AUDIO APPARATUS HAVING DYNAMIC GROUND BREAK RESISTANCE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An audio apparatus comprising:
- an audio source;
a connector having a signal out pin and a return pin to be coupled to an external load;
a variable resistor circuit coupled to provide variable resistance between the return pin of the connector and a ground plane of the apparatus;
an audio amplifier having a first input coupled to the audio source, a second input coupled to the return pin of the connector, and an output that is coupled to the signal out pin of the connector;
an amplifier headroom detector to detect headroom of the audio amplifier; and
a controller having an input coupled to an output of the headroom detector, the controller being to coupled to control the variable resistor circuit in response to said headroom detection.
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Abstract
A method for audio signal processing, where an audio amplifier drives a load through a connector, using 1) an input audio signal, and 2) a signal from a return pin of the connector. Output headroom of the audio amplifier is automatically detected, while the amplifier is driving the load. A variable resistor circuit that is coupled to provide variable resistance between the return pin of the connector and a ground plane, is automatically adjusted, in response to the detected output headroom of the amplifier. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
8 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An audio apparatus comprising:
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an audio source; a connector having a signal out pin and a return pin to be coupled to an external load; a variable resistor circuit coupled to provide variable resistance between the return pin of the connector and a ground plane of the apparatus; an audio amplifier having a first input coupled to the audio source, a second input coupled to the return pin of the connector, and an output that is coupled to the signal out pin of the connector; an amplifier headroom detector to detect headroom of the audio amplifier; and a controller having an input coupled to an output of the headroom detector, the controller being to coupled to control the variable resistor circuit in response to said headroom detection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for audio signal processing, comprising:
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driving, by an audio amplifier, a load through a connector, using
1) an input audio signal, and
2) a signal from a return pin of a connector to which the amplifier is coupled for driving the load;detecting output headroom of the audio amplifier while the amplifier is driving the load; and automatically adjusting a variable resistor circuit that is coupled to provide variable resistance between the return pin of the connector and a ground plane, in response to the detected output headroom of the amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An audio apparatus comprising:
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an audio source; a connector having a signal out pin and a return pin; a variable resistor circuit having a first node and a second node between which it provides variable resistance, the first node being coupled to the return pin of the connector and the second node being coupled to a ground plane of the apparatus; an audio amplifier having a first input to receive an audio signal, a second input coupled to the return pin of the connector, and an output that is coupled to the signal out pin of the connector; a detector to compare voltage of the output of the audio amplifier with voltage of the first node of the variable resistor circuit; and a controller coupled to control the variable resistor circuit in response to the detector'"'"'s comparison. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification