Power supply interruption circuit for an audio power amplifier

Claim 2

A power supply for an audio amplifier having at least one power transistor, said power supply comprising: supply means for supplying a voltage to one or more power transistors; current sensing means for sensing the current output of the supply means and generating a supply current signal; comparison means for comparing the magnitude of the supply current signal to a preset level; generating means for generating a current limit signal if the magnitude of the supply current signal exceeds the preset level; control means responsive to the current limit signal for disabling the supply means, said control means comprising a transistor; reset means for manually generating a reset signal; and latching means responsive to the reset means for holding the supply means in a disabled condition until the reset signal is present, said latching means comprising a flip-flop circuit.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 further comprising optical feedback means for optically transmitting the current limit signal to the control means.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 1 wherein the comparison means comprises a comparator circuit-.

Claim 5

A power supply for an audio amplifier having output transistors, said power supply comprising: positive supply means for supplying a positive voltage to one or more output transistors; negative supply means for supplying a negative voltage to one or more output transistors; current sensing means for sensing the current output of both the positive supply means and negative supply means and generating a positive supply current signal and a negative supply current signal; first comparison means for comparing the magnitude of the positive supply current signal to a first preset level; second comparison means for comparing the magnitude of the negative supply current signal to a second present level; first generating means for generating a positive current limit signal if the magnitude of the positive supply current signal exceeds the first preset level; second generating means for generating a negative current limit signal if the magnitude of the negative supply current signal exceeds the second preset level; and control means for disabling both the positive supply means and negative supply means, responsive to either the positive current limit signal or the negative current limit signal.

Claim 6

A power supply for an audio amplifier having output transistors, said power supply comprising: positive supply means for supplying a positive voltage to one or more output transistors; negative supply means for supplying a negative voltage to one or more output transistors; current sensing means for sensing the current output of both the positive supply means and negative supply means and generating a positive supply current signal and a negative supply current signal; first comparison means for comparing the magnitude of the positive supply current signal to a first preset level; second comparison means for comparing the magnitude of the negative supply current signal to a second present level; first generating means for generating a positive current limit signal if the magnitude of the positive supply current signal exceeds the first preset level; second generating means for generating a negative current limit signal if the magnitude of the negative supply current signal exceeds the second preset level; and control means for disabling both the positive supply means and negative supply means, responsive to either the positive current limit signal or the negative current limit signal.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 4 further comprising optical feedback means for optically transmitting the positive current limit signal and the negative current limit signal to the control means.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 4 further comprising: reset means for manually generating a reset signal; and latching means responsive to the reset means for holding the positive supply means and negative supply means in a disabled condition until the reset signal is present.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 4 wherein the comparison means comprises a comparator circuit.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 4 wherein the control means comprises a transistor.

Claim 11

A power supply for an audio amplifier having output transistors, said power supply comprising: a positive voltage regulator for supplying a positive voltage to one or more output transistors; a negative voltage regulator for supplying a negative voltage to one or more output transistors; current sensor for sensing the current output of both the positive voltage regulator and negative voltage regulator and generating a positive supply current signal and a negative supply current signal; first comparator circuit for comparing the magnitude of the positive supply current signal to a first preset level; second comparator circuit for comparing the magnitude of the negative supply current signal to a second preset level; first current generator for generating a positive current limit signal if the magnitude of the positive supply current signal exceeds the first preset level; second current generator for generating a negative current limit signal if the magnitude of the negative supply current signal exceeds the second preset level; a transistor responsive to either the positive current unit signal or the negative current unit signal for disabling both the positive voltage regulator and negative voltage regulator; a light-emitting diode for optically transmitting the positive current limit signal and the negative current limit signal; a photodetector responsive to the light-emitting diode for controlling the current flow of both the positive voltage regulator and negative voltage regulator; a reset switch for manually generating a reset signal; and a latch responsive to the reset switch for holding the positive voltage regulator and negative voltage regulator in a disabled condition until the reset signal is present.

Claim 12

A power supply for an audio amplifier having output transistors, said power supply comprising: a positive voltage regulator for supplying a positive voltage to one or more output transistors; a negative voltage regulator for supplying a negative voltage to one or more output transistors; current sensor for sensing the current output of both the positive voltage regulator and negative voltage regulator and generating a positive supply current signal and a negative supply current signal; first comparator circuit for comparing the magnitude of the positive supply current signal to a first preset level; second comparator circuit for comparing the magnitude of the negative supply current signal to a second preset level; first current generator for generating a positive current limit signal if the magnitude of the positive supply current signal exceeds the first preset level; second current generator for generating a negative current limit signal if the magnitude of the negative supply current signal exceeds the second preset level; a transistor responsive to either the positive current unit signal or the negative current unit signal for disabling both the positive voltage regulator and negative voltage regulator; a light-emitting diode for optically transmitting the positive current limit signal and the negative current limit signal; a photodetector responsive to the light-emitting diode for controlling the current flow of both the positive voltage regulator and negative voltage regulator; a reset switch for manually generating a reset signal; and a latch responsive to the reset switch for holding the positive voltage regulator and negative voltage regulator in a disabled condition until the reset signal is present.

Claim 13

An audio power amplifier having at least one power transistor, said power amplifier comprising: a positive voltage regulator for supplying a positive voltage to one or more output transistors; a negative voltage regulator for supplying a negative voltage to one or more output transistors; a current sensor for sensing the current output of both the positive voltage regulator and negative voltage regulator and generating a positive supply current signal and a negative supply current signal; first comparison circuit for comparing the magnitude of the positive supply current signal to a first preset level; second comparison circuit for comparing the magnitude of the negative supply current signal to a second preset level; first current generator for generating a positive current limit signal if the magnitude of the positive supply current signal exceeds the first preset level; second current generator for generating a negative current limit signal if the magnitude of the negative supply current signal exceeds the second preset level; a transistor responsive to either the positive current unit signal or the negative current unit signal for disabling both the positive voltage regulator and negative voltage regulator; a light-emitting diode for optically transmitting the positive current limit signal and the negative current limit signal; a photodetector responsive to the light-emitting diode for controlling the current flow of both the positive voltage regulator and negative voltage regulator; a reset switch for manually generating a reset signal; and a latch responsive to the reset switch for holding the positive voltage regulator and negative voltage regulator in a disabled condition until the reset signal is present.

Claim 14

An audio power amplifier having at least one power transistor, said power amplifier comprising: a positive voltage regulator for supplying a positive voltage to one or more output transistors; a negative voltage regulator for supplying a negative voltage to one or more output transistors; a current sensor for sensing the current output of both the positive voltage regulator and negative voltage regulator and generating a positive supply current signal and a negative supply current signal; first comparison circuit for comparing the magnitude of the positive supply current signal to a first preset level; second comparison circuit for comparing the magnitude of the negative supply current signal to a second preset level; first current generator for generating a positive current limit signal if the magnitude of the positive supply current signal exceeds the first preset level; second current generator for generating a negative current limit signal if the magnitude of the negative supply current signal exceeds the second preset level; a transistor responsive to either the positive current unit signal or the negative current unit signal for disabling both the positive voltage regulator and negative voltage regulator; a light-emitting diode for optically transmitting the positive current limit signal and the negative current limit signal; a photodetector responsive to the light-emitting diode for controlling the current flow of both the positive voltage regulator and negative voltage regulator; a reset switch for manually generating a reset signal; and a latch responsive to the reset switch for holding the positive voltage regulator and negative voltage regulator in a disabled condition until the reset signal is present.

Claim 15

An audio amplifier having output transistors, said audio amplifier comprising: a positive voltage regulator for supplying a positive voltage to one or more output transistors; a negative voltage regulator for supplying a negative voltage to one or more output transistors; current monitoring means for monitoring the current output of both the positive voltage regulator and the negative voltage regulator and generating a control signal if either the magnitude of the positive supply current exceeds a first preset level or the magnitude of the negative supply current exceeds a second preset level, said current monitoring means comprising at least one optical feedback link; control means responsive to the control signal for disabling both the positive voltage regulator and the negative voltage regulator; reset means for manually generating a reset signal; and latching means responsive to the reset means for holding the positive voltage regulator and the negative voltage regulator in a disabled condition until the reset signal is present.

Claim 16

An audio amplifier having output transistors, said audio amplifier comprising: a positive voltage regulator for supplying a positive voltage to one or more output transistors; a negative voltage regulator for supplying a negative voltage to one or more output transistors; current monitoring means for monitoring the current output of both the positive voltage regulator and the negative voltage regulator and generating a control signal if either the magnitude of the positive supply current exceeds a first preset level or the magnitude of the negative supply current exceeds a second preset level, said current monitoring means comprising at least one optical feedback link; control means responsive to the control signal for disabling both the positive voltage regulator and the negative voltage regulator; reset means for manually generating a reset signal; and latching means responsive to the reset means for holding the positive voltage regulator and the negative voltage regulator in a disabled condition until the reset signal is present.