High-voltage class-D direct-drive audio amplifier for electrostatic loudspeakers

Electrostatic loudspeakers (ESLs) are capable of low distortion and have desirably flat frequency response within the audio frequency range. In this paper, a novel approach is proposed for audio amplification using a high-voltage direct-digital solid-state class-D amplifier as a method that replaces...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kota, J., Holman, D., Wilson, K., Matas, E., Madanayake, A., Elbuluk, M.
Format: Conference Proceeding
Language:English
Subjects:
Logic gates
Loudspeakers
MOSFET circuits
Optical switches
Pulse width modulation
Stators
Online Access:Request full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Electrostatic loudspeakers (ESLs) are capable of low distortion and have desirably flat frequency response within the audio frequency range. In this paper, a novel approach is proposed for audio amplification using a high-voltage direct-digital solid-state class-D amplifier as a method that replaces impedance matching ESL audio transformers. Optical coupling is used to achieve isolation from the high-voltage side. The proposed stacked MOSFET output stage provides a solution to the voltage swing limitations of the available switching power MOSFETs. An example digital amplifier having 14-bit ADC precision PWM with f c = 50 kHz was implemented at ± 375 V delivering 7W into R a =20kΩ. The digital modulator was realized on a Xilinx Virtex4 Sx35-10ff668 at F s = 100 MHz clock.
ISSN:1548-3746
1558-3899
DOI:10.1109/MWSCAS.2012.6292085