The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 22, 2000
Filed:
Apr. 13, 1999
Thomas Joseph O'Brien, Limerick, PA (US);
Ravisent Technologies, Inc., Malvern, PA (US);
Abstract
A digital input switching audio power amplifier uses a simple logic circuit and/or software program for signal processing and, therefore, does not require an expensive DSP processor. The invention provides an approach that allows the integration of power level meters and volume controls in the logic circuit. In one embodiment of the invention, the amplifier accepts multiple inputs, an active one of which may be digitally selected. The invention uses this novel approach to signal processing to achieve high performance. The invention also provides lower system cost as a result of the higher levels of system integration provided by the logic circuit. Increased system versatility results from a modular design which allows the production of an amplifier having optimum cost-to-performance ratios. The amplifier is implemented in ASIC and FPGA circuitry, such that a designer using the invention is provided with flexibility in choosing the various operating parameters of the amplifier, e.g. the amplifier is capable of operating at various power levels and of implementing various output stage topologies.