Properties of hook transistors in switching and amplifying circuits

The circuit properties of hook and p-n-p-n transistor configurations are examined for applications to switching circuits and to linear amplifiers. Two- and four-terminal switching circuits of the open-circuit stable or of the short-circuit stable type may be built; in particular, thyratron-like characteristics may be obtained. Some of these circuits may be used also as negative impedance converters in network synthesis applications. Furthermore, stable amplifiers with remarkable characteristics are obtainable, as for example, unilateral amplifiers with very large input impedance or amplifiers with very large input admittance and very large power gain.