Music Amplifier Clipping Control Using Current-Based Threshold Shaping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic musical instruments face issues with speaker protection, as high-level attack sounds can cause distortion and potential permanent damage due to clipping, which existing technologies fail to address effectively.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic clip value control mechanism is implemented using a sound source LSI to adjust the clip value based on current consumption, gradually decreasing or increasing the clip threshold according to predefined tables, thereby preventing distortion and protecting the speaker.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If clipping is applied to protect the speaker, then speaker protection is improved, but sound quality deteriorates due to distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic clip value adjustment where the clipping threshold is not fixed but changes over time based on the speaker's current consumption state. The clip value is gradually increased from an initial low value to a final high value, allowing the system to adaptively balance protection needs with sound quality preservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the clipping parameter (clip value) dynamically during operation. By transitioning the clip value from an initial state to a final state based on current consumption thresholds, the system optimizes the balance between speaker protection and maintaining audio fidelity.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If high-level attack sounds are allowed, then sound quality is improved, but speaker damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary clipping action with an initial low clip value that gradually increases. This preliminary dynamic clipping prevents peak distortion while allowing the speaker to handle high-level attack sounds safely by controlling the clip value evolution over time rather than applying immediate full clipping.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback from current consumption monitoring to dynamically adjust the clip value. The system continuously monitors speaker current consumption and adjusts the clipping threshold accordingly, creating a closed-loop control that balances sound quality and speaker protection in real-time.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A
AI summary
An electronic device includes: an amplifier configured to amplify an input signal and output an output signal obtained by shaping the amplified input signal; and at least one processor. The at least one processor is configured to: obtain a value indicating power supplied to the amplifier, control the amplifier in a first pattern such that a clip value for the output signal decreases, when detecting that the value is larger than a reference potential and that the value becomes larger than a first threshold larger than a second threshold from a state of being smaller than the second threshold; and control the amplifier in a second pattern such that the clip value for the output signal increases, when detecting that the value is larger than the reference potential and that the value becomes smaller than the second threshold from a state of being larger than the first threshold.