostatic discharge protection circuit coupled between the first input node and the first resistor, and a second electrostatic discharge protection circuit coupled between the second input node and the second resistor.

Techniques for controlling one or more audio amplifiers in or associated with a device coupled on a local area network are disclosed. An example playback device includes a processor, an amplifier, a network interface, and a memory. The memory includes a software module that, when executed by the processor, causes the playback device to: operate in a first power mode in which the amplifier consumes a first amount of power; while operating in the first power mode, determine that a defined time has passed since receiving, via the network interface, a specified type of data packet; and based on determining that the defined time has passed since receiving the specified type of data packet, transition from operating in the first power mode to operate in a second power mode in which the amplifier consumes a second amount of power, wherein the first amount of power is greater than the second amount of power.