Editing Darlington transistor (section)

== Applications ==

Darlington pairs are often used in the [[push-pull output]] stages of the power [[audio amplifier]]s that drive most sound systems.  In a fully [[Push-pull output|symmetrical push-pull]] circuit two Darlington pairs are connected as [[emitter follower]]s driving the output from the positive and negative supply: an NPN Darlington pair connected to the positive rail providing current for positive excursions of the output, and a PNP Darlington pair connected to the negative rail providing current for negative excursions.

Before good quality PNP power transistors were available, the [[Push-pull output|quasi-symmetrical push-pull]] circuit was used, in which only the two transistors connected to the positive supply rail were an NPN Darlington pair, and the pair from the negative rail were two more NPN transistors connected as common-emitter amplifiers.

A Darlington pair can be sensitive enough to respond to the current passed by skin contact even at safe zone voltages. Thus it can form a new input stage of a touch-sensitive switch.

Darlington transistors can be used in high-current circuits such as the LM1084 voltage regulator.<ref name="LM1084 DataSheet">{{cite web |title=LM1084 DataSheet |url=https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/lm1084.pdf?ts=1606026030411&ref_url=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.google.com%252F |publisher=Texas Instruments |access-date=22 November 2020}}</ref> Other high-current applications could include those involving computer control of motors or relays, where the current is amplified from a safe low level of the computer output line to the amount needed by the connected device.