Boosted amplifier with current limiting
AssigneeCirrus Logic, Inc.
InventorsEric J. King, John L. Melanson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A boosted amplifier system may include a boost stage configured to boost an input voltage of the boost stage to an output voltage greater than the input voltage and an amplifier stage powered by the output voltage of the charge pump and configured to amplify an input signal to generate an output signal. The boost stage may have input current limiting circuitry for ensuring that an input current of the boost stage is maintained below a current limit and the amplifier stage may have an input for receiving an indication of whether the current-limiting circuitry of the boost stage is activated to maintain the input current of the boost stage below the current limit.
Claims18
A boosted amplifier system comprising:
- a boost stage configured to boost an input voltage of the boost stage to an output voltage greater than the input voltage;
- and
- an amplifier stage powered by the output voltage of a charge pump and configured to amplify an input signal to generate an output signal;
- wherein:
- the boost stage has input current-limiting circuitry for ensuring that an input current of the boost stage is maintained below a current limit;
- and
- the amplifier stage has an input for receiving an indication of whether the current-limiting circuitry of the boost stage is activated to maintain the input current of the boost stage below the current limit.
A method comprising, in a boosted amplifier system comprising a boost stage configured to boost an input voltage of the boost stage to an output voltage greater than the input voltage and an amplifier stage powered by the output voltage of a charge pump and configured to amplify an input signal to generate an output signal:
- maintaining an input current of the boost stage below a current limit responsive to a condition for current limiting in the boost stage;
- and
- receiving at the amplifier stage an indication of whether current-limiting circuitry of the boost stage is activated to maintain the input current of the boost stage below the current limit.
A controller for controlling operation of a boosted amplifier system comprising a boost stage configured to boost an input voltage of the boost stage to an output voltage greater than the input voltage and an amplifier stage powered by the output voltage of a charge pump and configured to amplify an input signal to generate an output signal, the controller comprising:
- an input for receiving a signal indicative of whether a condition exists for current limiting in a boost stage;
- and
- responsive to the signal indicating that the condition exists for current limiting in a boost stage:
- causing the boost stage to maintain an input current of the boost stage below a current limit responsive to a condition for current limiting in the boost stage;
- and
- communicating to the amplifier stage an indication of whether current-limiting circuitry of the boost stage is activated to maintain the input current of the boost stage below the current limit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.