Patent · US Active

Low noise and low power arrangement for playing audio signals

US8519877B1 · kind B1 · utility

2Cited by
12References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 28, 2012
Grant dateAug 27, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 28, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03M3/502
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A circuit for providing audio signals to a load such as a speaker is provided that uses the speaker or headphone amplifier structure as a current to voltage converter, thereby eliminating a separate current to voltage converter from the circuit. Such a design removes one of the elements that creates noise in the circuit architecture and improves the dynamic range for the audio signal. For example, the output of a digital to analog converter is a single ended output provided to the speaker or headphone amplifier. The digital to analog converter can include a series of current sources that are summed up to provide the single ended output. Where the current sources have positive and negative current source mismatch, a feedback mechanism is employed to correct for the mismatch and reduce introduction of harmonic noise into the signal through the digital to analog converter.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.