Amplifier circuit and method of amplifying a signal in an amplifier circuit

1. An amplifier circuit, comprising:

an input, for receiving a digital input signal to be amplified;

a playback path comprising one or more components, for receiving the input signal and amplifying the input signal; and

a bias generator for generating at least one bias and providing the at least one bias to at least one of the one or more components in the playback path;

wherein the at least one bias supplied by the bias generator is controlled based on the input signal; and

wherein said one or more components comprises a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for converting the digital input signal to analog, said DAC being provided with said at least one bias.

2. An amplifier circuit as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

an envelope detector for detecting the envelope of the input signal and for outputting a control signal in accordance with the detected input signal envelope, wherein the bias generator is controlled by the control signal.

3. An amplifier circuit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the one or more components comprises a preamplifier, for receiving the input signal and outputting a pre-amplified signal, and wherein said at least one bias is provided to the preamplifier.

4. An amplifier circuit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the one or more components comprises a power amplifier, said power amplifier being provided with said at least one bias.

5. An amplifier circuit as claimed in claim 4 , further comprising a variable voltage power supply for supplying at least one supply voltage to the power amplifier.

6. An amplifier circuit as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the variable voltage power supply is a level-shifting charge pump.

7. An amplifier circuit as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said level shifting charge pump supplies a plurality of supply voltages to the power amplifier, said level shifting charge pump comprising:

an input terminal and a common terminal for connection to an input voltage;

first and second output terminals for outputting said plurality of supply voltages, said output terminals in use being connected to said common terminal via respective first and second loads and also via respective first and second reservoir capacitors;

first and second flying capacitor terminals for connection to a flying capacitor;

a network of switches that is operable in a plurality of different states for interconnecting said terminals; and

a controller for operating said switches in a sequence of said states, said sequence being adapted repeatedly to transfer packets of charge from said input terminal to said reservoir capacitors via said flying capacitor depending on the state, thereby generating positive and negative supply voltages together spanning a voltage approximately equal to the input voltage, and centered on the voltage at the common terminal.

8. An amplifier circuit as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the variable voltage power supply is a dual-mode charge pump.

9. An amplifier circuit as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said dual-mode charge pump supplies a plurality of supply voltages to the power amplifier, said dual-mode charge pump comprising:

an input terminal and a common terminal for connection to an input voltage;

first and second output terminals for outputting said plurality of supply voltages, said first and second output terminals being, in use, connected to said common terminal via respective first and second loads and also via respective first and second reservoir capacitors;

first and second flying capacitor terminals for connection to one flying capacitor;

a network of switches that is operable in a plurality of different states for interconnecting said terminals; and

a controller for operating said network of switches in a sequence of said different states,

wherein said controller is operable in first and second modes, and where, in the first of said modes, said sequence is adapted repeatedly to transfer packets of charge from said input terminal to said reservoir capacitors via said flying capacitor depending on the state, thereby generating positive and negative supply voltages together spanning a voltage approximately equal to the input voltage, and centered on the voltage at the common terminal.

10. An amplifier circuit, comprising:

an input, for receiving a digital input signal to be amplified;

a playback path comprising one or more components, for receiving the input signal and amplifying the input signal based on said volume signal; and

a bias generator for generating at least one bias and providing the at least one bias to at least one of the one or more components in the playback path;

wherein the at least one bias supplied by the bias generator is controlled based on the volume signal; and

wherein said one or more components comprises a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for converting the digital input signal to analog, and wherein said at least one bias is provided to the DAC.

11. An amplifier circuit as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the at least one bias is further controlled based on the input signal.

12. An amplifier circuit as claimed in claim 10 , further comprising:

an envelope detector for detecting the envelope of the input signal and for outputting a control signal in accordance with the detected input signal envelope, wherein the bias generator is controlled by the control signal.

13. An amplifier circuit as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said one or more components comprises a preamplifier for receiving said volume signal and preamplifying the input signal based on said volume signal, and wherein said at least one bias is provided to the preamplifier.

14. An amplifier circuit as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the one or more components comprises a power amplifier, and wherein said at least one bias is provided to the power amplifier.

15. An amplifier circuit as claimed in claim 14 , further comprising a variable voltage power supply for supplying at least one supply voltage to the power amplifier.

16. An amplifier circuit as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the variable voltage power supply is a level-shifting charge pump.

17. An amplifier circuit as claimed in claim 16 , wherein said level shifting charge pump supplies a plurality of supply voltages to the power amplifier, said level shifting charge pump comprising:

an input terminal and a common terminal for connection to an input voltage;

first and second output terminals for outputting said plurality of supply voltages, said output terminals in use being connected to said common terminal via respective first and second loads and also via respective first and second reservoir capacitors;

first and second flying capacitor terminals for connection to a flying capacitor;

a network of switches that is operable in a plurality of different states for interconnecting said terminals; and

a controller for operating said switches in a sequence of said states, said sequence being adapted repeatedly to transfer packets of charge from said input terminal to said reservoir capacitors via said flying capacitor depending on the state, thereby generating positive and negative supply voltages together spanning a voltage approximately equal to the input voltage, and centered on the voltage at the common terminal.

18. An amplifier circuit as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the variable voltage power supply is a dual-mode charge pump.

19. An amplifier circuit as claimed in claim 18 , wherein said dual-mode charge pump supplies a plurality of supply voltages to the power amplifier, said dual-mode charge pump comprising:

an input terminal and a common terminal for connection to an input voltage;

first and second output terminals for outputting said plurality of supply voltages, said first and second output terminals being, in use, connected to said common terminal via respective first and second loads and also via respective first and second reservoir capacitors;

first and second flying capacitor terminals for connection to one flying capacitor;

a network of switches that is operable in a plurality of different states for interconnecting said terminals; and

a controller for operating said network of switches in a sequence of said different states, wherein said controller is operable in first and second modes, and where, in the first of said modes, said sequence is adapted repeatedly to transfer packets of charge from said input terminal to said reservoir capacitors via said flying capacitor depending on the state, thereby generating positive and negative supply voltages together spanning a voltage approximately equal to the input voltage, and centered on the voltage at the common terminal.

20. An integrated circuit, comprising an amplifier circuit as claimed in claim 1 .

21. A system, comprising an integrated circuit as claimed in claim 20 wherein said system comprises at least one of an audio system; a portable device; a mains-powered device; an in-car entertainment system, an in-train entertainment system, an in-plane entertainment system; a noise cancellation system and a video system.

22. A method of amplifying a signal in an amplifier circuit, said amplifier circuit comprising a playback path for receiving a digital input signal and amplifying said input signal, said playback path comprising one or more components, said method comprising:

receiving the input signal; and

providing at least one bias to at least one of the one or more components;

wherein the at least one bias is controlled based on the input signal;

wherein said one or more components comprises a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for converting the digital input signal to analog and the method comprises providing said DAC with said at least one bias.

23. A method of amplifying a signal in an amplifier circuit, said amplifier circuit comprising a playback path for receiving a digital input signal and amplifying said input signal based on a volume signal, said playback path comprising one or more components, said method comprising:

receiving the input signal; and

providing at least one bias to at least one of the one or more components;

wherein the at least one bias is controlled based on the volume signal; wherein said one or more components comprises a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for converting the digital input signal to analog and the method comprises providing said DAC with said at least one bias.