Self-bias emitter circuit

• US 9,332,344 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2015
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Turtle Beach Corporation
• Original Assignee: Turtle Beach Corporation
• Inventors: Wood, Stephen, Norris, Elwood
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MATTHEW VAN
• Application Number:
  US14/720,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20150256927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 347 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/06 using discharge tubes without control electrode or semiconductor devices without control electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2217/03 Parametric transducers where sound is generated or captured by the acoustic demodulation of amplitude modulated ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones

Abstract

A emitter circuit for providing a bias voltage is disclosed. The emitter circuit can comprise an emitter. The emitter circuit can comprise a transductor that includes a primary winding and a secondary winding. The secondary winding can be operable to receive an alternating current (AC) carrier signal. The emitter circuit can comprise a voltage multiplier operable to receive the AC carrier signal from the secondary winding and generate a DC bias voltage. The emitter circuit can comprise a zener diode to limit an amplitude of the DC bias voltage applied across the emitter. The emitter circuit can comprise a filter capacitor operable to smooth the DC bias voltage applied across the emitter.

Claims

1. An emitter circuit for providing a direct current (DC) bias voltage, comprising:

an emitter;

a transductor that includes a primary winding and a secondary winding, wherein the secondary winding is operable to receive an alternating current (AC) carrier signal;

a first voltage multiplier and rectifier operable to generate a positive DC bias voltage from the AC carrier signal;

a second voltage multiplier and rectifier operable to generate a negative DC bias voltage from the AC carrier signal, wherein the second voltage multiplier and rectifier is symmetrical to the first voltage multiplier and rectifier;

one or more zener diodes operable to limit an amplitude of a DC bias voltage applied across the emitter, wherein the DC bias voltage is based on the positive DC bias voltage and the negative DC bias voltage; and

a filter capacitor, in parallel with the one or more zener diodes, operable to smooth the DC bias voltage that is applied across the emitter.

2. The emitter circuit of claim 1, wherein the first voltage multiplier and rectifier that generates the positive DC bias voltage includes a first set of four diodes in combination with a first set of four capacitors.

3. The emitter circuit of claim 1, wherein the second voltage multiplier and rectifier that generates the negative DC bias voltage includes a second set of four diodes in combination with a second set of four capacitors.

4. The emitter circuit of claim 1, wherein a current ripple from the first voltage multiplier and rectifier substantially cancels out a current ripple from the second voltage multiplier and rectifier.

5. The emitter circuit of claim 1, further comprising a resistor in parallel with the one or more zener diodes that is operable to adjust the DC bias voltage being applied across the emitter.

6. The emitter circuit of claim 1, wherein the DC bias voltage across the one or more zener diodes is approximately 225 to 350 volts.

7. The emitter circuit of claim 1, wherein the AC carrier signal includes a modulated AC carrier signal or an unmodulated AC carrier signal.

8. The emitter circuit of claim 1, wherein the emitter circuit forms a part of a parametric speaker.

9. An emitter circuit in a parametric loudspeaker for providing a bias voltage, the emitter circuit comprising:

an emitter configured to emit ultrasonic signals;

a transductor that includes a primary winding and a secondary winding, wherein the secondary winding is operable to receive an alternating current (AC) carrier signal;

a voltage multiplier and rectifier operable to generate a DC bias voltage from the AC carrier signal;

a zener diode operable to limit an amplitude of the DC bias voltage that is applied across the emitter; and

a filter capacitor, in parallel with the zener diode, operable to smooth the DC bias voltage applied across the emitter.

10. The emitter circuit of claim 9, wherein the voltage multiplier and rectifier includes four diodes in combination with four capacitors.

11. The emitter circuit of claim 9, wherein the DC bias voltage generated from the voltage multiplier and rectifier is up to approximately four times a carrier voltage amplitude.

12. The emitter circuit of claim 9, further comprising a first resistor and a second resistor to reduce an amount of current being provided to the voltage multiplier and rectifier, thereby reducing an amount of distortion in the emitter circuit.

13. The emitter circuit of claim 9, wherein the primary winding is matched to an amplifier and the secondary winding is matched to the emitter.

14. The emitter circuit of claim 9, wherein the DC bias voltage is applied across the emitter without affecting carrier information used by the emitter to emit parametric information.

15. The emitter circuit of claim 9, wherein the zener diode is between a first resistor and a second resistor that are operable to decouple the DC bias voltage and prevent the DC bias voltage from shorting to the AC carrier signal.

16. An emitter circuit in a parametric speaker for providing a bias voltage, the emitter circuit comprising:

an emitter configured to emit ultrasonic signals;

a transductor that includes a primary winding and a secondary winding, wherein the secondary winding is operable to receive an alternating current (AC) carrier signal;

a voltage multiplier operable to receive the AC carrier signal from the secondary winding and generate a DC bias voltage;

a zener diode to limit an amplitude of the DC bias voltage applied that is across the emitter; and

a filter capacitor operable to smooth the DC bias voltage applied across the emitter.

17. The emitter circuit of claim 16, wherein the voltage doubler includes a first diode, a second diode, a first capacitor and a second capacitor, wherein a negative swing of the AC carrier voltage causes the first diode to conduct and the first capacitor to charge, wherein a positive swing of the AC carrier voltage causes the second diode to conduct and the second capacitor to charge, wherein the DC bias voltage across the second capacitor is doubled when the first capacitor and the second capacitor are charged.

18. The emitter circuit of claim 16, wherein values for the first capacitor and the second capacitor are determined based on a frequency of the AC carrier signal.

19. The emitter circuit of claim 16, wherein the zener diode is between a first resistor and a second resistor that are operable to decouple the DC bias voltage and prevent the DC bias voltage from shorting to the AC carrier signal.