Systems and methods for switching and mixing signals in a multi-channel amplifier
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a plurality of audio amplifier channels each includinga sample rate converter (SRC),a pulse width modulation (PWM) modulator downstream of the SRC, andan output stage downstream of the PWM modulator, andwherein each of the audio amplifier channels is configuredto receive a corresponding digital audio signal having a corresponding sample rate, andto use the SRC of the audio amplifier channel to convert the corresponding digital audio signal to a common predetermined digital data format having a common predetermined sample rate; and
a data transport medium coupled to each of the audio amplifier channels downstream of the SRCs of the plurality of audio amplifier channels;
wherein the SRCs are configured to cause all the digital audio signals downstream of the SRCs in the plurality of audio amplifier channels to have the common predetermined digital data format having the common predetermined sample rate even when the sample rates of the plurality of the digital audio signals upstream of the SRCs differ from one another;
wherein the data transport medium is configured to transmit digital audio signals in the common predetermined digital data format having the common predetermined sample rate from one or more of the audio amplifier channels to one or more others of the audio amplifier channels;
wherein one or more of the audio amplifier channels is also configuredto receive, via the data transport medium, audio signals in the common predetermined digital data format having the common predetermined sample rate from one or more of the other audio amplifier channels,to select one or more of the audio signals in the common predetermined digital data format having the common predetermined sample rate, andto provide an output signal based on the one or more selected audio signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for scaling the number of output channels that can be provided in an audio amplification system. In one embodiment, a digital pulse width modulation (PWM) amplification system includes multiple four-channel PWM controller chips that are interconnected to enable synchronization and transfer of digital audio data from one chip to another. Input audio signals received by each of the channels are processed by sample rate converters to generate internal audio signals that have a predetermined sample rate and format. Each of the channels is synchronized so that the internal audio signal of each channel can be processed and output by any of the other channels. The PWM controller chips are connected by a high-speed interconnect that enables the transfer of data between them. Each input audio signal can be mapped to any of the outputs and can be mixed with other input signals.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a plurality of audio amplifier channels each including a sample rate converter (SRC), a pulse width modulation (PWM) modulator downstream of the SRC, and an output stage downstream of the PWM modulator, and wherein each of the audio amplifier channels is configured to receive a corresponding digital audio signal having a corresponding sample rate, and to use the SRC of the audio amplifier channel to convert the corresponding digital audio signal to a common predetermined digital data format having a common predetermined sample rate; and a data transport medium coupled to each of the audio amplifier channels downstream of the SRCs of the plurality of audio amplifier channels; wherein the SRCs are configured to cause all the digital audio signals downstream of the SRCs in the plurality of audio amplifier channels to have the common predetermined digital data format having the common predetermined sample rate even when the sample rates of the plurality of the digital audio signals upstream of the SRCs differ from one another; wherein the data transport medium is configured to transmit digital audio signals in the common predetermined digital data format having the common predetermined sample rate from one or more of the audio amplifier channels to one or more others of the audio amplifier channels; wherein one or more of the audio amplifier channels is also configured to receive, via the data transport medium, audio signals in the common predetermined digital data format having the common predetermined sample rate from one or more of the other audio amplifier channels, to select one or more of the audio signals in the common predetermined digital data format having the common predetermined sample rate, and to provide an output signal based on the one or more selected audio signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method comprising:
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receiving digital audio signals in a plurality of audio amplifier channels, each of the digital audio signals having a corresponding sample rate, with the corresponding sample rate of one of the digital audio signals received in one of the audio amplifier channels differing from the corresponding sample rate of another one of the digital audio signals received in another one of the audio amplifier channels; converting the digital audio signals received in all of the plurality of audio amplifier channels to a single predetermined digital format having a single predetermined sample rate, so that all the digital audio signals downstream of the converting in the plurality of audio amplifier channels have the common predetermined digital data format having the common predetermined sample rate even when the sample rates of the digital audio signals received in the plurality of audio amplifier channels differ from one another; transmitting the converted digital audio signals from at least a first one of the audio amplifier channels to a second one of the audio amplifier channels; in the second one of the audio amplifier channels, selecting at least one audio signal from the transmitted, converted digital audio signals and a locally converted audio signal; and the second one of the audio amplifier channels processing the selected at least one audio signal to generate a corresponding output audio signal. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A system comprising:
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a plurality of audio amplifier channels each including a sample rate converter (SRC), a pulse width modulation (PWM) modulator downstream of the SRC, and an output stage downstream of the PWM modulator, and wherein each of the audio amplifier channels is configured to receive a corresponding digital audio signal having a corresponding sample rate, and to use the SRC of the audio amplifier channel to convert the corresponding digital audio signal to a common predetermined digital data format having a common predetermined sample rate; and a matrix switch coupled to each of the audio amplifier channels downstream of the SRCs of the plurality of audio amplifier channels; wherein the SRCs are configured to cause all the digital audio signals downstream of the SRCs in the plurality of audio amplifier channels to have the common predetermined digital data format having the common predetermined sample rate even when the sample rates of the plurality of the digital audio signals upstream of the SRCs differ from one another; and wherein the matrix switch is configured to transmit digital audio signals in the common predetermined digital data format having the common predetermined sample rate from one or more of the audio amplifier channels to one or more others of the audio amplifier channels. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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Specification