Low-voltage driven, audio signal amplifying apparatus and a portable acoustic system using said apparatus

• US 5,610,555 A
• Filed: 08/15/1995
• Issued: 03/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ROHM Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ROHM Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Isao, Funahashi, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullins, James B.
• Application Number:
  US08/518,388
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 330/84, 330/110, 330/107, 330/124 R, 330/294, 330/295, 381/27, 381/28, 381/98, 381/101, 381/121
• US Class Current: 330/84
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/68 Combinations of amplifiers, e.g. multi-channel amplifiers for stereophonics power amplifiers using a combination of several semiconductor amplifiers H03F3/211; combinations of amplifiers using coupling networks with distributed constants H03F3/602

Abstract

The apparatus includes output stage amplifiers for receiving the respective outputs of preamplifiers provided in correspondence to the left and right channels in a stereo system. Negative feedback circuits are provided in the respective output stage amplifiers for reducing the amount of low-band negative feedback. Switch circuits are turned on in response to feedback signals from the respective negative feedback circuits for supplying the feedback signals at the input to the output stage amplifiers.

Claims

1. A low-voltage driven, audio signal amplifying apparatus which comprises:

output stage amplifiers for receiving the respective outputs of preamplifiers provided in correspondence to the left and right channels in a stereo system;

negative feedback circuits connected respectively to respective outputs of the output stage amplifiers for reducing the amount of low-band negative feedback; and

switch circuits which are turned on to supply respective feedback signals from the respective feedback circuits to respective negative feedback inputs of said output stage amplifiers;

wherein

said switch circuits are turned on simultaneously, thereby allowing said output stage amplifiers to perform emphasis on the low-band frequency.

2. A low-voltage driven, audio signal amplifying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said output stage amplifiers are supplied with power from a battery and said switch circuits are simultaneously controlled to be turned on or off by means of a control circuit.

3. A low-voltage driven, audio signal amplifying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of said output stage amplifiers is composed of an operational amplifier, each of said switch circuits is inserted between the (-) input terminal of said operational amplifier and the terminal of said negative feedback circuit which generates a feedback signal, and said control circuit generates a signal for controlling said switch circuits to be turned on or off in response to a selected position of an externally manipulated switch.

4. A low-voltage driven, audio signal amplifying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each of said negative feedback circuits comprises a first negative feedback circuit portion connected in parallel to a second negative feedback circuit portion having a flat frequency characteristic, and each of said switch circuits is a selector circuit that selectively supplies the (-) input terminal of the associated operational amplifier with either a negative feedback signal from said first negative feedback circuit portion or a negative feedback signal from said second negative feedback circuit portion.

5. A low-voltage driven, audio signal amplifying apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said first negative feedback circuit portion comprises a first filter circuit which increases the amount of feedback of the medium- to high-band frequencies compared to the low-band frequency, a damping resistor connected in parallel to said filter circuit via a switch circuit, and a second filter circuit for reducing the amount of feedback of the high-band frequency, and wherein said damping resistor is connected if said switch circuit is turned on by means of said control circuit.

6. A low-voltage driven, audio signal amplifying apparatus according to claim 1, which further includes a voltage-follower center amplifier for generating a reference voltage, the output of said center amplifier being connected to the outputs of said output stage amplifiers via speakers.

7. A portable acoustic apparatus comprising:

output stage amplifiers for receiving the respective outputs of preamplifiers provided in correspondence to the left and right channels in a stereo system;

negative feedback circuits connected respectively to respective outputs of the output stage amplifiers for reducing the amount of low-band negative feedback; and

switch circuits which are turned on to supply respective feedback signals to respective negative feedback inputs of said output stage amplifiers; and

speakers provided in correspondence to the left and right channels for receiving the respective outputs from said output stage amplifiers;

wherein

said switch circuits are turned on simultaneously, thereby allowing said output stage amplifiers to perform emphasis on the low-band frequency.

8. A portable acoustic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said output stage amplifiers are supplied with power from a battery and said switch circuits are simultaneously controlled to be turned on or off by means of a control circuit.