A semiconductor device includes: a first buffer at which a predetermined signal is input and that outputs a first output signal; a second buffer at which an inverted signal of the predetermined signal is input and that outputs a second output signal; and a short circuit detection circuit that, in accordance with a potential difference between the first output signal and the second output signal, outputs a short circuit evaluation signal evaluating whether or not there is a ground fault in at least one of a first terminal at an output side of the first buffer or a second terminal at an output side of the second buffer or evaluating whether or not there is a short circuit between the first terminal and the second terminal.

This application relates to amplifier circuitry and, in particular, to class-D amplifier circuits. The application describes amplifier circuitry (400) for receiving an input signal (Sin) and generating first and second driving signals (SoutP, SoutN) for driving a bridge-tied-load. The amplifier circuitry includes first and second class-D output stages (403p, 403n) for generating the first and second driving signals based on the input signal. A controller (406) controllably varies a common-mode component of the first and second driving signals based on an indication of amplitude of the first and second driving signals. The controller varies the common-mode component, at lower signal amplitudes, so the common-mode level of the first and second driving signals is moved away from an operating region that leads to distortion.

This application relates to amplifier circuitry and, in particular, to class-D amplifier circuits. The application describes amplifier circuitry (400) for receiving an input signal (Sin) and generating first and second driving signals (SoutP, SoutN) for driving a bridge-tied-load. The amplifier circuitry includes first and second class-D output stages (403p, 403n) for generating the first and second driving signals based on the input signal. A controller (406) controllably varies a common-mode component of the first and second driving signals based on an indication of amplitude of the first and second driving signals. The controller varies the common-mode component, at lower signal amplitudes, so the common-mode level of the first and second driving signals is moved away from an operating region that leads to distortion.

Class-D amplifier circuits provide operation with low-distortion zero crossings outside of a unipolar power supply voltage range. The amplifiers include a first H-bridge driver circuit and a second H-bridge driver circuit. The class-D amplifier circuits also include a control circuit having an input for receiving an input signal to be reproduced by the class-D amplifier circuit. The control circuit has outputs coupled to inputs of the first and second H-bridge drivers, and includes one or more modulators. The control circuit selects between actively operating a selected one of the driver circuits or both, according to the signal to be reproduced, while setting an unselected driver circuit to turn either a high-side switch or a low-side switch of the unselected one of the first driver circuit or the second driver circuit fully on for at least some cycles of the one or more modulators.

A class-D amplifying system includes: a class-D amplifier circuit configured to convert an input signal to a switch control signal in pulse width modulation fashion, wherein the switch control signal controls switches to operate a first inductor and a second inductor, thus converting an input power to a positive output signal and a negative output signal which are complementary to each other, to thereby drive a load; and a power converter circuit, which generates a direct current (DC) power supply according to at least one of the positive output signal and the negative output signal, wherein the DC power supply supplies at least a portion of power to the class-D amplifier circuit.

A BD type pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit is configured to convert a pair of complementary input signals to a pair of output PWM signals. The BD PWM circuit modulates a basic modulation signal according to the pair of input signals, to generate a basic PWM signal. The common mode levels of the pair of input signals and the basic modulation signal are the same. The BD PWM circuit modulates an offset modulation signal according to the pair of input signals to generate an offset PWM signal. The offset modulation signal and the basic modulation signal have a non-zero offset in between. The BD PWM circuit selects the offset PWM signal or a heavy load PWM signal as the pair of output PWM signals. The heavy load PWM signal is correlated with the basic PWM signal.

A BD type pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit is configured to convert a pair of complementary input signals to a pair of output PWM signals. The BD PWM circuit modulates a basic modulation signal according to the pair of input signals, to generate a basic PWM signal. The common mode levels of the pair of input signals and the basic modulation signal are the same. The BD PWM circuit modulates an offset modulation signal according to the pair of input signals to generate an offset PWM signal. The offset modulation signal and the basic modulation signal have a non-zero offset in between. The BD PWM circuit selects the offset PWM signal or a heavy load PWM signal as the pair of output PWM signals. The heavy load PWM signal is correlated with the basic PWM signal.

A system includes a charge pump having an input coupled to a first voltage and an output at a second voltage, the second voltage greater than the first voltage. The system also includes an amplifier having a first input, a second input, and a third input, the first input coupled to the output of the charge pump, the second input coupled to the first voltage, the third input coupled to an input signal, the amplifier having an amplified output signal. The system also includes a maximum power detector coupled to the amplifier, the maximum power detector operable to determine whether the amplified output signal has reached a threshold output level and to reduce a power of the amplified output signal responsive to the determination.

An amplifier circuit is capable of switching between a unipolar output voltage domain and a bipolar output voltage domain. The amplifier circuit comprises an operational amplifier with a feedback circuit that is configurable using switches. By controlling the switches, the amplifier's feedback circuit can switched between two different arrangements having a positive and a negative signal gain, respectively. The amplifier circuit is designed such that the noise gain is the same in both operating modes, allowing a single noise compensation approach to be used for both operating modes. Since configurability of the circuit is achieved using static switches, the amplifier circuit maintains high accuracy and experiences no appreciable impact on power consumption as a result of implementing the switching.

One embodiment provides a system comprising a single DC voltage source and a Class-D amplifier comprising at least one DC/DC converter operated by the single DC voltage source. The amplifier is configured to receive an input signal for power amplification, and generate, via the at least one DC/DC converter, a DC output voltage that approaches or exceeds a DC supply voltage from the single DC voltage source. A gain of the amplifier is a ratio of the output voltage level to the input signal. A steady-state operating point of the at least one DC/DC converter is zero output.