IP Library Granted Patent US 8,121,556
Granted Patent B2
US 8,121,556 · App. 11/778,818 · Granted Feb 21, 2012

Active load isolator and wireless speaker for mixed signal environments

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,121,556
App. No.
11/778,818
Granted
Feb 21, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

An isolation circuit includes a low dropout operational current control loop and a shunt regulator. The current control loop is configured to drive the shunt regulator to result in a high dynamic impedance ratio between a voltage source and a load. The current control loop may include a series-pass transistor, a current sensing resistor, and a high side current sensor.

Claims (45)

1. An isolation circuit for a wireless speaker, comprising:

a low dropout operational current control loop; and

a shunt regulator,

wherein the current control loop is configured to drive the shunt regulator to result in a high dynamic impedance ratio between a power source and a load,

wherein the current control loop comprises:

a series-pass transistor;

a current sensing resistor connected between the power source and the series-pass transistor;

a high side current sensor connected in parallel across the current sensing resistor; and

an integrator receiving an output based on an output of the sensor, wherein the integrator comprises an operational amplifier and a capacitor connected across an output and input of the operational amplifier, the output of the operational amplifier controlling the gate terminal of the series-pass transistor.

2. The isolation circuit of claim 1 , wherein the high side current sensor is a transconductance amplifier.

3. The isolation circuit of claim 1 , wherein the power source is set to minimize a voltage drop across the current sensing resistor and the series-pass transistor.

4. The isolation circuit of claim 1 , wherein the series-pass transistor is one of a FET or BJT transistor.

5. The isolation circuit of claim 1 , further comprising a decoupling capacitor connected across the shunt regulator.

6. The isolation circuit of claim 1 , further comprising a common mode choke connected between the power source and the current sensing resistor.

7. The isolation circuit of claim 1 , further comprising a summing junction, wherein an output terminal of the high side current sensor is coupled to an input terminal of the summing junction and an output of the summing junction is coupled to an input of the operational amplifier.

8. The isolation circuit of claim 1 , wherein the shunt regulator is connected to a non-gate terminal of the series-pass transistor.

9. The isolation circuit of claim 1 , wherein the input of the operational amplifier is an inverting input terminal.

10. A wireless speaker, comprising:

a radio frequency RF transceiver;

a speaker amplifier;

a speaker; and

an isolation circuit to supply power to the RF transceiver to isolate current switching effects of the RF transceiver from the speaker and the speaker amplifier, the isolation circuit comprising a current control loop and a shunt regulator,

wherein the current control loop comprises:

a series-pass transistor;

a current sensing resistor connected between a power source and the series-pass transistor;

a current sensor connected in parallel across the current sensing resistor; and

an integrator comprising an operational amplifier and a capacitor connected across an output and input of the operational amplifier, the output of the operational amplifier controlling the gate terminal of the series-pass transistor.

11. The wireless speaker of claim 10 , wherein the current sensor is a transconductance amplifier.

12. The wireless speaker of claim 10 , wherein the power source is set to minimize a voltage drop across the current sensing resistor and the series-pass transistor.

13. The wireless speaker of claim 10 , wherein the series-pass transistor is one of a FET or BJT transistor.

14. The wireless speaker of claim 10 , further comprising a decoupling capacitor connected across the shunt regulator.

15. The wireless speaker of claim 10 , further comprising a common mode choke connected between the power source and the current sensing resistor.

16. The wireless speaker of claim 10 , further comprising a summing junction, wherein an output terminal of the high side current sensor is coupled to an input terminal of the summing junction and an output terminal of the summing junction is coupled to an input of the operational amplifier.

17. The wireless speaker of claim 10 , wherein the shunt regulator is connected to a non-gate terminal of the series-pass transistor.

18. An isolation circuit for a wireless speaker, comprising:

a current control loop; and

a shunt regulator,

wherein the current control loop comprises:

a series-pass transistor; and

a current sensing resistor connected between a power source and the series-pass transistor;

a current sensor connected in parallel across the current sensing resistor;

a summing junction receiving an output of the high side current sensor and a reference voltage; and

an integrator coupled between an output of the summing junction and a gate terminal of the series-pass transistor, wherein the integrator comprises an operational amplifier and a capacitor connected across an input and an output of the operational amplifier,

wherein the shunt regulator is connected to a non-gate terminal of the series-pass transistor.

19. The isolation circuit of claim 18 , wherein the input of the operational amplifier is an inverting input terminal.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT R/F 027890/0319 Recorded Apr 3, 2025
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: VOXX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 070739/0831 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 20, 2012
From: VOXX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
To: WELLS FAGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 027890/0319 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2012
From: WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC
To: VOXX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; AUDIOVOX ELECTRONICS CORPORATION; CODE SYSTEMS, INC.; KLIPSH GROUP INC.; TECHNUITY, INC.
Reel/Frame 027864/0905 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 7, 2011
From: AUDIOVOX CORPORATION; AUDIOVOX ELECTRONICS CORPORATION; CODE SYSTEMS, INC.; KLIPSCH GROUP, INC.; TECHNUITY, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 026587/0906 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 17, 2007
From: ANDERSEN, JORGEN
To: AUDIOVOX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 019565/0532 →