Abstract: A closed loop amplifier adapted to be directly connected to a battery having a battery voltage for powering the amplifier. The amplifier includes an amplifier stage having a node for receiving a control voltage for controlling a common mode voltage of the stage, a digital voltage indicator for generating a digital value corresponding to the battery voltage, and a common mode voltage supply providing the control voltage corresponding to the digital value.

Abstract: A novel and useful apparatus for and method of improving antenna matching and reducing mismatch loss for a VHF receiver such as an FM receiver. The invention can be used in a very low cost implementation of a single chip radio such as used in cellphone applications. The impedance of the low cost VHF antenna in cellphone application can dramatically vary across time, frequency and depending on the human body proximity resulting in a large mismatch loss. The adaptive antenna matching mechanism uses dynamically configurable on-chip variable capacitors to provide a custom matching network with the external inductor in a pi-network configuration. The variable ranges of the on-chip capacitors enable adaptation in a closed loop manner so that the optimum SNR is achieved thus ensuring minimum mismatch loss. The mechanism measures RSSI and SNR and, using a novel adaptive calibration mechanism, adjusts the internal matching network capacitors such that the mismatch loss is minimized.

Abstract: A closed loop amplifier adapted to be directly connected to a battery having a battery voltage for powering the amplifier. The amplifier includes an amplifier stage having a node for receiving a control voltage for controlling a common mode voltage of the stage, a digital voltage indicator for generating a digital value corresponding to the battery voltage, and a common mode voltage supply providing the control voltage corresponding to the digital value. In a preferred embodiment, a Class-D amplifier is powered by a power supply providing power by way of a power supply voltage node and a ground node, the amplifier having improved common-mode voltage control. A first integrator stage receives an input signal and provides an output signal, the integrator stage having a first common-mode reference voltage applied thereto for control of the common-mode voltage of the integrator stage.

Abstract: An amplifier system in accordance with an aspect of the present invention comprises a switching amplifier that drives a load with a pulse-width modulated (PWM) output signal that varies between first and second rails based on a first control input signal, and a common mode supply that provides a switching signal that varies between third and fourth rails to maintain a common mode voltage of the load at a level that is between the first and second rails.

Abstract: A Class-D amplifier system may include an input stage that includes an Nth order filter, where N>1. The input stage filters an input signal to provide a filtered output signal, an input of the input stage being configured to receive the input signal as a digital pulse-width-modulated (PWM) signal. A comparator provides a quantized output signal based on the filtered output signal. An output stage is connected between a first voltage rail and a second voltage rail. The output stage provides a switching output signal at an output that varies between the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail based on the quantized output signal. A feedback path connects the output of the output stage with the input of the input stage, such that the Nth order filter compensates for variations in at least one of the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail.

Abstract: An amplifier system in accordance with an aspect of the present invention comprises a switching amplifier that drives a load with a pulse-width modulated (PWM) output signal that varies between first and second rails based on a first control input signal, and a common mode supply that provides a switching signal that varies between third and fourth rails to maintain a common mode voltage of the load at a level that is between the first and second rails.

Abstract: A Class-D amplifier system may include an input stage that includes an Nth order filter, where N>1. The input stage filters an input signal to provide a filtered output signal, an input of the input stage being configured to receive the input signal as a digital pulse-width-modulated (PWM) signal. A comparator provides a quantized output signal based on the filtered output signal. An output stage is connected between a first voltage rail and a second voltage rail. The output stage provides a switching output signal at an output that varies between the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail based on the quantized output signal. A feedback path connects the output of the output stage with the input of the input stage, such that the Nth order filter compensates for variations in at least one of the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail.

Abstract: The summing comparator includes: a first integrator; a second integrator for receiving an output of the first integrator; and a comparator for switching when the output of the first integrator is greater than the output of the second integrator. The outputs of the first and second integrators are directly compared by the comparator without the necessity of a summing amplifier.

Abstract: The dc-offset voltage of an amplifier is calibrated by: (1) configuring the amplifier as a comparator, (2) using the output of the comparator to drive the up/down select input of an up/down counter, and (3) using the output count of the up/down counter to control: (a) a dc-offset correction voltage being: (i) applied across the inputs of the amplifier, or (ii) being used to adjust a voltage which controls an operating parameter of a device in the amplifier, or (b) switches which selectively adjust the effective size or operating conditions of a transistor or other device such that the dc-offset voltage of the amplifier is adjusted corresponding to the value of the output count.

Abstract: An insubstantial amount of noise results at the output of a circuit when an output of a primary amplifier is disconnected from and reconnected to the circuit in which is operating. The primary amplifier is placed temporarily in a muting configuration. A secondary amplifier permanently in a muting configuration is connected in parallel with the primary amplifier. The output of the primary amplifier then is disconnected from a circuit node to which it is attached. The primary amplifier may then be taken out of its muting configuration. After, for example, configuring the primary amplifier as a comparator and calibrating its dc-offset voltage, the primary amplifier is placed back into a muting configuration. The secondary amplifier then is disconnected from the primary amplifier. The primary amplifier may subsequently be taken out of muting configuration to resume its normal function in the circuit.