Control of a switched mode power supply and linear power supply for an audio device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9484876-B2
Application number	US-201314012203-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 28, 2013
Priority date	Aug 28, 2012
Publication date	Nov 1, 2016
Grant date	Nov 1, 2016

Abstract

An audio device and an output method thereof are provided. The audio device includes: an envelope detector configured to detect an envelope of an input audio signal; a power supply which includes a linear power supply (LPS) and a switching-mode power supply (SMPS); an amplifier configured to amplify the input audio signal; an output unit configured to output the audio signal amplified by the amplifier; and a controller configured to compare a voltage level of the detected envelope with a preset level, select one of the LPS and the SMPS based on a result of the comparison, and control the power supply to supply power from the selected one of the LPS and the SMPS to the amplifier.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An audio device comprising:
an envelope detector configured to detect an envelope of an input audio signal;
a power supply which comprises a linear power supply (LPS) and a switching-mode power supply (SMPS);
an amplifier configured to amplify the input audio signal;
an output unit configured to output the audio signal amplified by the amplifier; and
a controller configured to compare a voltage level of the detected envelope with a first preset voltage level and a second preset voltage level, select one of the LPS and the SMPS based on a result of the comparison, and control the power supply to supply power from the selected one of the LPS and the SMPS to the amplifier,
wherein the second preset voltage level exceeds the first preset voltage level,
wherein the controller is further configured to select the LPS in response to the voltage level of the detected envelope falling to be lower than or equal to the first preset voltage level, select the SMPS in response to the voltage level of the detected envelope rising to be higher than or equal to the second preset voltage level, and set an output voltage level of the LPS to the first preset voltage level at a time when the voltage level of the detected envelope falls to the first preset voltage level, and set an output voltage level of the SMPS to the second preset voltage level at a time when the voltage level of the detected envelope rises to the second preset voltage level.

2. The audio device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a smoother configured to smooth an instantaneous change of a voltage level caused by changes of the LPS and the SMPS.

3. The audio device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a booster configured to boost the input audio signal.

4. The audio device of claim 1 , wherein the power supply is configured to adjust a voltage level of the selected one of the LPS and the SMPS to the voltage level of the detected envelope and output the adjusted voltage level.

5. An output method of an audio device, the output method comprising:
detecting an envelope of an input audio signal;
comparing a voltage level of the detected envelope with a first preset voltage level and a second preset voltage level;
selecting one of a linear power supply (LPS) and a switching-mode power supply (SMPS) based on a result of the comparing;
amplifying the input audio signal by using power supplied by the selected one of the LPS and the SMPS; and
outputting the amplified audio signal,
wherein the second preset voltage level exceeds the first preset voltage level,
wherein the LPS is selected in response to the voltage level of the detected envelope falling to be lower than or equal to the first preset voltage level, and the SMPS is selected in response to the voltage level of the detected envelope rising to be higher than or equal to the second preset voltage level, and
wherein the selecting one of the LPS or the SMPS comprises:
setting an output voltage level of the LPS to the first preset voltage level at a time when the voltage level of the detected envelope falls to the first preset voltage level; and
setting to an output voltage level of the SMPS to the second preset voltage level at a time when the voltage level of the detected envelope rises to the second preset voltage level.

6. The output method of claim 5 , further comprising:
smoothing an instantaneous change of a voltage level caused by changes of the LPS and the SMPS.

7. The output method of claim 5 , further comprising:
boosting the input audio signal.

8. The output method of claim 5 , further comprising:
adjusting a voltage level of the selected LPS or SMPS to the voltage level of the detected envelope,
wherein power is supplied to an amplifier on the adjusted voltage level to amplify the input audio signal.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Park Hae-Kwang
• Lim Dong-Hyun

Classifications

• H03F2200/504

  the supply voltage or current being continuously controlled by a controlling signal, e.g. the controlling signal of a transistor implemented as variable resistor in a supply path for, an IC-block showed amplifier · CPC title

• H03F2200/102

  A non-specified detector of a signal envelope being used in an amplifying circuit · CPC title

• H03F2200/507

  A switch being used for switching on or off a supply or supplying circuit in an IC-block amplifier circuit · CPC title

• H03G3/20 Primary

  Automatic control ({H03G3/005 takes precedence;} combined with volume compression or expansion H03G7/00) · CPC title

• H03F2200/511

  Many discrete supply voltages or currents or voltage levels can be chosen by a control signal in an IC-block amplifier circuit · CPC title