A push–pull amplifier is a type of electronic circuit that uses a pair of active devices that alternately supply current to, or absorb current from, a connected load. This kind of amplifier can enhance both the load capacity and switching speed. Push–pull outputs are present in TTL and CMOS digital logic circuits and in some types of amplifiers, and are usually realized by a complementary pair of transistors, one dissipating or sinking current from the load to ground or a negative power supply, and the other supplying or sourcing current to the load from a positive power supply. A push–pull amplifier is more efficient than a single-ended class-A amplifier. The output power that can be achieved is higher than the continuous dissipation rating of either transistor or tube used alone and increases the power available for a given supply voltage. Symmetrical construction of the two sides of the amplifier means that even-order harmonics are cancelled, which can reduce distortion. DC current is cancelled in the output, allowing a smaller output transformer to be used than in a single-ended amplifier. However, the push–pull amplifier requires a phase-splitting component that adds complexity and cost to the system; use of center-tapped transformers for input and output is a common technique but adds weight and restricts performance. If the two parts of the amplifier do not have identical characteristics, distortion can be introduced as the two halves of the input waveform are amplified unequally. Crossover distortion can be created near the zero point of each cycle as one device is cut off and the other device enters its active region.
Push–pull circuits are widely used in many amplifier output stages. A pair of audion tubes connected in push–pull is described in Edwin H. Colpitts' US patent 1137384 granted in 1915, although the patent does not specifically claim the push–pull connection. The technique was well known at that time and the principle had been claimed in an 1895 patent predating electronic amplifiers. Possibly the first commercial product using a push–pull amplifier was the RCA Balanced amplifier released in 1924 for use with their Radiola III regenerative broadcast receiver. By using a pair of low-power vacuum tubes in push–pull configuration, the amplifier allowed the use of a loudspeaker instead of headphones, while providing acceptable battery life with low standby power consumption. The technique continues to be used in audio, radio frequency, digital, and power electronics systems today.
Digital circuits
In digital logic families such as TTL, the output stage often uses a push–pull configuration known as a totem-pole output. The upper transistor provides active pull-up drive. The lower transistor provides active pull-down drive. This gives low output impedance in both logic states and faster switching than passive pull-up designs. Because the two transistors are drawn stacked vertically in schematics, the arrangement is called a “totem-pole” output. A limitation of simple push–pull outputs is that they cannot be directly connected together. If one output drives high while another drives low, large currents can flow and the resulting logic level is undefined. To permit connection to a shared bus, some logic devices provide a third state in which both output transistors are turned off. In this condition the output presents a high impedance and is described as three-state (or tri-state). An alternative to push–pull output is a single switch that disconnects or connects the load to ground (called an open collector or open drain output), or a single switch that disconnects or connects the load to the power supply (called an open-emitter or open-source output), usually with a pull-up resistor or pull-down resistor passively pulling the signal the opposite way.
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