Audio amplifier controller having soft start circuit protection and associated methods

An audio amplifier power and temperature controller comprising:

• a power receiving circuit positioned to receive power from a power source to an audio amplifier;
• and
• a power condition switching control circuit responsive to said power receiving circuit to switch components of an audio amplifier during a plurality of power conditions, said power condition switching control circuit including a soft start circuit responsive to said power receiving circuit to limit inrush current from said power receiving circuit and to slowly ramp up to an audio amplifier on-state;
• a thermal status monitoring and controlling circuit to monitor thermal status of operating values of audio amplifier components and responsively decrease power to the audio amplifier components to protect the audio amplifier components against damage caused by excess heat and responsively increase power when the audio amplifier components return to normal thermal operating conditions;
• and an output monitoring circuit to monitor current output circuits of the audio amplifier to protect the audio amplifier during a high current condition when connected to the audio amplifier by disconnecting a load to the current output circuits and reconnecting the load to the current output circuits when normal operating current conditions resume;
• said soft starting circuit in said power condition switching control circuit including a power level detection circuit to detect voltage changes by sensing frequency changes and voltage null points and a micro-controller responsive to the power level detection circuit to monitor low power conditions and high power conditions.

A method of controlling power for an audio amplifier, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving power from a power source to an audio amplifier;
• and
• switching components of an audio amplifier during a plurality of power conditions, the step of switching components including limiting inrush current from the power source;
• slowly ramping up to an audio amplifier on-state;
• monitoring thermal status of operating values of audio amplifier components;
• responsively decreasing power to the audio amplifier components to protect the audio amplifier components against damage caused by excess heat;
• responsively increasing power when the audio amplifier components return to normal thermal operating conditions;
• and monitoring current output circuits of the audio amplifier to protect the audio amplifier during a high current condition when connected to the audio amplifier by disconnecting a load to the current output circuits and reconnecting the load to the current output circuits when normal operating current conditions resume;
• wherein said step of limiting inrush current includes detecting voltage changes by sensing frequency changes and voltage null points and monitoring low power conditions and high power conditions.