A switching power conversion system and a method for start-up pop minimization in an audio amplifier assembly are disclosed. The switching power conversion system comprises a forward path including a compensator, a switching power stage and a demodulation filter. The system further comprises a DC-servo and a pre-charging circuit and a sequence control unit configured for providing a start-up sequence where the compensator and DC-servo are correctly biased and a bootstrap capacitor within the switching power stage is charged before the switching power stage is started. Hereby, it is e.g. possible to minimize the audible start-up pop in audio amplifier assemblies.

An envelope tracking power management circuit is disclosed. An envelope tracking power management circuit includes a first envelope tracking amplifier(s) and a second envelope tracking amplifier(s), each configured to amplify a respective radio frequency (RF) signal(s) based on a respective supply voltage. A power management circuit can determine that a selected envelope tracking amplifier, which can be either the first envelope tracking amplifier(s) or the second envelope tracking amplifier(s), receives the respective supply voltage lower than a voltage required to amplify the respective RF signal(s) to a predetermined voltage. In response, the power management circuit provides a boosted voltage, which is no less than the required voltage, to the selected envelope tracking amplifier. As such, it is possible to enable the selected envelope tracking amplifier to amplify the respective RF signal(s) to the predetermined voltage without increasing cost, footprint, and power consumption of the envelope tracking power management circuit.

An improved audio amplifier system can both reduce power consumption by supporting a standby mode and shorten wake time when resuming from the standby mode. The audio amplifier system may reduce power by entering a sleep or standby state in response to a command and/or detecting that an audio input signal is not received. Further, the audio amplifier system may use a burst generator to periodically or intermittently activate the power supply during standby mode. By periodically or intermittently activating the power supply, one or more of the capacitors may be charged. By charging the capacitors during standby mode, the time to wake from standby mode may be significantly reduced. In some cases, the wake time may be reduced by several order of magnitudes (e.g., from seconds to milliseconds).

An improved audio amplifier system can both reduce power consumption by supporting a standby mode and shorten wake time when resuming from the standby mode. The audio amplifier system may reduce power by entering a sleep or standby state in response to a command and/or detecting that an audio input signal is not received. Further, the audio amplifier system may use a burst generator to periodically or intermittently activate the power supply during standby mode. By periodically or intermittently activating the power supply, one or more of the capacitors may be charged. By charging the capacitors during standby mode, the time to wake from standby mode may be significantly reduced. In some cases, the wake time may be reduced by several order of magnitudes (e.g., from seconds to milliseconds).

A close-down pop reduction system and a method for close-down pop reduction in an audio amplifier assembly are disclosed. The switching power conversion system comprises a forward path having a compensator and a switching power stage and a signal path from an output of a comparator in the switching power stage to a sequence control unit. The signal path includes a close-down timing circuit configured to provide a timing signal. The sequence control unit is configured to eliminate the input signal, increase the switch frequency of the close-down pop reduction system and disable the switching power stage at a moment in time within a PWM pulse of the switching power stage. Hereby, it is e.g. possible to minimize the audible pop during close-down of audio amplifier assemblies.

An audio amplifier circuit for providing an output signal to an audio transducer may include a power amplifier and a control circuit. The power amplifier may include an audio input for receiving an audio input signal, an audio output for generating the output signal based on the audio input signal, and a power supply input for receiving a power supply voltage, wherein the power supply voltage is variable among at least a first supply voltage and a second supply voltage greater than the first supply voltage. The control circuit may be configured to predict, based on one or more characteristics of a signal indicative of the output signal, an occurrence of a condition for changing the power supply voltage, and responsive to predicting the occurrence of the condition, change, at an approximate zero crossing of the signal indicative of the output signal, the power supply voltage.

Aspects of the present disclosure provide a high voltage switch with a fast turn-off. An example power supply circuit generally includes a capacitive element for coupling to a power terminal of an amplifier, a first switch configured to be closed in a first mode and to be open in a second mode, a second switch coupled in series between the first switch and the capacitive element and configured to be closed in the first mode and to be open in the second mode, a first circuit coupled to the first switch and configured to charge the capacitive element and power the amplifier in the first mode, and a buffer circuit having an output coupled to a first node and configured to output a first voltage level greater than half of a second voltage level at a second node.

A boost DC-DC power converter comprising a semiconductor switch arrangement comprising a plurality of series connected semiconductor switches. A first capacitor is connected between a first intermediate node of a first leg of the semiconductor switch arrangement and a second intermediate node of a second leg of the semiconductor switch arrangement. A control circuit is coupled to respective control terminals of the plurality of semiconductor switches. A load sensor is configured to detect a load current and/or a load voltage of a load circuit connectable to at least a first DC output voltage of the DC-DC power converter. The control circuit being further configured to adjusting one or more operational parameters of the boost DC-DC power converter based on the detected load current and/or load voltage.

Systems and methods for amplifying signals. In some embodiments, the signals may be amplified using a diode steering network with an amplifier operated in class AB mode. In some embodiments, distortion in the amplified signal may be corrected using a feed forward cancellation circuit operated in class A mode.

A Class D amplifier comprising a control circuit configured to receive an audio input signal and derive first, second and third PWM switching control signals therefrom, being supplied to respectively first, second and third switches of a driver, the first and second switches being serially arranged between first and second supply voltages, and having a common node coupled to an output terminal. The driver comprises a DC level shifter being configured to provide a reference voltage to a reference terminal in at least first and second states of operation, said reference voltage including a DC component at least substantially equidistant between the first and second supply voltages. Said third switch being included in a shunt path between the output and the reference terminal.