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.

A power supply includes a first DC-DC converter coupled to receive power from a first power source, a second DC-DC converter coupled to receive power from a second power source, and a control block. The first DC-DC converter is operable to generate a regulated power supply voltage on an output node of the power supply. The first power source has a maximum output current limit. The second DC-DC converter is also operable to generate a regulated power supply voltage on the output node. The control block is designed to generate the regulated power supply voltage based on both of the first DC-DC converter and the second DC-DC converter.

A power supply includes a first DC-DC converter coupled to receive power from a first power source, a second DC-DC converter coupled to receive power from a second power source, and a control block. The first DC-DC converter is operable to generate a regulated power supply voltage on an output node of the power supply. The first power source has a maximum output current limit. The second DC-DC converter is also operable to generate a regulated power supply voltage on the output node. The control block is designed to generate the regulated power supply voltage based on both of the first DC-DC converter and the second DC-DC converter.

An aspect includes an apparatus including a first amplifier; a first field effect transistor (FET) including a first source coupled to an output of the first amplifier, and a first drain for coupling to a first load; and a first gate drive circuit including an input coupled to the output of the first amplifier and an output coupled to a first gate of the first FET. Another aspect includes a method including amplifying a first audio signal using a first audio amplifier to generate a first voltage; generating a first gate voltage based on the first voltage; applying the first gate voltage to a first gate of a first field effect transistor (FET) coupled between the first audio amplifier and a first audio transducer; and applying the first voltage to a first source of the first FET.

An aspect includes an apparatus including a first amplifier; a first field effect transistor (FET) including a first source coupled to an output of the first amplifier, and a first drain for coupling to a first load; and a first gate drive circuit including an input coupled to the output of the first amplifier and an output coupled to a first gate of the first FET. Another aspect includes a method including amplifying a first audio signal using a first audio amplifier to generate a first voltage; generating a first gate voltage based on the first voltage; applying the first gate voltage to a first gate of a first field effect transistor (FET) coupled between the first audio amplifier and a first audio transducer; and applying the first voltage to a first source of the first FET.

In some embodiments, an output driver can include a first driver circuit configured to operate with a first supply voltage and generate an output signal having an amplitude in a first range, and a second driver circuit configured to operate with a second supply voltage and generate an output signal having an amplitude in a second range. The output driver can further include a controller configured to operate any one of the first and second driver circuits, such that an output signal of the output driver has an amplitude in an overall range that includes the first and second ranges, and a switch circuit implemented to isolate one driver circuit from another driver circuit when the driver circuit is inactive and the other driver circuit is active.

In some embodiments, an output driver can include a first driver circuit configured to operate with a first supply voltage and generate an output signal having an amplitude in a first range, and a second driver circuit configured to operate with a second supply voltage and generate an output signal having an amplitude in a second range. The output driver can further include a controller configured to operate any one of the first and second driver circuits, such that an output signal of the output driver has an amplitude in an overall range that includes the first and second ranges, and a switch circuit implemented to isolate one driver circuit from another driver circuit when the driver circuit is inactive and the other driver circuit is active.

A switching audio amplifier and method of operation. The switching audio amplifier comprises a voltage supply selector coupling a power supply input to a first power supply voltage; a switching circuit generating a drive signal for a loudspeaker by modulating the power supply input based on a modulation signal; a pulse generator receiving an audio input signal and outputting the modulation signal based on the audio input signal and the voltage of the power supply input; and a supply voltage monitor. The supply voltage monitor is configured to increase the voltage of the power supply input by causing the voltage supply selector to couple the power supply input to a second power supply voltage responsive to the modulation signal exceeding the first threshold, and the supply voltage monitor preventing the voltage supply selector from reducing the voltage of the power supply input for a first time period.

A switching audio amplifier and method of operation. The switching audio amplifier comprises a voltage supply selector coupling a power supply input to a first power supply voltage; a switching circuit generating a drive signal for a loudspeaker by modulating the power supply input based on a modulation signal; a pulse generator receiving an audio input signal and outputting the modulation signal based on the audio input signal and the voltage of the power supply input; and a supply voltage monitor. The supply voltage monitor is configured to increase the voltage of the power supply input by causing the voltage supply selector to couple the power supply input to a second power supply voltage responsive to the modulation signal exceeding the first threshold, and the supply voltage monitor preventing the voltage supply selector from reducing the voltage of the power supply input for a first time period.

An amplifier stage uses a loaded transistor amplifier circuit including a load that causes greater second order harmonic distortion energy than third order harmonic distortion energy to be produced in said loaded transistor amplifier circuit for amplifying a source audio signal to produce an audio output signal. The spectrum of the fundamental orders of harmonic distortion is adjusted to improve perceived sound quality or listening enjoyment.