Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for improved stability of driver amplifiers. In one example, a system includes an NMOSFET power device operable to generate a current signal at a drain terminal. The system further includes a current comparison amplifier operable to amplify a difference signal comprising a difference between a replica current signal of the NMOSFET power device and a reference current signal to drive a current comparison amplifier voltage output signal. The system further includes a PMOSFET clamp device comprising a source terminal coupled to a gate terminal of the NMOSFET power device operable to limit a voltage at the gate terminal of the NMOSFET power device responsive to the current comparison amplifier voltage output signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for improved linearity of audio amplifiers. In one example, a system includes a first current source configured to provide a first current signal having a first current source output capacitance, and a second current source configured to provide a second current signal having a second current source output capacitance, where the first and second current source output capacitances are a different value. The system further includes a first capacitor compensation device coupled to an output of the first current source configured to provide a capacitance value to compensate for the second current source output capacitance, and a second capacitor compensation device coupled to an output of the second current source configured to provide a capacitance value to compensate for the first current source output capacitance. The system further includes a plurality of switches configured to switch the first and second current signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for a hum reduction circuit implemented to provide a ground path between an audio generating device and a powered headset. In one example, a system includes a jack configured to accept a plug comprising a first electrical ground connection. The system also includes a switch coupled to the jack at a first end and coupled to second electrical ground connection at a second end. The system also includes the switch is configured to couple to the first electrical ground at the first end. The system further includes a bias control signal coupled to the switch, configured to control a switch bias, where a first switch bias electrically couples the first electrical ground to the second electrical ground, and a second switch bias electrically decouples the first electrical ground from the second electrical ground.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for correcting a current measurement through a speaker in an audio system. In one example, a system for driving a speaker includes an output stage configured to drive a current through the speaker. The system further includes a first and second current sensor coupled to the output stage and configured to measure a positive current including a first measurement error and a negative current including a second measurement error through the speaker, respectively. The system further includes a processing block coupled to the first and second current sensors to receive the measured positive and negative current signals and configured to add a positive offset value to an input of each first and second current sensors, determine the first and second measurement errors, and correct a measured current using the positive and negative currents and the determined first and second measurement errors.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for improved linearity of audio amplifiers. In one example, a system includes a first current source configured to provide a first current signal having a first current source output capacitance, and a second current source configured to provide a second current signal having a second current source output capacitance, where the first and second current source output capacitances are a different value. The system further includes a first capacitor compensation device coupled to an output of the first current source configured to provide a capacitance value to compensate for the second current source output capacitance, and a second capacitor compensation device coupled to an output of the second current source configured to provide a capacitance value to compensate for the first current source output capacitance. The system further includes a plurality of switches configured to switch the first and second current signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for gate boosted drivers for integrated power stages. In one example, a gate driver includes an output stage comprising an n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor (NMOS) pull-up transistor and an NMOS pull-down transistor, where the NMOS pull-up transistor and the NMOS pull-down transistor are coupled at an output node. The gate driver further includes a bootstrap circuit comprising a main bootstrap capacitor, where the bootstrap capacitor provides a supply voltage for driving the NMOS pull-up transistor. The gate driver further includes a high voltage generator coupled with the main bootstrap capacitor via a transistor switch and a replica bootstrap circuit comprising a replica bootstrap capacitor. The replica bootstrap circuit generates a reference voltage that regulates a drain current of the transistor switch, and the regulated drain current of the transistor switch charges the main bootstrap capacitor from the high voltage generator.

Abstract: A voice-activity detector (VAD) system comprises a microphone operable to receive and to process audio inputs from an environment to generate an analog audio input signal. The system further comprises an analog VAD operable to process the analog audio input signal to perform an initial detection of human speech, and operable to send a wake up command to a digital signal processing chain to awaken the digital signal processing chain from a sleep mode, when the analog VAD detects human speech. Further, the system comprises the digital signal processing chain operable to process the analog audio input signal to perform a secondary detection of human speech, and operable to output a signal indicating that human speech is detected, when the digital signal processing chain detects human speech. In one or more embodiments, the secondary detection of human speech is more accurate than the initial detection of human speech.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for improved stability of audio amplifiers that incorporate external speaker connectivity. In one example, a system includes an audio amplifier circuit comprising two or more amplifier stages and a stability resistor and configured to receive an audio input signal, the audio amplifier circuit configured for at least two modes of operation, a first mode having a high input transconductance and the stability resistor is coupled to an output of the audio amplifier circuit, and a second mode having a lower input transconductance and the stability resistor is decoupled from the output of the audio amplifier circuit. The system further includes an amplitude detection circuit configured to provide a signal mode detection signal, an amplifier switching circuit configured to adjust a variable input transconductance of at least one of the amplifier stages, and a load switching circuit configured to couple and decouple the stability resistor at the output of the audio amplifier circuit.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for a current comparator with biasing circuitry to provide for low power consumption and high-speed performance. In one example, a system includes an input port to receive a current pulse and an amplifier configured to provide a voltage pulse at an output port in response to the current pulse. The system also includes a first biasing circuit coupled between the output port and the input port to selectively limit a voltage at the input port. The system further includes a second biasing circuit coupled to the amplifier to selectively adjust a bias of the amplifier.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) system includes a transconductance amplifier, loop filter, quantizer, logic circuit, and digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The transconductance amplifier is configured to generate a current signal in response to an audio signal. The loop filter is connected to the transconductance amplifier and configured to generate a filtered signal based on the current signal. The quantizer is configured to generate a digital representation of the filtered signal. The logic circuit is configured to generate control signals based on the digital representation. The DAC is coupled to the loop filter's and the transconductance amplifier's output. The DAC includes three-level unit elements, where each unit element is configured to provide one of two signal levels or no signal to the loop filter in response to control signals from the logic circuit. Such an ADC system may allow for a high dynamic range while maintaining low power consumption and low noise.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for sensing a current at an output of a switching amplifier. In one example, a system includes a first transistor switch coupled to a load configured to conduct a current in the load responsive to a first pulse width modulated control signal coupled to a gate terminal of the first transistor switch. The system further includes a second transistor switch configured to conduct the current in the load responsive to a second pulse width modulated control signal coupled to a gate terminal of the second transistor switch. A shielding switch is coupled between the load and a current sensing circuit, wherein the shielding switch is configured to provide a small signal voltage to the current sensing circuit in response to the second pulse width modulated control signal, the current sensing circuit is configured to sense the current traveling through the load responsive to the small signal voltage.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for improving noise performance in a delta sigma modulator comprising an adder, quantizer and nth order filter. The adder is operable to receive an input signal and a feedback signal, and output a modified input signal. The quantizer is operable to receive the modified input signal and output a quantized output signal, the quantized output signal having a corresponding quantization error. The nth order filter is operable to receive a quantization error value and generate the feedback signal, the nth order filter comprising a first memory element having a first error value, a second memory element having a second error value, and a gravity component operable to converge the first error value and the second error value when the input signal is approximately zero.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for correcting a current measurement through a speaker in an audio system. In one example, a system for driving a speaker includes an output stage configured to drive a current through the speaker. The system further includes a first and second current sensor coupled to the output stage and configured to measure a positive current including a first measurement error and a negative current including a second measurement error through the speaker, respectively. The system further includes a processing block coupled to the first and second current sensors to receive the measured positive and negative current signals and configured to add a positive offset value to an input of each first and second current sensors, determine the first and second measurement errors, and correct a measured current using the positive and negative currents and the determined first and second measurement errors.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for sensing a current at an output of a switching amplifier. In one example, a system includes a first transistor switch coupled to a load configured to conduct a current in the load responsive to a first pulse width modulated control signal and a second transistor switch coupled to the load configured to conduct the current in the load responsive to a second pulse width modulated control signal. The system further includes a sample and hold circuit coupled between the load and a current sensing circuit configured to sample a voltage at the second transistor switch for a pre-determined sample time period in response to a midpoint of a second pulse width modulated control signal time period, and configured to provide the sampled voltage to the current sensing circuit.

Abstract: Methods and systems for implementing a closed loop DC-DC converter utilize a compensator to stabilize the output voltage of the DC-DC converter while improving the loop gain in the band of interest. A compensator may be implemented by an operational amplifier and a feedback circuit. The operational amplifier may be configured to receive a fraction of sensed output voltage at the non-inverting terminal and compare the sensed output voltage with the voltage received at the inverting terminal to generate an error signal which is used to determine the duty cycle of a pulse-width modulated signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for a hum reduction circuit implemented to provide a ground path between an audio generating device and a powered headset. In one example, a system includes a jack configured to accept a plug comprising a first electrical ground connection. The system also includes a switch coupled to the jack at a first end and coupled to second electrical ground connection at a second end. The system also includes the switch is configured to couple to the first electrical ground at the first end. The system further includes a bias control signal coupled to the switch, configured to control a switch bias, where a first switch bias electrically couples the first electrical ground to the second electrical ground, and a second switch bias electrically decouples the first electrical ground from the second electrical ground.

Abstract: Methods and systems for implementing a closed loop DC-DC converter utilize a compensator to stabilize the output voltage of the DC-DC converter while improving the loop gain in the band of interest. A compensator may be implemented by an operational amplifier and a feedback circuit. The operational amplifier may be configured to receive a fraction of sensed output voltage at the non-inverting terminal and compare the sensed output voltage with the voltage received at the inverting terminal to generate an error signal which is used to determine the duty cycle of a pulse-width modulated signal.

Abstract: An audio digital-to-analog converter (DAC) achieves high dynamic range with low power consumption using a segmented DAC, also referred to as a noise shaped splitter. The noise shaped splitter is dynamically reconfigured based on envelope detection that tracks the amplitude of an n-bit digital input signal to the segmented DAC. The amplitude of the n-bit digital input signal can be expressed as the magnitude of a numerical value corresponding to the n bits of the digital signal. Based on the amplitude of the digital input signal, certain segments of the segmented DAC are bypassed and the components of each bypassed segment are turned off, saving power and reducing noise, and achieving improved dynamic range along with lower power consumption.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for a current comparator with biasing circuitry to provide for low power consumption and high-speed performance. In one example, a system includes an input port to receive a current pulse and an amplifier configured to provide a voltage pulse at an output port in response to the current pulse. The system also includes a first biasing circuit coupled between the output port and the input port to selectively limit a voltage at the input port. The system further includes a second biasing circuit coupled to the amplifier to selectively adjust a bias of the amplifier.

Abstract: A capacitive voltage converter providing multiple gain modes comprising a switched capacitor array having a voltage input and a voltage output. A skip gating control coupled to the switched capacitor array and configured to control a switch resistance value of the switched capacitor array, and to control a switching sequence of the switched capacitor array. An override control coupled to the skip gating control and the switched capacitor array, the override control configured to detect transitions in a gain mode and to modify the switch resistance value of the switched capacitor array and the switching sequence of the switched capacitor array for a finite amount of time following the gain mode transition.