US5543753A — Audio frequency power amplifiers with actively da…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 167 words

An amplifier system for generating an output signal based on an input signal comprising: linear amplification means for amplifying an input signal to obtain an amplified output signal, the linear amplification means having at least one supply terminal; first amplification means for generating a first supply signal and applying the first supply signal to the at least one supply terminal of the linear amplification means, where the first amplification means comprises first control means for generating a first control signal based on the input signal, first switch means for generating a first pulsed power signal based on the first control signal, and first filter means for filtering the first pulsed power signal to obtain the first supply signal, the first filter means comprising a first filter inductor and a first filter capacitor; and first active damping means for damping perturbations in the first filter means; wherein the first active damping means damps perturbations in the first filter means based on a current through the first filter capacitor.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 167 words

An amplifier system for generating an output signal based on an input signal comprising: linear amplification means for amplifying an input signal to obtain an amplified output signal, the linear amplification means having at least one supply terminal; first amplification means for generating a first supply signal and applying the first supply signal to the at least one supply terminal of the linear amplification means, where the first amplification means comprises first control means for generating a first control signal based on the input signal, first switch means for generating a first pulsed power signal based on the first control signal, and first filter means for filtering the first pulsed power signal to obtain the first supply signal, the first filter means comprising a first filter inductor and a first filter capacitor; and first active damping means for damping perturbations in the first filter means; wherein the first active damping means damps perturbations in the first filter means based on a current through the first filter capacitor.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 29 words

The amplifier system as recited in claim 1, further comprising first compensation means for compensating at least in part for the frequency response of the damped first filter means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 142 words

The amplifier system as recited in claim 1, in which the linear amplification means comprises first and second supply terminals and the first supply signal is applied to the first supply terminal, the amplifier system further comprising second amplification means for generating a second supply signal and applying the second supply signal to the second supply terminal of the linear amplification means, where the second amplification means comprises second control means for generating a second control signal based on the input signal, second switch means for generating a second pulsed power signal based on the second control signal, and second filter means for filtering the second pulsed power signal to obtain the second supply signal, the second filter means comprising a second filter inductor and a second filter capacitor; and second active damping means for damping perturbations in the second filter means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 49 words

The amplifier system as recited in claim 3, further comprising: first compensation means for compensating at least in part for the frequency response of the damped first filter means; and second compensation means for compensating at least in part for the frequency response of the damped second filter means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 30 words

The amplifier system as recited in claim 4, further comprising discharge means for discharging the first and second filter capacitors to prevent floating of the first and second supply voltages.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 53 words

The amplifier system as recited in claim 3, in which the first active damping means damps perturbations in the first filter means based on a current through the first filter capacitor and the second active damping means damps perturbations in the second filter means based on a current through the second filter capacitor.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 46 words

The amplifier as recited in claim 3, in which the first active damping means damps perturbations in the first filter means by altering the first control signal and the second active damping means damps perturbations in the second filter means by altering the second control signal.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 27 words

The amplifier system as recited in claim 2, in which the first compensation means compensates for the damped first filter means by altering the first control signal.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 44 words

The amplifier as recited in claim 4, in which the first compensation means compensates for the damped first filter means by altering the first control signal and the second compensation means compensates for the damped second filter means by altering the second control signal.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 111 words

A method of amplifying an input signal to obtain an amplified output signal, comprising the steps of: generating a first control signal based on the input signal; operating a switch based on the first control signal to obtain a pulsed power signal; filtering the pulsed power signal with an output filter to obtain the output signal; altering the first control signal to damp perturbations in the output filter; and generating a second control signal based on a current through an output capacitor in the output filter, in which the step of altering the first control signal comprises the step of altering the first control signal based on the second control signal.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 111 words

A method of amplifying an input signal to obtain an amplified output signal, comprising the steps of: generating a first control signal based on the input signal; operating a switch based on the first control signal to obtain a pulsed power signal; filtering the pulsed power signal with an output filter to obtain the output signal; altering the first control signal to damp perturbations in the output filter; and generating a second control signal based on a current through an output capacitor in the output filter, in which the step of altering the first control signal comprises the step of altering the first control signal based on the second control signal.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 32 words

A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising the step of altering the first control signal to compensate at least in part for the frequency response of the damped output filter.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 54 words

A method as recited in claim 10, in which the step of generating the first control signal comprises the step of summing the input signal with a feedback signal derived from the output signal to obtain a voltage loop error signal, the first control signal being generated based on the voltage loop error signal.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 60 words

A method as recited in claim 12, in which the step of altering the first control signal based on the second control signal comprises the step of adding the voltage loop error signal to the second control signal to obtain a current damping loop error signal, the first control signal being generated based on the current damping loop error signal.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 30 words

A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising the step of modulating the current damping loop error signal based on a periodic signal to obtain the first control signal.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 33 words

A method as recited in claim 14, further comprising the step of altering the voltage loop error signal to compensate at least in part for the frequency response of the damped output filter.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 101 words

An amplifier that generates an output signal based on an input signal, comprising: control means for generating a control signal based on the input signal and a voltage loop feedback signal derived from the output signal; switch means for generating a pulsed power signal based on the control signal; output filter means for filtering the pulsed power signal to obtain the output signal, the output filter means comprising a filter inductor and a filter capacitor; active damping means for damping perturbations in the output filter means, where the active damping means damps perturbations based on a current in the filter capacitor.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 101 words

An amplifier that generates an output signal based on an input signal, comprising: control means for generating a control signal based on the input signal and a voltage loop feedback signal derived from the output signal; switch means for generating a pulsed power signal based on the control signal; output filter means for filtering the pulsed power signal to obtain the output signal, the output filter means comprising a filter inductor and a filter capacitor; active damping means for damping perturbations in the output filter means, where the active damping means damps perturbations based on a current in the filter capacitor.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 22 words

An amplifier as recited in claim 16, further comprising compensation means for compensating at least in part for the damped filter means.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 32 words

An amplifier as recited in claim 16, in which the control means comprises means for summing the voltage loop feedback signal with the input signal to obtain a voltage loop error signal.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 60 words

An amplifier as recited in claim 18, in which the active damping means comprises: means for generating a current damping loop feedback signal corresponding to the current within the filter capacitor; and means for altering the control signal by summing the voltage loop error signal with the current damping loop feedback signal to obtain a current damping loop error signal.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 29 words

An amplifier as recited in claim 19, further comprising modulator means for modulating the current damping loop error signal based on a periodic signal to obtain the control signal.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 119 words

An amplifier that generates an output signal based on an input signal, comprising: control means for generating a control signal based on the input signal and a feedback signal derived from the output signal; switch means for generating a pulsed power signal based on the control signal; output filter means comprising an output inductor and an output capacitor for filtering the pulsed power signal to obtain the output signal; active damping means for damping perturbations in the output filter means; and compensation means for compensating at least in part for the damped output filter means; wherein the control means comprises means for summing the voltage loop feedback signal with the input signal to obtain a voltage loop error signal.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 119 words

An amplifier that generates an output signal based on an input signal, comprising: control means for generating a control signal based on the input signal and a feedback signal derived from the output signal; switch means for generating a pulsed power signal based on the control signal; output filter means comprising an output inductor and an output capacitor for filtering the pulsed power signal to obtain the output signal; active damping means for damping perturbations in the output filter means; and compensation means for compensating at least in part for the damped output filter means; wherein the control means comprises means for summing the voltage loop feedback signal with the input signal to obtain a voltage loop error signal.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 60 words

An amplifier as recited in claim 21, in which the active damping means comprises: means for generating a current damping loop feedback voltage corresponding to the current within the filter capacitor; and means for altering the control signal by summing the voltage loop error signal with the current damping loop feedback signal to obtain a current damping loop error signal.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 28 words

An amplifier as recited in claim 22, further comprising modulator means for modulating the current damping loop signal based on a periodic signal to obtain the control signal.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 31 words

An amplifier as recited in claim 23, in which the compensating means comprises means for altering the voltage loop error signal to compensate for the frequency response of the damped filter.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 191 words

In a switch mode amplifier system having a first feedback loop for generating a control signal based on an input signal and a voltage loop feedback signal derived from an output signal of the amplifier; switching means for generating a pulsed power signal based on the control signal; and an output filter having an inductor and a capacitor, where the output filter contributes first and second poles to the amplifier system that lie in the left half of the s-plane adjacent to the imaginary axis, where the first pole is spaced above real axis and the second pole is spaced below the real axis; a method of stabilizing the amplifier system comprising the steps of actively damping the output filter such that the first and second poles are moved away from the right half of the s-plane and substantially onto the real axis and forward compensating at least in part for the frequency response of the actively damped output filter by providing circuitry that contributes first and second zeros to the amplifier system, where the first zero substantially cancels the first pole and the second zero substantially cancels the second pole.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 191 words

In a switch mode amplifier system having a first feedback loop for generating a control signal based on an input signal and a voltage loop feedback signal derived from an output signal of the amplifier; switching means for generating a pulsed power signal based on the control signal; and an output filter having an inductor and a capacitor, where the output filter contributes first and second poles to the amplifier system that lie in the left half of the s-plane adjacent to the imaginary axis, where the first pole is spaced above real axis and the second pole is spaced below the real axis; a method of stabilizing the amplifier system comprising the steps of actively damping the output filter such that the first and second poles are moved away from the right half of the s-plane and substantially onto the real axis and forward compensating at least in part for the frequency response of the actively damped output filter by providing circuitry that contributes first and second zeros to the amplifier system, where the first zero substantially cancels the first pole and the second zero substantially cancels the second pole.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 164 words

An amplifier system for generating an output signal based on an input signal comprising: linear amplification means for amplifying an input signal to obtain an amplified output signal, the linear amplification means having at least one supply terminal; first amplification means for generating a first supply signal and applying the first supply signal to the at least one supply terminal of the linear amplification means, where the first amplification means comprises first control means for generating a first control signal based on the input signal, first switch means for generating a first pulsed power signal based on the first control signal, and first filter means for filtering the first pulsed power signal to obtain the first supply signal, the first filter means comprising a first filter inductor and a first filter capacitor; and first active damping means for damping perturbations in the first filter means; wherein the first active damping means damps perturbations in the first filter means by altering the first control signal.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 164 words

An amplifier system for generating an output signal based on an input signal comprising: linear amplification means for amplifying an input signal to obtain an amplified output signal, the linear amplification means having at least one supply terminal; first amplification means for generating a first supply signal and applying the first supply signal to the at least one supply terminal of the linear amplification means, where the first amplification means comprises first control means for generating a first control signal based on the input signal, first switch means for generating a first pulsed power signal based on the first control signal, and first filter means for filtering the first pulsed power signal to obtain the first supply signal, the first filter means comprising a first filter inductor and a first filter capacitor; and first active damping means for damping perturbations in the first filter means; wherein the first active damping means damps perturbations in the first filter means by altering the first control signal.

Claim 33

Independent Claim 114 words

A method of amplifying an input signal to obtain an amplified output signal, comprising the steps of: generating a first control signal based on the input signal; operating a switch based on the first control signal to obtain a pulsed power signal; filtering the pulsed power signal with an output filter to obtain the output signal; altering the first control signal to damp perturbations in the output filter; wherein the step of generating the first control signal comprises the step of summing the input signal with a feedback signal derived from the output signal to obtain a voltage loop error signal, the first control signal being generated based on the voltage loop error signal.

Claim 34

Independent Claim 114 words

A method of amplifying an input signal to obtain an amplified output signal, comprising the steps of: generating a first control signal based on the input signal; operating a switch based on the first control signal to obtain a pulsed power signal; filtering the pulsed power signal with an output filter to obtain the output signal; altering the first control signal to damp perturbations in the output filter; wherein the step of generating the first control signal comprises the step of summing the input signal with a feedback signal derived from the output signal to obtain a voltage loop error signal, the first control signal being generated based on the voltage loop error signal.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-08-06	2000-02-05	2000-08-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-08-06	2004-02-05	2004-08-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-08-06	2008-02-05	2008-08-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Audio frequency power amplifiers with actively damped filter

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