Stmicroelectronics S.r.l.

Eric Labbe

Luigi Franchini

Marco Masini

A class D amplifier includes an input integrating stage and a modulating stage for modulating the integrated input signal output by the integrating stage. The modulating stage uses as a carrier an alternate waveform of a frequency sufficiently higher than the frequency band of the analog input signal. The modulating stage further outputs a digital signal switching between a positive voltage and a negative voltage, and whose average value represents an amplified replica of the input analog signal. The class D amplifier further includes an output power stage producing an output digital signal. A feedback line including a resistor is connected between the output of the output power stage and an input node of an operational amplifier. The class D amplifier also includes a low-pass filter reconstructing an output analog signal, and a delay stage. The delay stage is functionally coupled in the direct path of propagation of the digital signal from the output of the modulating stage to an input of the output power stage. The delay stage delays the digital signal from the output of the modulating stage by a delay. The value of the delay is defined as a function of a desired broadening of the bandwidth and in consideration of the corresponding restriction of the range of variation of the duty cycle of the output digital signal.

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Cornaredo, Italy

Eric Labbe