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USING LOW-ESR CAPACITORS
fc +
1
2pR
I
C
I
(2)
DIFFERENTIAL OUTPUT VERSUS
–3 dB
fc
C
I +
1
2pR
I
fc
(3)
V
(rms) +
V
O(PP)
2 2
Power +
V
(rms)
2
R
L
(4)
Decoupling Capacitor (CS)
RL
2x VO(PP)
VO(PP)
–VO(PP)
VDD
TPA6203A1
SLOS364D – MARCH 2002 – REVISED JULY 2005
In the single-ended input application an input capaci-
tor, CI, is required to allow the amplifier to bias the
Low-ESR capacitors are recommended throughout
input signal to the proper dc level. In this case, CI and
this applications section. A real (as opposed to ideal)
RI form a high-pass filter with the corner frequency
capacitor can be modeled simply as a resistor in
determined in Equation 2.
series with an ideal capacitor. The voltage drop
across this resistor minimizes the beneficial effects of
the capacitor in the circuit. The lower the equivalent
value of this resistance the more the real capacitor
behaves like an ideal capacitor.
SINGLE-ENDED OUTPUT
Figure 31 shows a Class-AB audio power amplifier
(APA)
in
a
fully
differential
configuration.
The
TPA6203A1 amplifier has differential outputs driving
both ends of the load. There are several potential
benefits to this differential drive configuration, but
initially consider power to the load. The differential
drive to the speaker means that as one side is
slewing up, the other side is slewing down, and vice
The value of CI is important to consider as it directly
versa. This in effect doubles the voltage swing on the
affects the bass (low frequency) performance of the
load as compared to a ground referenced load.
circuit. Consider the example where RI is 10 k and
Plugging 2
× V
O(PP) into the power equation, where
the specification calls for a flat bass response down
voltage is squared, yields 4
× the output power from
to 100 Hz. Equation 2 is reconfigured as Equation 3.
the same supply rail and load impedance (see
Equation 4).
In this example, CI is 0.16 F, so one would likely
choose a value in the range of 0.22
F to 0.47 F. A
further consideration for this capacitor is the leakage
path from the input source through the input network
(RI, CI) and the feedback resistor (RF) to the load.
This leakage current creates a dc offset voltage at the
input to the amplifier that reduces useful headroom,
especially in high gain applications. For this reason, a
ceramic capacitor is the best choice. When polarized
capacitors are used, the positive side of the capacitor
should face the amplifier input in most applications,
as the dc level there is held at VDD/2, which is likely
higher than the source dc level. It is important to
confirm the capacitor polarity in the application.
The TPA6203A1 is a high-performance CMOS audio
amplifier that requires adequate power supply de-
coupling to ensure the output total harmonic distortion
(THD) is as low as possible. Power supply decoupling
also prevents oscillations for long lead lengths be-
tween the amplifier and the speaker. For higher
frequency transients, spikes, or digital hash on the
line, a good low equivalent-series- resistance (ESR)
ceramic capacitor, typically 0.1
F to 1 F, placed as
close as possible to the device VDD lead works best.
For filtering lower frequency noise signals, a 10-
F or
greater capacitor placed near the audio power ampli-
Figure 31. Differential Output Configuration
fier also helps, but is not required in most applications
because of the high PSRR of this device.
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