An audio system has an amplifier for driving an audio actuator and includes a switched-mode power supply that draws power from a power source (e.g., battery) to supply power to the amplifier, a capacitor charged by the switched-mode power supply to supply power to the amplifier, and a feed-forward compressor that performs dynamic range compression of an audio input to provide an audio output for amplification by the amplifier. The compressor includes a sidechain frequency-biasing filter that generates a frequency-biased version of the audio input that is attenuated as frequency increases which causes the compressor to decrease the compression as frequency increases. A control block limits current drawn from the battery by the switched-mode power supply independent of audio input frequency, but the frequency-biasing filter enables the amplifier to service audio power transients greater than the current-limited power supply can supply by advantageously concurrently sourcing extra power from the capacitor.

This application relates to methods and apparatus for driving a transducer. A transducer driver has a switch network is operable to selectively connect a driver output to any of a first set of at least three different switching voltages. which are, in use, maintained throughout a switching cycle of the driver apparatus. The switch network is also operable to selectively connect the driver output to flying capacitor driver. A controller is configured to control the switch network and flying capacitor driver to generate a drive signal at the driver output based on an input signal, wherein in one mode of operation the driver output is switched between two of the first set of switching voltages with a controlled duty cycle and in another mode of operation the driver output is connected to the flying capacitor driver which is switched between first and second states with a controlled duty cycle.

The present disclosure is directed to the creation, modification, and selection of a plurality of audio profiles in programmable audio amplifiers. Embodiments of the present disclosure include an input device, a programmable amplifier device, a controller, and an output device. In certain embodiments, the audio amplifier device is pre-programmable and/or re-programmable and can comprise an enclosure, a processor within the enclosure, a receiver communicatively connected to the processor, and a controller external to the enclosure, with the controller being communicatively connected to the processor.

Aspects of the invention are directed towards a system and method for noise suppression. One or more embodiments of the invention describe the method comprising steps of receiving noise by a microphone and deriving a noise signal from the noise, the noise produced by a fan of a fire/smoke detection unit while drawing air and detecting the speed of the fan of the fire/smoke detection unit. The method further describes steps of amplifying the noise signal by the amplifier received from the microphone and producing an anti-phase noise signal by shifting a phase of the amplified noise signal received from the amplifier wherein the anti-phase noise signal is dependent on the detected speed of the fan. The method further describes steps of outputting the anti-phase noise signal through a speaker to suppress the noise produced by the fan of the fire/smoke detection unit while drawing the air.

A current-averaging audio amplifier for vehicles. The current averaging audio amplifier is connectable to a DC power source and a load, and may generally comprise a power input to receive a DC electrical power from the DC power source. The system may further include a voltage converter, such as a boost converter, connected to the power input, such that the voltage converter can receive electrical power from the DC power source. The system also includes a rechargeable battery coupled to the voltage converter, such that the voltage converter charges the rechargeable battery. An audio amplifier can be powered by the rechargeable battery and connectable to supply power to the load, wherein the average power supplied by the rechargeable battery to the audio amplifier in a finite time interval differs from the average power supplied by the DC power source to the voltage converter.

This application describes time-encoding modulator circuitry (200), and in particular a PWM modulator suitable for use for a class-D amplifier. A forward signal path receives a digital input signal (Din) and outputs an output PWM signal (Sout) and includes a first PWM modulator (101). A feedback path provides feedback to an input of the first PWM modulator (101). The feedback path includes an ADC (203) which receive a first PWM signal (Sa) derived from the output PWM signal. The ADC (203) includes a second PWM modulator (401) which generates a second PWM signal (Sb) based on the first PWM signal. A controller (201) controls the second PWM modulator such that a PWM carrier of the second PWM signal is phase and frequency matched to a PWM carrier of the output PWM signal.

A class-D amplifier including a pulse width modulator including an input configured to receive a first signal based on an input signal, and an output configured to generate a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal; an H-bridge including an input coupled to an output of the pulse width modulator and an output coupled to a load, wherein the H-bridge is configured to generate an output signal across the load based on the PWM signal; and a deadtime compensation circuit coupled to the H-bridge, wherein the deadtime compensation circuit is configured to compensate for deadtime distortion in the output signal. The deadtime compensation circuit may be a feedback circuit between an output of the H-bridge and an input of the pulse width modulator, a pulse modification circuit at the output of the pulse width modulator, or an offset signal generating circuit providing an offset signal to the pulse width modulator.

An audio processing device includes a signal processing circuit, a power switch circuit, a power amplifier and a detection circuit. The signal processing circuit is configured to process an audio input to generate an audio signal. The power switch circuit is configured to generate an operating voltage. The power amplifier is coupled with the signal processing circuit and the power switch circuit, and configured to drive a load circuit by the operating voltage according to the audio signal. The detection circuit is coupled with the signal processing circuit and the power switch circuit, configured to obtain a volume value from the audio signal and compare the volume value with a first volume threshold to generate a comparison result, and configured to control, according to the comparison result, the power switch circuit to set the operating voltage to have a corresponding one of multiple voltage levels.

The invention relates to a signal amplifier circuit for amplifying a signal, in particular an audio amplifier circuit, includes at least one first amplifier transistor (Q1) and at least one second amplifier transistor (Q2), wherein the first amplifier transistor (Q1) and the second amplifier transistor (Q2) are connected to one another in a push-pull circuit and are fed by an amplifier voltage source (V+, V−); and one or more bias diodes (D1, D2) thermally coupled in each case to an associated amplifier transistor (Q1, Q2), wherein the bias diodes (D1, D2) are arranged in a parallel connection with respect to the amplifying transistors (Q1, Q2) to reduce or avoid a crossover distortion, wherein the bias diodes (D1, D2) are fed at least partly by a voltage source (UA) which is independent of the amplifier voltage source (V+, V−). The invention furthermore relates to a system and a voltage converter for providing an output-side DC voltage, including a first transformer (T1) and a second transformer (T2) connected to the first transformer (T1).