# US 12,015,385 B2 · Audio amplifier circuit and controlling method thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,015,385 B2 - Document ID: US12015385B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/663,015 - Filed: 2022-05-11 - Published: 2023-06-29 - Granted: 2024-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2021-12-29 - Assignees: Realtek Semiconductor Corp. - Applicants: Realtek Semiconductor Corporation - Inventors: Tzu-Chieh Wei - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12015385B2 ## CPC - H03F 3/183: with semiconductor devices only - H03F 3/2171: {with field-effect devices (H03F3/2173 - H03F3/2178 take precedence)} - H03F 1/26: Modifications of amplifiers to reduce influence of noise generated by amplifying elements - H03F 3/187: in integrated circuits - H03F 2200/03: the amplifier being designed for audio applications - H03F 2200/165: A filter circuit coupled to the input of an amplifier - H03F: AMPLIFIERS ## Abstract Audio amplifier circuit includes a pulse width modulation circuit, an auxiliary loop circuit corresponding to a first variable resistance value and a first variable current value, and a main loop circuit corresponding to a second variable resistance value and a second variable current value. Main loop circuit is coupled between a second node, an output terminal, and a first node. Under a condition that auxiliary loop circuit and main loop circuit are turned on, second variable resistance value is decreased and second variable current value is increased after auxiliary loop circuit enters into a first control state, such that main loop circuit enters into a second control state. First variable resistance value is increased and first variable current value is decreased after main loop circuit enters into second control state, such that auxiliary loop circuit is out of first control state. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An audio amplifier circuit comprising: a pulse width modulation circuit coupled between a first node and a second node; an auxiliary loop circuit coupled between the second node and the first node, wherein the auxiliary loop circuit is corresponded to a first variable resistance value and a first variable current value; and a main loop circuit coupled between the second node, an output terminal, and the first node, wherein the main loop circuit is corresponded to a second variable resistance value and a second variable current value, wherein under a condition that the auxiliary loop circuit and the main loop circuit are both turned on, the second variable resistance value is decreased and the second variable current value is increased after the auxiliary loop circuit enters into a first control state such that the main loop circuit enters into a second control state, and the first variable resistance value is increased and the first variable current value is decreased after the main loop circuit enters into the second control state such that the auxiliary loop circuit is out of the first control state. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The audio amplifier circuit of claim 1, wherein the second variable resistance value is gradually decreased and the second variable current value is gradually increased after the auxiliary loop circuit enters into the first control state. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The audio amplifier circuit of claim 1, further comprising: an input resistor coupled between an input terminal and the first node, wherein the input terminal is configured to receive an analog audio input signal, and the output terminal is configured to output an analog audio output signal to an audio player. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The audio amplifier circuit of claim 3, wherein the pulse width modulation circuit comprises: a filter coupled to the first node and configured to generate a filtering signal based on the analog audio input signal; a triangular wave generator configured to output a triangular wave signal; and a signal generator configured to receive the filtering signal and the triangular wave signal and coupled to the second node. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The audio amplifier circuit of claim 4, wherein the signal generator is configured to compare the filtering signal and the triangular wave signal to generate a pulse width modulation signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The audio amplifier circuit of claim 5, wherein the main loop circuit comprises: a power driver coupled between the second node and the output terminal, and configured to generate the analog audio output signal based on the pulse width modulation signal; and a feedback variable resistor coupled between the output terminal and the first node, wherein the power driver is configured to control the second variable current value, and the feedback variable resistor is configured to control the second variable resistance value. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The audio amplifier circuit of claim 6, wherein the feedback variable resistor comprises: a first switch; a plurality of resistors, wherein the resistors and the first switch are coupled in series; and a plurality of second switches, wherein each of the second switches is coupled in parallel with one of the resistors correspondingly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The audio amplifier circuit of claim 6, wherein the power driver comprises a plurality of driving circuits, wherein each of the driving circuits comprises: a plurality of transistor strings, wherein each of the transistor strings comprises a plurality of transistors and the transistors are connected in series, wherein the transistor strings are coupled in parallel; and a plurality of switches, wherein each of the switches is coupled to a control terminal of one of the transistors correspondingly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The audio amplifier circuit of claim 5, wherein the auxiliary loop circuit comprises: an auxiliary driver coupled to the second node; and an auxiliary variable resistor coupled between the auxiliary driver and the first node, wherein the auxiliary driver is configured to control the first variable current value, and the auxiliary variable resistor is configured to control the first variable resistance value. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The audio amplifier circuit of claim 9, wherein the auxiliary variable resistor comprises: a first switch; a plurality of resistors, wherein the resistors and the first switch are coupled in series; and a plurality of second switches, wherein each of the second switches is coupled in parallel with one of the resistors correspondingly. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The audio amplifier circuit of claim 9, wherein the auxiliary driver comprises: a plurality of transistor strings, wherein each of the transistor strings comprises a plurality of transistors and the transistors are connected in series, wherein the transistor strings are coupled in parallel; and a plurality of switches, wherein each of the switches is coupled to a control terminal of one of the transistors correspondingly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The audio amplifier circuit of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary loop circuit is turned on and the main loop circuit is turned off before the auxiliary loop circuit and the main loop circuit are both turned on. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The audio amplifier circuit of claim 12, wherein the main loop circuit is kept turned on and the auxiliary loop circuit is finally turned off after the auxiliary loop circuit and the main loop circuit are both turned on. ### Claim 14 A controlling method of an audio amplifier circuit, wherein the audio amplifier circuit comprises an auxiliary loop circuit and a main loop circuit, the auxiliary loop circuit is corresponded to a first variable resistance value and a first variable current value, and the main loop circuit is corresponded to a second variable resistance value and a second variable current value, wherein the controlling method comprises: decreasing the second variable resistance value and increasing the second variable current value after the auxiliary loop circuit enters into a first control state under a condition that the auxiliary loop circuit and the main loop circuit are both turned on, such that the main loop circuit enters into a second control state; and increasing the first variable resistance value and decreasing the first variable current value after the main loop circuit enters into the second control state, such that the auxiliary loop circuit is out of the first control state. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The controlling method of claim 14, further comprising: decreasing the second variable resistance value gradually and increasing the second variable current value gradually after the auxiliary loop circuit enters into the first control state. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The controlling method of claim 14, further comprising: turning on the auxiliary loop circuit and turning off the main loop circuit before the auxiliary loop circuit and the main loop circuit are both turned on. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The controlling method of claim 16, further comprising: keeping turning on the main loop circuit and turning off the auxiliary loop circuit finally after the auxiliary loop circuit and the main loop circuit are both turned on.