IP Library Granted Patent US 8,861,749
Granted Patent B2
US 8,861,749 · App. 13/114,655 · Granted Oct 14, 2014

Audio output driver for reducing electromagnetic interference and improving audio channel performance

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,861,749
App. No.
13/114,655
Granted
Oct 14, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

An audio output circuit includes an on-chip left channel amplifier module, an on-chip center channel amplifier module, and an on-chip right channel amplifier module. A left channel IC pin is operably coupled to an output of the on-chip left channel amplifier module. A right channel IC pin is operably coupled to an output of the on-chip right channel amplifier module. A center channel IC pin is operably coupled to an output of the on-chip center channel amplifier module. A center channel feedback IC pin is operably coupled to an input of the on-chip center channel amplifier module to provide a feedback loop. A left jack connection is operably coupled to the left channel IC pin. A right jack connection is operably coupled to the right channel IC pin. A jack return connection coupled to the center feedback IC pin. An inductor has a first node coupled to the jack return connection and a second node coupled to the center channel IC pin.

Claims (32)

1. An audio output channel, comprising:

an on-chip audio channel amplifier that amplifies an audio signal suitable for an audio output device;

a channel output IC pin operably coupled to an output of the on-chip audio channel amplifier;

a channel feedback IC pin operably coupled to an input of the on-chip audio channel amplifier to provide a feedback loop;

a jack return connection coupled to the channel feedback IC pin;

an inductor having a first end coupled to the jack return connection and having a second end coupled to the channel output IC pin; and

wherein the inductor is operative to pass audio frequencies of the amplified audio signal at the channel output IC pin to the jack return connection while suppressing electromagnetic interference frequencies at the channel output IC pin from the jack return connection, in which the electromagnetic interference frequencies are higher than the audio frequencies.

2. The audio output channel of claim 1 , further comprising:

a resistive element having a first end coupled to the channel feedback IC pin and a second end coupled to the jack return connection; and

a capacitive element having a first end coupled to the channel output IC pin and a second node coupled to the channel feedback IC pin.

3. The audio output channel of claim 1 , wherein the inductor comprises a ferrite-core inductor.

4. The audio output channel of claim 1 , further comprising an antenna operably coupled to the jack return connection.

5. The audio output channel of claim 4 , wherein the antenna is a headphone lead.

6. The audio output channel of claim 1 , further comprising:

an on-chip DC reference voltage node;

an on-chip left channel audio amplifier coupled to the DC reference voltage node;

an on-chip right channel audio amplifier coupled to the DC reference voltage node; and

wherein the on-chip audio channel amplifier comprises a central audio channel amplifier having a non-inverting input coupled to the DC reference voltage node and having an inverting input coupled to the channel feedback IC pin.

7. An audio system, comprising:

a DC reference voltage node;

a left channel audio amplifier coupled to said DC reference voltage node;

a right channel audio amplifier coupled to said DC reference voltage node;

a center channel audio amplifier having a non-inverting input coupled to said DC reference voltage node, having a negative input, and having an output;

a jack return connection coupled to said inverting input of said center channel audio amplifier;

an inductor having a first end coupled to said jack return connection and having a second end coupled to said output of said center channel audio amplifier; and

wherein said inductor is operative to pass audio frequencies at said output of said center channel audio amplifier to said jack return connection while suppressing electromagnetic interference frequencies at said output of said center channel audio amplifier from said jack return connection, in which said electromagnetic interference frequencies are greater than said audio frequencies.

8. The audio system of claim 7 , further comprising:

a resistive element having a first end coupled to said inverting input of said center channel audio amplifier and a second end coupled to said jack return connection; and

a capacitive element having a first end coupled to said output of said center channel audio amplifier and a second node coupled to said inverting input of said center channel audio amplifier.

9. The audio system of claim 7 , wherein said inductor comprises a ferrite-core inductor.

10. The audio system of claim 7 , further comprising an antenna operably coupled to said jack return connection.

11. The audio system of claim 10 , wherein said antenna comprises a headphone lead.

Assignments (21)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 12298143 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 042762 FRAME 0145. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT. Recorded Oct 22, 2019
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051145/0184 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 12298143 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 042985 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT. Recorded Oct 22, 2019
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051029/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 12298143 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 039361 FRAME 0212. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT. Recorded Oct 22, 2019
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051029/0387 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 12298143 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038017 FRAME 0058. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT. Recorded Oct 22, 2019
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051030/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 10, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP B.V.
Reel/Frame 050745/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 12681366 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 039361 FRAME 0212. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT. Recorded May 9, 2017
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 042762/0145 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 12681366 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038017 FRAME 0058. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT. Recorded May 9, 2017
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 042985/0001 →
PATENT RELEASE Recorded Aug 17, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP B.V.
Reel/Frame 039707/0471 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 12092129 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038017 FRAME 0058. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT. Recorded Jul 14, 2016
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 039361/0212 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded Mar 7, 2016
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 038017/0058 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2016
From: SIGMATEL, LLC
To: NORTH STAR INNOVATIONS INC.
Reel/Frame 037583/0428 →
PATENT RELEASE Recorded Dec 21, 2015
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 037357/0334 →
PATENT RELEASE Recorded Dec 21, 2015
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 037357/0285 →
PATENT RELEASE Recorded Dec 21, 2015
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 037357/0387 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 23, 2015
From: SIGMATEL INC.
To: SIGMATEL, LLC
Reel/Frame 037152/0127 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 12, 2013
From: SIGMATEL, LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031626/0218 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 17, 2013
From: SIGMATEL, LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 030628/0636 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 29, 2012
From: FELDER, MATTHEW D.
To: SIGMATEL, INC.
Reel/Frame 029376/0595 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 31, 2012
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 027622/0477 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 31, 2012
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 027622/0075 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 31, 2012
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 027621/0928 →