IP Library Granted Patent US 7,368,986
Granted Patent B2
US 7,368,986 · App. 11/321,795 · Granted May 6, 2008

Power amplifier with low power distortion at output

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,368,986
App. No.
11/321,795
Granted
May 6, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A digital/analog amplifier includes the following coupled in series: a pulse-width modulator, a control circuit, a power inverter and a filter. The power inverter comprises two transistors series-connected between a power supply terminal and a ground of the amplifier. The control circuit drives the transistors of the power inverter. One output of the filter forms an output of the amplifier to which a load is connected. The amplifier also comprises a capacitive circuit parallel-connected to the output of the power inverter.

Claims (28)

1. A digital/analog amplifier comprising:

a pulse-width modulator for generating a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal;

a control circuit coupled in series with said pulse-width modulator;

a power inverter coupled in series with said control circuit and comprising two transistors series-coupled between a power supply terminal and a ground of the amplifier, said two transistors each comprising a channel and being driven by said control circuit based on the PWM signal;

a capacitive circuit parallel-coupled to an output of said power inverter and comprising a first capacitor parallel-coupled to the channel of one of said two transistors, and a second capacitor parallel-coupled to the channel of the other one of said two transistors; and

a filter coupled in series with the output of said power inverter and providing an output of the amplifier to be coupled to a load.

2. A digital/analog amplifier according to claim 1 , wherein said power inverter comprises a parasitic capacitive circuit, and wherein said capacitive circuit has a capacitance greater than tnr/RCp, where tnr is a dead time of the amplifier, R is a resistance of the load of the amplifier and Cp is a capacitance of the parasitic capacitive circuit.

3. A digital/analog amplifier according to claim 1 , wherein said power inverter comprises a parasitic capacitive circuit, and wherein said capacitive circuit has a capacitance greater than tnr/R, where tnr is a dead time of the amplifier, and R is a resistance of the load of the amplifier.

4. A digital/analog amplifier according to claim 2 , wherein said capacitive circuit has a capacitance in a range of one to two times the capacitance of the parasitic capacitive circuit.

5. A digital/analog amplifier according to claim 3 , wherein said capacitive circuit has a capacitance in a range of one to two times the capacitance of the parasitic capacitive circuit.

6. A differential digital/analog amplifier comprising:

a pair of arms coupled in parallel, each arm comprising

a pulse-width modulator for generating a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal,

a control circuit coupled in series with said modulator,

a power inverter coupled in series with said control circuit and comprising two transistors series-coupled between a power supply terminal and a voltage reference of the amplifier, said two transistors each comprising a channel and being driven by said control circuit based on the PWM signal, and

a capacitive circuit parallel-coupled to an output of said power inverter, and comprising a first capacitor parallel-coupled to the channel of one of said two transistors, and a second capacitor parallel-coupled to the channel of the other one of said two transistors; and

a filter coupled to the output of each power inverter in said pair of arms, and comprising a pair of outputs forming outputs of the amplifier to be coupled to a load.

7. A differential digital/analog amplifier according to claim 6 , wherein said power inverter comprises a parasitic capacitive circuit, and wherein said capacitive circuit has a capacitance greater than tnr/RCp, where tnr is a dead time of the amplifier, R is a resistance of the load of the amplifier and Cp is a capacitance of the parasitic capacitive circuit.

8. A differential, digital/analog amplifier according to claim 6 , wherein said power inverter comprises a parasitic capacitive circuit, and wherein said capacitive circuit has a capacitance greater than tnr/R, where tnr is a dead time of the amplifier, and R is a resistance of the load of the amplifier.

9. A differential digital/analog amplifier according to claim 7 , wherein said capacitive circuit has a capacitance in a range of one to two times the capacitance of the parasitic capacitive circuit.

10. A differential digital/analog amplifier according to claim 8 , wherein sad capacitive circuit has a capacitance in a range of one to two times the capacitance of the parasitic capacitive circuit.

11. A method for reducing distortion of a digital/analog amplifier comprising a control circuit in series with a pulse width modulator, and a power inverter in series with the control circuit, the power inverter comprising two transistors series-coupled between a power supply terminal and a voltage reference of the amplifier, the two transistors each comprising a channel and being driven by the control circuit based on the PWM signal, the method comprising:

coupling in parallel a capacitive circuit to as output of the power inverter, the capacitive circuit comprising a first capacitor parallel-coupled to the channel of one of the two transistors, and a second capacitor parallel-coupled to the channel of the other one of the two transistors.

12. A method according to claim 11 further comprising coupling a filter in series with the output of the power inverter, the filter providing an output of the amplifier to be coupled to a load.

13. A method according to claim 11 , wherein the power inverter comprises a parasitic capacitive circuit, and wherein the capacitive circuit has a capacitance greater than tnr/R-Cp, where tnr is a dead time of the amplifier, R is a resistance of the load of the amplifier and Cp is a capacitance of the parasitic capacitive circuit.

14. A method according to claim 11 , wherein the power inverter comprises a parasitic capacitive circuit, and wherein the capacitive circuit has a capacitance greater than tnr/R, where tnr is a dead time of the amplifier, and R is a resistance of the load of the amplifier.

15. A method according to claim 13 , wherein the capacitive circuit has a capacitance in a range of one to two times the capacitance of the parasitic capacitive circuit.

16. A method according to claim 14 , wherein the capacitive circuit has a capacitance in a range of one to two times the capacitance of the parasitic capacitive circuit.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 2, 2016
From: ST WIRELESS SA
To: ST-ERICSSON SA
Reel/Frame 037683/0128 →
STATUS CHANGE-ENTITY IN LIQUIDATION Recorded Feb 2, 2016
From: ST-ERICSSON SA
To: ST-ERICSSON SA, EN LIQUIDATION
Reel/Frame 037739/0493 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2016
From: STMICROELECTRONICS S.A. (FKA SGS-THOMSON MICROELECTRONICS S.A.)
To: ST WIRELESS SA
Reel/Frame 037650/0697 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 18, 2006
From: PILLONNET, GAEL
To: STMICROELECTRONICS SA
Reel/Frame 017791/0422 →