AMPLIFIER

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an amplifier that reduces a current flowing in a peak amplifier before the saturation of a carrier amplifier so as to improve the efficiency as the amplifier as a whole. SOLUTION: The amplifier includes: a carrier amplifier circuit 4 having an amplifying element operating in an AB class or a B class; and a plurality of peak amplifier circuits 5-1-5-n each having an amplifying element operating in the B class or a C class and starting operations step by step according to an input level. The amplifier synthesizes an output of the carrier amplifier circuit 4 with an output of the peak amplifier circuits 5-1-5-n so as to output the synthesized output. The amplifier is configured so that the saturation output of the peak amplifier circuit starting operation at the lowest input level out of the peak amplifier circuits 5-1-5-n is smaller than that of the carrier amplifier circuit 4. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT