SYSTEM AND METHOD OF REDUCING POWER CONSUMPTION FOR AUDIO PLAYBACK
First Claim
1. An audio system, comprising:
- an audio amplifier adapted to amplify a first analog audio signal to generate a second analog audio signal;
a power supply adapted to supply power to the audio amplifier;
a volume control module adapted to generate a signal indicating a volume level related to the second analog audio signal; and
a control module adapted to control an amount of power delivered by the power supply to the audio amplifier in response to the volume level signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method of improving the efficiency in the power consumption of an audio system. In essence, the technique is to adjust the power delivered from the power supply to the analog section, such as the power amplifier, in response to the volume level indicated by the volume control module and/or in response to the detected characteristic of the input audio signal. Thus, in this manner, the analog section is operated in a manner that is related to the level of the signal it is processing. Additionally, the system and method also relate to a technique of adjusting the dynamic ranges of the digital signal and the analog signal to improve the overall dynamic range of the system without needing to consume additional power.
137 Citations
48 Claims
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1. An audio system, comprising:
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an audio amplifier adapted to amplify a first analog audio signal to generate a second analog audio signal; a power supply adapted to supply power to the audio amplifier; a volume control module adapted to generate a signal indicating a volume level related to the second analog audio signal; and a control module adapted to control an amount of power delivered by the power supply to the audio amplifier in response to the volume level signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of operating an audio system, comprising:
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amplifying a first analog audio signal to generate a second analog audio signal; supplying power to cause the amplification of the first analog audio signal; and controlling an amount of said power in response to a signal indicating a volume level related to the second analog audio signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus, comprising:
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means for amplifying a first analog audio signal to generate a second analog audio signal; means for supplying power to the amplification means; means for generating a signal indicative of a volume level related to the second analog audio signal; and means for controlling an amount of power delivered by the power supply means to the amplification means in response to the volume level signal. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. An audio system, comprising:
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an audio amplifier adapted to amplify a first analog audio signal to generate a second analog audio signal; a power supply adapted to supply power to the audio amplifier; a detection module adapted to generate a signal related to a characteristic of the first analog audio signal; and a control module adapted to control an amount of power delivered by the power supply to the audio amplifier in response to the characteristic indicating signal. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of operating an audio system, comprising:
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amplifying a first analog audio signal to generate a second analog audio signal; supplying power to cause the amplification of the first analog audio signal; and controlling an amount of said power in response to a signal indicating a characteristic related to the first analog audio signal. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. An apparatus, comprising:
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means for amplifying a first analog audio signal to generate a second analog audio signal; means for supplying power to the amplification means; means for generating a signal indicative of a characteristic related to the first analog audio signal; and means for controlling an amount of power delivered by the power supply means to the amplification means in response to the characteristic indicating signal. - View Dependent Claims (42)
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43. An audio system, comprising:
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a digital companding module adapted to receive a first digital audio signal, and generate a second digital audio signal being a product of the first digital audio signal and a digital gain parameter GD; a digital-to-analog (DAC) converter adapted to generate a first analog audio signal derived from the second digital audio signal; an analog companding module adapted to receive the first analog audio signal, and generate a second analog audio signal being a product of the first analog audio signal and an analog gain parameter GA; and a controller adapted to adjust the digital gain parameter GD and the analog gain parameter GA in response to a characteristic of the first digital audio signal. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification