Power supply voltage from class D amplifier

• US 8,965,018 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2011
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonion Nederland BV
• Original Assignee: Sonion Nederland BV
• Inventors: van Halteren, Aart Zeger
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kaufman, Joshua A
• Application Number:
  US13/332,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20120155683A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 381/321, 381/111, 381/113, 381/312, 381/104, 381/107, 330/251
• US Class Current: 381/321
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/03 the amplifier being designed for audio applications
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/217 Class D power amplifiers; Switching amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/33 Aspects relating to adaptation of the battery voltage, e.g. its regulation, increase or decrease
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hearing aid comprising a receiver and signal processor circuitry operatively connected hereto. The signal processor circuitry comprises amplifying means (e.g., a Class D amplifier) adapted to generate a switched output voltage for driving the receiver of the hearing aid. Moreover, a power supply unit is included and is adapted to generate a DC output voltage from the switched output voltage. The present invention further relates to an associated method for generating a DC output voltage.

Claims

1. A hearing aid comprising:

a receiver adapted to generate an audible output signal;

an audio amplifier directly connected to the receiver and having an input that receives an input signal, the audio amplifier including a Class D amplifier adapted to generate a switched output voltage based on the input signal for driving the receiver of the hearing aid; and

a power supply unit including at least one voltage multiplier adapted to generate at least one DC output voltage from the switched output voltage generated by the audio amplifier, the at least one DC output voltage exceeding a battery supply voltage of the hearing aid, the at least one voltage multiplier being formed by diodes and capacitors.

2. A hearing aid according to claim 1, further comprising a microphone operatively connected to the signal processor circuitry.

3. A hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the power supply unit comprises rectifying means.

4. A hearing aid according to claim 3, wherein the power supply unit further comprises a filter adapted to filter a rectified voltage.

5. A hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the at least one voltage multiplier includes a voltage doubler circuitry adapted to multiply the output voltage from the audio amplifier.

6. A hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the DC output voltage is within the range 2-10 Volts.

7. A hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the DC output voltage supplies a microphone of the hearing aid.

8. A method for generating a power supply voltage in a hearing aid comprising a receiver adapted to generate an audible output signal and an audio amplifier having a Class D amplifier, said audio amplifier being directly connected to the receiver and having an input that receives an input signal, the method comprising the step of:

generating, by a power supply unit that includes at least one voltage multiplier, at least one DC output voltage from a switched output voltage from the Class D amplifier of the audio amplifier based on the input signal, the at least one DC output voltage exceeding a battery supply voltage of the hearing aid, the at least one voltage multiplier being formed by diodes and capacitors.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the step of generating the DC output voltage further comprises the step of amplifying the output voltage by the at least one voltage multiplier.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the at least one DC output voltage is within the range 2-10 Volts.

11. A method according to claim 8, wherein the at least one DC output voltage is within the range 2-10 Volts.