Integrated power amplifier which allows parallel connections
OwnerGiorgio Ghiozzi, Claudio Tavazzaniinventors
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Abstract
An integrated power operational amplifier can alternatively be operated in a master or a slave mode, such that a master amplifier can be connected in parallel with one or more slave amplifiers. This arrangement allows very low impedance loads to be driven, as well as allowing the heat dissipation to be distributed over a number of operational amplifiers, thereby raising the maximum dissipation limits of integrated power systems. In addition, by eliminating the ballast resistors, more power can be delivered by the system, for the same supply voltage, and less power is dissipated.
Claims20
A power operational amplifier adapted to receive an input signal on at least one input terminal and deliver a corresponding amplified signal on an output terminal, having at least one input stage and a power stage coupled in series in a chain including at least said input and power stages between said at least one input terminal and said output terminal, that can be operated in a first mode, with both the input and power stages enabled, or a second mode, with the input stage disabled and the power stage enabled.
A first power operational amplifier comprising:
- a differential input stage having noninverting and inverting inputs and an output, the noninverting and inverting inputs forming first inputs to the power operational amplifier;
- a buffer element having a control terminal coupled to the inverting input of the differential input stage, an input coupled to the output of the differential input stage and an output;
- and
- a power stage having an input coupled to the output of the buffer element and an output coupled to an output of the power operational amplifier, the power stage input forming a second input to the power operational amplifier.
A method of coupling multiple power operational amplifiers in parallel comprising:
- providing input signals to inputs of a first differential input stage;
- providing an enable signal to a first buffer element that is coupled between an output of the first differential input stage and an input to a first power stage to couple an output signal from the output of the first differential input stage to the input to the first power stage;
- providing a disable signal to a second buffer element that is coupled between an output of a second differential input stage and an input to a second power stage;
- providing an output signal from the first differential input stage to the input to the second power stage;
- and
- connecting outputs of the first and second power stages to a load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.