RE-CONFIGURABLE AMPLIFIER PROTECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20060103467A1
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Schoenberger, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,394,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 330/298
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/52 Circuit arrangements for protecting such amplifiers monitoring arrangements G01R31/28; increasing reliability in communication systems, e.g. using redundancy H04B1/74

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an amplifier, which is able to re-configure its internal protection circuits based on an output signal level. This allows the amplifier to apply the best protection level to the present operational condition. The protection level or threshold for protecting the amplifier is dynamically adjusted to a lower threshold level, thereby making it more sensitive in certain operating scenarios. In one embodiment of the present invention, a first current protection threshold is used to operate an amplifier in a first state. If an event occurs, the amplifier protection circuit is re-configured and the amplifier continues to operate with a second protection threshold in a second state.

Claims

1. An amplifier circuit comprising:

a) a current detection circuit for detecting current;

b) a voltage detection circuit for detecting voltage;

c) a logic circuit for selecting a current detection level based on level of the voltage; and

d) a control circuit to shutdown the amplifier if a certain current detection level is exceeded.

2. The circuit recited in claim 1, further comprising a dynamically variable reference level, wherein said current detection circuit measures supply current and compares it to said dynamically variable reference level.

3. The circuit recited in claim 2, wherein said current detection circuit supplies an active signal to said control circuit when said reference level is exceeded.

4. The circuit recited in claim 1, wherein said voltage detection circuit compares the output voltage level to one or more predetermined reference levels.

5. The circuit recited in claim 4, wherein the said voltage detection circuit provides an output to be supplied to said current detection circuit to select the variable current threshold.

6. The circuit recited in claim 1, wherein said control circuit receives a signal from said current detection circuit and shuts down the amplifier if the selected current threshold is reached.

7. An amplifier system comprising:

a) current detection means for detecting current;

b) voltage detection means for detecting voltage;

logic means for selecting a current detection level based on level of the voltage; and

control circuit means to shutdown the amplifier if a certain current detection level is exceeded.

8. The system recited in claim 7, further comprising a dynamically variable reference level, wherein said current detection means measures supply current and compares it to said dynamically variable reference level.

9. The system recited in claim 8, wherein said current detection means supplies an active signal to said control means when said reference level is exceeded.

10. The system recited in claim 7, wherein said voltage detection means compares the output voltage level to one or more predetermined reference levels.

11. The system recited in claim 10, wherein the said voltage detection means provides an output to be supplied to said current detection means to select the variable current threshold.

12. The system recited in claim 7, wherein said control circuit means receives a signal from said current detection means and shuts down the amplifier if the selected current threshold is reached.

13. A method comprising:

detecting current output from an amplifier;

detecting voltage output from said amplifier;

selecting a current detection level based on a level of said voltage output; and

shutting down said amplifier if a certain current detection level is exceeded.

14. The method claim 13, including a dynamically variable reference level, further comprising:

measuring a supply current; and

comparing said supply current to said dynamically variable reference level.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said step of detecting current further comprises:

supplying an active signal when said reference level is exceeded.

16. The method claim 13, wherein said step of detecting voltage further comprises:

comparing said output voltage to one or more predetermined reference levels.

17. The method recited of claim 16, wherein said step of detecting voltage further comprises:

providing an output for selecting a variable current threshold.

18. The method claim 13, wherein said step of shutting down further comprises:

receiving a signal; and

shutting down said amplifier if a selected current threshold is reached.