NON-LINEAR AMPLIFIER SYSTEMS

摘要

A non-linear amplifier system for a repetitive input signal includes a first amplifier stage for amplifying low level input signals, including noise, in a linear manner and higher level input signals in a non-linear. A sampling circuit smooths the output from the first amplifier stage and thereby reduces the amplitude of low level random noise signals. A second amplifier stage receives the output from the sampling circuit and amplifies in a non-linear manner signals corresponding to low level input signals of the first amplifier stage and amplifies in linear manner signals corresponding to higher level input signals of the first amplifier stage. Consequently, low level input signals can be amplified in non-linear manner without introducing substantial errors due to non-linear amplification of low level random noise signals.