Abstract: This application relates to ADC circuitry. An ADC circuit (200) has first and second conversion paths (201a, 201b) for converting analogue signals to digital and is operable in first and second modes. In the first mode, the first and second conversion paths are connected to respective first and second input nodes (202a, 202b) to receive and convert full scale first and second analogue input signals (Ain1, Ain2) to separate digital outputs (Dout1, Dout2). In the second mode, the first and second conversion paths are both connected to the first input node (202a), to convert the first analogue input signal (Ain1) to respective first and second digital signals, and the first and second conversion paths are configured for processing different signal levels of the first analogue input signal. A selector (207) select the first digital signal or the second digital to be output as an output signal based on an indication of amplitude of the first analogue input signal.

Abstract: This application relates to ADC circuitry. An ADC circuit (200) has first and second conversion paths (201a, 201b) for converting analogue signals to digital and is operable in first and second modes. In the first mode, the first and second conversion paths are connected to respective first and second input nodes (202a, 202b) to receive and convert full scale first and second analogue input signals (Ain1, Ain2) to separate digital outputs (Dout1, Dout2). In the second mode, the first and second conversion paths are both connected to the first input node (202a), to convert the first analogue input signal (Ain1) to respective first and second digital signals, and the first and second conversion paths are configured for processing different signal levels of the first analogue input signal. A selector (207) select the first digital signal or the second digital to be output as an output signal based on an indication of amplitude of the first analogue input signal.

Abstract: An apparatus performs interpolation/decimation in a digital circuit that receives an input signal and includes upsampling/downsampling and filtering stages. First and second paths include distinct first and second portions of the upsampling/downsampling and filtering stages. The first path consumes less quiescent state power. A selection circuit uses the first or second path and turns off the unused first or second path based on input signal spectral content or level. A mode includes applying a front-end digital/analog gain and a corresponding back-end analog/digital attenuation in conjunction with the first path being used and the second path being turned off. A cross-fader uses the first and second paths in a weighted mix manner while making a transition between using the first and second paths. The second path has higher filtering performance (e.g., superior stopband attenuation, passband ripple, transition band, e.g., via higher order or greater bit-width filtering).

Abstract: An apparatus performs interpolation/decimation in a digital circuit that receives an input signal and includes upsampling/downsampling and filtering stages. First and second paths include distinct first and second portions of the upsampling/downsampling and filtering stages. The first path consumes less quiescent state power. A selection circuit uses the first or second path and turns off the unused first or second path based on input signal spectral content or level. A mode includes applying a front-end digital/analog gain and a corresponding back-end analog/digital attenuation in conjunction with the first path being used and the second path being turned off. A cross-fader uses the first and second paths in a weighted mix manner while making a transition between using the first and second paths. The second path has higher filtering performance (e.g., superior stopband attenuation, passband ripple, transition band, e.g., via higher order or greater bit-width filtering).

Abstract: A system may comprise a high-pass filter having an input for receiving an input signal, an output for generating an output signal, a capacitor coupled between the input and the output, a switched-capacitor resistor coupled between the output and a reference voltage, and control circuitry configured to control the reference voltage to cancel current leakage into a circuit coupled to the output. The input, the output, the capacitor, and the switched-capacitor resistor may be arranged to generate the output signal as a high-pass filtered version of the input signal and the high-pass filter may be configured to operate in a plurality of modes comprising at least a high-impedance mode and a low-impedance mode in which the resistance of the switched-capacitor resistor is significantly smaller than the resistance when in the high-impedance mode.

Abstract: A system may include a plurality of processing paths and a controller. The processing paths may include a first processing path configured to generate a first digital signal based on an analog input signal and one or more other processing paths each configured to consume a smaller amount of power than the first processing path, and each configured to generate a respective digital signal based on the analog input signal, wherein one of the other processing paths has a noise floor based on fidelity characteristics of the analog input signal or subsequent processing requirements of a digital output signal generated from at least one of the first digital signal and the respective digital signals. The controller may be configured to select one of the first digital signal and the respective digital signals as the digital output signal of the processing system based on a magnitude of the analog input signal.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a processing system may include multiple selectable processing paths for processing an analog signal in order to reduce noise and increase dynamic range. Techniques are employed to transition between processing paths and calibrate operational parameters of the two paths in order to reduce or eliminate artifacts caused by switching between processing paths.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a processing system may include a plurality of processing paths and a controller. The plurality of processing paths may include a static processing path configured to generate a first digital signal based on an analog input signal and a dynamic processing path configured to generate a second digital signal based on the analog input signal, wherein a parameter of the dynamic processing path is determined based on a characteristic of the analog input signal. The controller may be configured to select the first digital signal as a digital output signal of the processing system when a change is occurring to the characteristic and select the second digital signal as the digital output signal in the absence of change occurring to the characteristic.

Abstract: A system may comprise a high-pass filter having an input for receiving an input signal, an output for generating an output signal, a capacitor coupled between the input and the output, a switched-capacitor resistor coupled between the output and a reference voltage, and control circuitry configured to control the reference voltage to cancel current leakage into a circuit coupled to the output. The input, the output, the capacitor, and the switched-capacitor resistor may be arranged to generate the output signal as a high-pass filtered version of the input signal and the high-pass filter may be configured to operate in a plurality of modes comprising at least a high-impedance mode and a low-impedance mode in which the resistance of the switched-capacitor resistor is significantly smaller than the resistance when in the high-impedance mode.

Abstract: A system may include an input for receiving an input signal, an output for generating an output signal, a capacitor coupled between the input and the output, a variable resistor coupled to the output and having a plurality of modes including a first mode in which the variable resistor has a first resistance and a second mode in which the variable resistor has a second resistance, and control circuitry configured to determine a difference between the input signal and the output signal and switch between modes of the plurality of modes when the difference is less than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A system may comprise a high-pass filter having an input for receiving an input signal, an output for generating an output signal, a capacitor coupled between the input and the output, a switched-capacitor resistor coupled between the output and a reference voltage, and control circuitry configured to control the reference voltage to cancel current leakage into a circuit coupled to the output. The input, the output, the capacitor, and the switched-capacitor resistor may be arranged to generate the output signal as a high-pass filtered version of the input signal and the high-pass filter may be configured to operate in a plurality of modes comprising at least a high-impedance mode and a low-impedance mode in which the resistance of the switched-capacitor resistor is significantly smaller than the resistance when in the high-impedance mode.

Abstract: A system may comprise a high-pass filter having an input for receiving an input signal, an output for generating an output signal, a capacitor coupled between the input and the output, a switched-capacitor resistor coupled between the output and a reference voltage, and control circuitry configured to control the reference voltage to cancel current leakage into a circuit coupled to the output. The input, the output, the capacitor, and the switched-capacitor resistor may be arranged to generate the output signal as a high-pass filtered version of the input signal and the high-pass filter may be configured to operate in a plurality of modes comprising at least a high-impedance mode and a low-impedance mode in which the resistance of the switched-capacitor resistor is significantly smaller than the resistance when in the high-impedance mode.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for operating a playback path comprising a first dynamic range enhancement subsystem and a second dynamic range enhancement subsystem, wherein an audio signal generated by the first dynamic range enhancement subsystem is communicated to the second dynamic range enhancement subsystem, is provided.

Abstract: A portable audio device may be configured to measure load characteristics of headphones. The device may measure direct current (DC) and/or alternating current (AC) characteristics of the load. These characteristics may be measured by an audio component, such as an audio codec chip or integrated circuit (IC) controller, and reported to software or firmware executing on a processor coupled to the audio component. The software or firmware may then take action based on the measured load characteristics. For example, the load characteristics may be compared to a database of headphones and their known load characteristics to determine a particular headphone model or type of headphone attached to the audio output. The processor may then apply an appropriate equalization curve.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a processing system may include multiple selectable processing paths for processing an analog signal in order to reduce noise, increase dynamic range, and mask audio artifacts associated with a change in noise floor. Techniques are employed to transition between processing paths and calibrate operational parameters of the two paths in order to reduce or eliminate artifacts caused by switching between processing paths.

Abstract: A system may include a plurality of processing paths and a controller. The processing paths may include a first processing path configured to generate a first digital signal based on an analog input signal and one or more other processing paths each configured to consume a smaller amount of power than the first processing path, and each configured to generate a respective digital signal based on the analog input signal, wherein one of the other processing paths has a noise floor based on fidelity characteristics of the analog input signal or subsequent processing requirements of a digital output signal generated from at least one of the first digital signal and the respective digital signals. The controller may be configured to select one of the first digital signal and the respective digital signals as the digital output signal of the processing system based on a magnitude of the analog input signal.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a processing system may include a plurality of processing paths and a controller. The plurality of processing paths may include a static processing path configured to generate a first digital signal based on an analog input signal and a dynamic processing path configured to generate a second digital signal based on the analog input signal, wherein a parameter of the dynamic processing path is determined based on a characteristic of the analog input signal. The controller may be configured to select the first digital signal as a digital output signal of the processing system when a change is occurring to the characteristic and select the second digital signal as the digital output signal in the absence of change occurring to the characteristic.

Abstract: A processing path may include a controller and a plurality of processing paths including a first processing path and a second processing path. The first path may be configured to generate a first digital signal based on an analog input signal and the second path may be configured to generate a second digital signal based on the analog input signal, wherein the first path has a lower gain and a higher noise floor than the second path. The controller may be configured to determine that a transition between the first path and the second path needs to occur based on the analog input signal crossing a threshold or a prediction that the input signal will cross the threshold and in response to determining the transition between the first path and the second path needs to occur, blend the transition during or near zero cross points of the analog input signal.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for operating a playback path comprising a first dynamic range enhancement subsystem and a second dynamic range enhancement subsystem, wherein an audio signal generated by the first dynamic range enhancement subsystem is communicated to the second dynamic range enhancement subsystem, is provided.

Abstract: An audio playback path of an audio apparatus includes a digital modulator, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), and a power amplifier. The digital modulator receives a playback signal corresponding to playback audio content and generates a digital input signal in accordance with the playback signal. The DAC receives the audio input signal and generates an analog preamplifier signal. The power amplifier generates an audio output signal in accordance with the preamplifier signal and an analog attenuation determined by the analog attenuation signal.