Control gain by changing supply voltage?

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Clipping? If I understand Class-D amps (and it's quite possible I don't) the output device is either on or off. The supply voltage affects the gain, but not whether it will clip (as long as the supply voltage isn't affecting the amplitude of the modulation signal).

The reason to do this rather than just attenuating the input signal would be to take the volume control out of the signal path.
 
Yes, I guess it has been already done (Tact or something?)
But the limitation of this approach is dynamics of a typical volume control, one would demand volume adjustment in range of at least 50dB, lowering the power supply voltage by 50dB is damn impractical.
So it shouldn't still be the only way to control volume.
 
One thing varying the power supply voltage will do is allow you to safely get max power into different loads. If you have 8 ohm loads you can increase the voltage. If you have 1 ohm load you can lower the voltage. In either case you can get stable operation at full power into the load. This could be good for pro-audio applications where you may be adding or subtracting drivers based on the venue.
 
fredos said:
Control triangle wave amplitude insted...More easy if you whant to control amplifier gain by external device!
Sending the triangle wave through a pot has the same issues as sending the signal through a pot.

That TI document is pretty interesting. They used power supply voltage for part of the range of the volume control and digital attenuation for the rest.

Interesting discussion, guys. Thanks
 
yes

Originally #1 posted by preiter
Since a class-D amp works by switching on and off the supply voltage, would it be possible to control the gain by changing the supply voltage?

Would this be a viable form of volume control?

Yes, it is. And it is excellent. :)
See this one: link

http://d-amp.blogspot.com/

translated by google :rolleyes:

Full dynamic range of the PWM at low volume settings. :cool:

Kind regards,
Darius
 
It only works on open-loop designs. The original implementation was in the TacT amplifier (using a full-bridge output topology)where a lot of effort was made in order to get a supply voltage that is

1.) Controllable and
2.) very clean

TacT's IP was later bought by TI and their staff was recruited as well.

Regards

Charles
 
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