Digital input audio power amplifiers in 0.6-/spl mu/m BCD technology: two examples

Abstract

In consumer electronics, the digital processing of the audio signal is becoming preferred with respect to the "old" analog processing. The last block still with analog input and full analog processing is the audio power amplifier. Thanks to the high-density BCD technology it is now possible to implement a low-cost single-chip audio power amplifier with digital input. In this paper two examples are presented, exploring respectively the switching technique (PWM) and the linear class-AB output stage.