Method and apparatus for achieving high-output signal swing from class-D amplifier

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United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 9973157
SERIAL NO

15261938

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Abstract

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An apparatus and method are disclosed for providing output signal swings that are greater than the supply voltage in a class-D amplifier. The amplifier circuit boosts the voltage across the amplifier load, such as a loudspeaker, by using capacitors to “charge pump” the voltage across the load and thus increase the voltage temporarily. This is done by using two or more output bridges rather than one, and connecting the bridges through the capacitors. For signals of less than the supply voltage, only an inner bridge, similar to a full bridge of the prior art, operates. For signals above the supply voltage, an outer bridge charges capacitors, which are then used to ‘boost’ the voltage on the bridge output for the short period of the Class-D switching period. Thus, only relatively small value boosting capacitors are needed, as they do not need to supply charge for very long.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
ESS TECHNOLOGY INC109 BONAVENTURA DRIVE SAN JOSE CA 95134

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Blair, Robert Lynn Pleasanton, US 11 63
Frith, Peter John Kelowna, CA 16 192
Mallinson, A Martin Kelowna, CA 76 275
Xu, Yongsheng Kelowna, CA 18 92

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