Mathematical models for class-D amplifiers

We here analyse a number of class-D amplifier topologies. Class-D amplifiers operate by converting an audio input signal into a high-frequency square wave output, whose lower-frequency components can accurately reproduce the input. Their high power efficiency and potential for low distortion makes t...

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Main Author: Hall, Fenella T.H.
Format: Thesis (University of Nottingham only)
Language:English
Published: 2011
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/11891/
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author Hall, Fenella T.H.
author_facet Hall, Fenella T.H.
author_sort Hall, Fenella T.H.
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description We here analyse a number of class-D amplifier topologies. Class-D amplifiers operate by converting an audio input signal into a high-frequency square wave output, whose lower-frequency components can accurately reproduce the input. Their high power efficiency and potential for low distortion makes them suitable for use in a wide variety of electronic devices. By calculating the outputs from a classical class-D design implementing different sampling schemes we demonstrate that a more recent method, called the Fourier transform/Poisson resummation method, has many advantages over the double Fourier series method, which is the traditional technique employed for this analysis. We thereby show that when natural sampling is used the input signal is reproduced exactly in the low-frequency part of the output, with no distortion. Although this is a known result, our calculations present the method and notation that we later develop. The classical class-D design is prone to noise, and therefore negative feedback is often included in the circuit. Subsequently we incorporate the Fourier transform/Poisson resummation method into a formalised and succinct analysis of a first-order negative feedback amplifier. Using perturbation expansions we derive the audio-frequency part of the output, demonstrating that negative feedback introduces undesirable distortion. Here we reveal the next order terms in the output compared with previous work, giving further insight into the nonlinear distortion. We then further extend the analysis to examine two more complex negative feedback topologies, namely a second-order and a derivative negative feedback design. Modelling each of these amplifiers presents an increased challenge due to the differences in their respective circuit designs, and in addition, for the derivative negative feedback amplifier we must consider scaling regimes based on the relative magnitudes of the frequencies involved. For both designs we establish novel expressions for the output, including the most significant distortion terms.
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publishDate 2011
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spelling nottingham-118912025-02-28T11:16:12Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/11891/ Mathematical models for class-D amplifiers Hall, Fenella T.H. We here analyse a number of class-D amplifier topologies. Class-D amplifiers operate by converting an audio input signal into a high-frequency square wave output, whose lower-frequency components can accurately reproduce the input. Their high power efficiency and potential for low distortion makes them suitable for use in a wide variety of electronic devices. By calculating the outputs from a classical class-D design implementing different sampling schemes we demonstrate that a more recent method, called the Fourier transform/Poisson resummation method, has many advantages over the double Fourier series method, which is the traditional technique employed for this analysis. We thereby show that when natural sampling is used the input signal is reproduced exactly in the low-frequency part of the output, with no distortion. Although this is a known result, our calculations present the method and notation that we later develop. The classical class-D design is prone to noise, and therefore negative feedback is often included in the circuit. Subsequently we incorporate the Fourier transform/Poisson resummation method into a formalised and succinct analysis of a first-order negative feedback amplifier. Using perturbation expansions we derive the audio-frequency part of the output, demonstrating that negative feedback introduces undesirable distortion. Here we reveal the next order terms in the output compared with previous work, giving further insight into the nonlinear distortion. We then further extend the analysis to examine two more complex negative feedback topologies, namely a second-order and a derivative negative feedback design. Modelling each of these amplifiers presents an increased challenge due to the differences in their respective circuit designs, and in addition, for the derivative negative feedback amplifier we must consider scaling regimes based on the relative magnitudes of the frequencies involved. For both designs we establish novel expressions for the output, including the most significant distortion terms. 2011-07-13 Thesis (University of Nottingham only) NonPeerReviewed application/pdf en arr https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/11891/1/fthh.pdf Hall, Fenella T.H. (2011) Mathematical models for class-D amplifiers. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.
spellingShingle Hall, Fenella T.H.
Mathematical models for class-D amplifiers
title Mathematical models for class-D amplifiers
title_full Mathematical models for class-D amplifiers
title_fullStr Mathematical models for class-D amplifiers
title_full_unstemmed Mathematical models for class-D amplifiers
title_short Mathematical models for class-D amplifiers
title_sort mathematical models for class-d amplifiers
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/11891/