SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVED OVER-CURRENT CLIPPING
First Claim
1. For use with an amplifier, a method for specifying clip level at which to clip an audio signal in response to an over-current condition being detected, the method comprising:
- reducing the clip level while the over-current condition is being detected; and
maintaining the clip level for a specified period, once the over-current condition is no longer detected, before allowing the clip level to be increased.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for implementing over-current protection in amplifiers are provided, including systems, methods and devices for specifying a clip level at which to clip an audio signal in response to an over-current condition being detected. In an embodiment, the clip level is reduced while the over-current condition is being detected. Once the over-current condition is no longer detected, the clip level is maintained for a specified period before allowing the clip level to be increased. In an embodiment, the specified period, for which the clip level is maintained before the clip level is allowed to be increased, starts when the over-current condition is no longer detected, and ends when each of N immediately preceding sample(s) of the audio signal are not clipped to the clip level, where N is an integer, and N≧1. After an over-current condition is no longer detected, and after the clip level has been maintained for the specified period, the clip level can be increased if an over-current condition is not detected for a sample and the clip level is below a specified maximum clip level.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. For use with an amplifier, a method for specifying clip level at which to clip an audio signal in response to an over-current condition being detected, the method comprising:
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reducing the clip level while the over-current condition is being detected; and maintaining the clip level for a specified period, once the over-current condition is no longer detected, before allowing the clip level to be increased. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A device, comprising:
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a hard-clipping unit configured to receive an audio signal and an over-current indicator signal, and to selectively clip the audio signal in dependence on the over-current indicator signal; wherein while the over-current indicator signal indicates that an over-current condition is being detected, the clip level is reduced; and wherein following an over-current condition being detected, once the over-current indicator signal indicates that the over-current condition is no longer detected, the clip level is maintained for a specified period before the clip level can be increased. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A digital audio amplifier system comprising:
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a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller configured to generate PWM output signals based on a digital audio signal including a plurality of samples; an output stage configured to receive the PWM output signals from the PWM controller and to generate an analog output signal; and at least one sensor configured to sense a current in the output stage and to generate an over-current indicator signal that indicates whether an over-current condition exists in the output stage for each of the samples; wherein the PWM controller is also configured to receive the over-current indicator signal, and based thereon, detect when an over-current condition exists in the output stage, clip one or more samples of the audio signal to a clip level, while an over-current condition exists in the output stage; reduce the clip level, while an over current condition exists in the output stage; and maintain the clip level for a specified period before allowing the clip level to be increased, after an over-current condition that had existed in the output stage no longer to exists. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification