Multichannel power amplifying
A multichannel electrical power amplifying system constructed and arranged to distribute electrical power of amount P to a total load coupled thereto. The system includes a plurality n of power amplifier channels, coupling the power amplifying system to a portion of the electrical load. Each of the amplifier channels distributes a portion of the electrical power P to a portion of the electrical load. Each power amplifier channel has a power distribution capacity, at least one of the power amplifier channels having a power distribution capacity significantly greater than P n . The sum of the capacities of the plurality of amplifier channels is significantly greater than P.
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The invention relates to power amplifiers, and more particularly to multichannel power amplifiers. The power distribution capacities of multichannel amplifiers are typically “rated,” on a “per channel” basis, usually on an “all channels driven” basis; that is, each of the four channels has a power distribution capacity of the per channel rating when all the channels are driving an electrical load. The total power distribution capacity of the amplifier system (often unspecified in a conventional multichannel amplifier) is the sum of the “per channel” ratings. For example, a four channel amplifier may be rated as 100 watts per channel, that is, each channel has a power distribution capacity of 100 watts, and the total rating, or power distribution capacity of the multichannel amplifier is 400 watts. To use all 400 watts of power distribution capacity, each channel would have a total load of 100 watts, but no more.
It is an important object of the invention to provide an improved multichannel power amplifier.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to the invention, a multichannel electrical power amplifying system is constructed and arranged to distribute electrical power of amount P to an electrical load coupled thereto. The system includes a plurality n of power amplifier channels, coupling the power amplifying system to a portion of the electrical load, each of the amplifier channels for distributing a portion of the electrical power P to a portion of the electrical load. Each power amplifier channel has a power distribution capacity, and at least one of the power amplifier channels is constructed and arranged to have a power distribution capacity significantly greater than
and the sum of the capacities of the plurality of amplifier channels is significantly greater than P.
In another aspect of the invention, a multichannel electrical power amplifying system is constructed and arranged to provide a total amount of electrical power P. The amplifying system includes a plurality of electrically powered devices, the plurality of devices representing an electrical load. The amplifying system also includes a number n of power amplifier channels, each amplifier channel coupled to a portion of the electrical load, each of the plurality of power amplifier channels for providing a portion of the total amount of electrical power P to the portion of the electrical load. One of the portions significantly exceeds
The amplifying system also includes a plurality of input channels for receiving a plurality of input signals and circuitry to selectively route the input signal from any of the plurality of input channels to any one of the power amplifier channels.
Other features, objects, and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description, which refers to the following drawing in which:
With reference now to the drawing and more particularly to
In operation, audio signals are received at input terminals 19-1-19-4 and routed to output terminals 20-1-20-4 and conducted to any one of power amplifiers 12-1-12-4, which amplify the audio signals and transmit them to electrical loads 16-1-16-4, typically electroacoustic transducers, which transduce the amplified audio signals to sound waves. Power supply 13 converts line AC voltage current to a DC voltage suitable for powering 70.7- or 100-volt low-current direct-drive power amplifiers; typically ±130 or ±170 volts, respectively, is suitable. The output of power supply 13 is conducted to power amplifiers 12-1-12-4. Heatsink 22 conducts heat away from power amplifiers 12-1-12-4. If passive cooling is insufficient to conduct the heat away from the heat sink, optional fan 24 directs heat away from heatsink 22 to the external environment.
In one embodiment, the total power rating of the power amplifier system is 400 watts; that is, the power amplifier is constructed and arranged to have a power distribution capacity of 400 continuous average watts. The audio signal processor and router 18 may be a conventional analog or digital signal processor and router having multiple input and output channels, in this example four input and four output channels; the number of input channels does not have to be equal to the number of output channels. Power supply 13 is a conventional power converter, constructed and arranged to convert line AC voltage to ±130 or ±170 volts and to supply power equal to the total power rating of the power amplifier system, in this embodiment 400 watts (plus any power that is dissipated in the amplifiers). Power amplifiers 12-1-12-4 may be 70- or 100-volt high-voltage low-current power amplifiers, each rated at up to 400 watts. Power amplifiers 12-1-12-4 may be linear amplifiers, however in an exemplary embodiment, they are switching amplifiers, each containing two field effect transistors (FETs). Power amplifiers including switching amplifiers are advantageous over linear amplifiers in a system described by
The common power supply is advantageous because separate power supplies for each channel would require a 400 watt power supply for each channel, even if some channels may be loaded at substantially less than 400 watts.
The power rating of each of the power amplifiers does not have to be equal to the power rating of the amplifier system as in the embodiment described in
In a power amplifier system according to the invention, the total rated power distribution capacity can be apportioned to the individual channels in any desired combination. For example, the power amplifier system of
In the discussion of
Referring now to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
It is evident that those skilled in the art may now make numerous uses of and departures from the specific apparatus and techniques disclosed herein without departing from the inventive concepts. Consequently, the invention is to be construed as embracing each and every novel feature and novel combination of features disclosed herein and limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A multichannel electrical power amplifying system constructed and arranged to distribute electrical power of amount P to a total electrical load coupled thereto, said system comprising: P n and wherein the sum of the capacities of the plurality of amplifier channels is significantly greater than P.
- a plurality n of power amplifier channels, coupling said power amplifying system to a portion of said electrical load, each of said amplifier channels for distributing a portion of said electrical power P to a corresponding portion of said total electrical load, each power amplifier channel having a power distribution capacity, wherein at least one of said power amplifier channels is constructed and arranged to have a power distribution capacity significantly greater than
2. A multichannel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one of said power amplifier channels is constructed and arranged to have a power distribution capacity substantially equal to P.
3. A multichannel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 1, wherein more than one of said power amplifier channels are constructed and arranged to have a power distribution capacity significantly greater than P n.
4. A multichannel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 3, wherein said more than one of said power amplifier channels comprise switching amplifiers.
5. A multichannel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 3, wherein said more than one of said power amplifier channels are constructed and arranged to have a power distribution capacity substantially equal to P.
6. A multichannel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 3, wherein all of said power amplifier channels are constructed and arranged to have a power distribution capacity significantly greater than P n.
7. A multichannel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 6, wherein said all of said power amplifier channels comprise a switching amplifier.
8. A multichannel electrical power amplifying system constructed and arranged to distribute electrical power of amount P to a total electrical load coupled thereto, said system comprising: P n and wherein the sum of the capacities of the plurality of amplifier channels is significantly greater than P, P n. P n.
- a plurality n of power amplifier channels, coupling said power amplifying system to a portion of said electrical load, each of said amplifier channels for distributing a portion of said electrical power P to a corresponding portion of said total electrical load, each power amplifier channel having a power distribution capacity, wherein at least one of said power amplifier channels is constructed and arranged to have a power distribution capacity significantly greater than
- wherein more than one of said power amplifier channels are constructed and arranged to have a power distribution capacity significantly greater than
- wherein all of said power amplifier channels are constructed and arranged to have a power distribution capacity significantly greater than
- wherein n is greater than two, and wherein said power amplifier channels comprise heat producing elements, said multichannel electrical power amplifying system further comprising a heat sink having at least one substantially planar surface, mounting points on said planar surface for said heat producing elements, wherein said mounting points for said n power amplifying channels are noncollinear.
9. A multichannel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 6, further comprising a single power supply, coupled to all of said amplifier channels, for supplying electrical power to all of said channels.
10. A multichannel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 3, wherein all of said power amplifier channels are constructed and arranged to have a power distribution capacity substantially equal to P.
11. A multichannel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one of said power amplifier channels comprises a switching amplifier.
12. A multichannel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sum of the capacities of the plurality of amplifier channels is nP.
13. A multichannel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a power supply for converting line current to direct current, said power supply constructed and arranged to supply power substantially equal to P.
14. A multichannel electrical power amplifying system constructed and arranged to provide a total amount of electrical power P, comprising; P n;
- a plurality of electrically powered devices, said devices representing an electrical load;
- a number n of power amplifier channels, each amplifier channel coupled to a portion of said electrical load, each of said plurality of power amplifier channels for providing a portion of said total amount of electrical power P to said portion of said electrical load, wherein one of said portions significantly exceeds
- a plurality of input channels for receiving a plurality of input signals; and
- circuitry to selectively route said input signal from any of said plurality of input channels to any one of said power amplifier channels.
15. A multichannel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 14, wherein the electrical power received by said one channel load is substantially equal to P.
16. A multichannel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 14, wherein the power provided by more than one of said channels significantly exceeds P n.
17. A multichannel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 16, wherein said more than one of said power amplifier channels comprise switching amplifiers.
18. A multichannel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 14, wherein at least one of said power amplifier channels comprises a switching amplifier.
19. A multi-channel electrical power amplifying system constructed and arranged to distribute electrical power of amount P to a total electrical load coupled thereto, said system comprising:
- a plurality n>2 of power amplifier channels, coupling said power amplifying system to a portion of said electrical load, each of said amplifier channels for distributing a portion of said electrical power P to a corresponding portion of said total electrical load, each power amplifier channel having a power distribution capacity, said power amplifier channels comprising heat producing elements; and
- a heat sink for conducting heat away from said heat producing elements having at least one substantially planar surface and mounting points on said planar surface for said heat producing elements, wherein said mounting points for said n power amplifying channels are noncollinear.
20. A multi-channel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 19, wherein at least one of said power amplifier channels is constructed and arranged to have a power distribution capacity significantly greater than P n and wherein the sum of the capacities of the plurality of amplifier channels is significantly greater than P.
21. A multi-channel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 20, wherein said at least one power amplifier channels is constructed and arranged to have a power distribution capacity substantially equal to P.
22. A multi-channel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 20, wherein more than one of said power amplifier channels are constructed and arranged to have a power distribution capacity significantly greater than P n.
23. A multi-channel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 22, wherein all of said power amplifier channels are constructed and arranged to have a power distribution capacity substantially equal to P.
24. A multi-channel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 20, wherein the sum of the capacities of the plurality of amplifier channels is nP.
25. A multichannel electrical power amplifying system constructed and arranged to distribute a total electrical power of amount P to a total electrical load coupled thereto, said system comprising:
- a plurality n of power amplifier channels, coupling said multichannel electrical power amplifying system to a portion of said electrical load, each of said plurality n of power amplifier channels for distributing a portion of said total electrical power P to a corresponding portion of said total electrical load, each power amplifier channel having a power distribution capacity, wherein each of said power amplifier channels is constructed and arranged to have a power distribution capacity substantially equal to P and wherein the sum of the capacities of the plurality n of power amplifier channels is significantly greater than P,
- a power supply for converting line current to direct current, said power supply being (a) electrically connected to the amplifier channels, and (b) constructed and arranged to supply power substantially equal to P to the power amplifier channels,
- wherein as each of the power amplifier channels has a power distribution capacity substantially equal to P, said total electrical power P can be apportioned to the plurality n of power amplifier channels in any desired combination.
26. A multichannel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 25, wherein said at least one of said plurality n of power amplifier channels is constructed and arranged to have a power distribution capacity substantially equal to P.
27. A multichannel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 25, wherein more than one of said plurality n of power amplifier channels are constructed and arranged to have a power distribution capacity significantly greater than P/n.
28. A multichannel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 27, wherein said more than one of said plurality n of power amplifier channels comprise switching amplifiers.
29. A multichannel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 27, wherein said more than one of said plurality n of power amplifier channels are constructed and arranged to have a power distribution capacity substantially equal to P.
30. A multichannel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 27, wherein all of said plurality n of power amplifier channels are constructed and arranged to have a power distribution capacity significantly greater than P/n.
31. A multichannel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 30, wherein all of said plurality n of power amplifier channels comprise a switching amplifier.
32. A multichannel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 30, wherein n is greater than two, and wherein said plurality n of power amplifier channels comprise heat producing elements, said multichannel electrical power amplifying system further comprising a heat sink having at least one substantially planar surface, mounting points on said planar surface for said heat producing elements, wherein said mounting points for said n power amplifying channels are noncollinear.
33. A multichannel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 27, wherein all of said plurality n of power amplifier channels are constructed and arranged to have a power distribution capacity substantially equal to P.
34. A multichannel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 25, wherein said at least one of said plurality n of power amplifier channels comprises a switching amplifier.
35. A multichannel electrical power amplifying system in accordance with claim 25, wherein the sum of the capacities of the plurality n of power amplifier channels is nP.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Jun 8, 2016
Date of Patent: Sep 11, 2018
Assignee: Bose Corporation (Framingham, MA)
Inventor: Daniel Scott Pearce (Worcester, MA)
Primary Examiner: My-Trang Ton
Application Number: 15/176,359
International Classification: H03F 3/68 (20060101);