Dual-Path Audio ADC Gain Mixing for Distortion-Free Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing analog-to-digital conversion devices struggle to adjust gain in a timely manner, leading to signal distortion, especially in scenarios sensitive to audio quality, as they can only adjust gain periodically and not in real-time.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves splitting an analog signal into two branches with different, but not excessively disparate, gains, and using a mixing module to adjust and merge the digital signals from these branches to minimize amplitude differences, ensuring distortion-free output without additional gain adjustment modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single gain processing module is used with periodic gain adjustment, then the device complexity is reduced, but the signal quality deteriorates due to inability to adjust gain in real-time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single gain processing module into multiple parallel gain processing modules (first gain processing module, second gain processing module, etc.), each capable of independent gain adjustment. This segmentation allows real-time gain control in different signal paths, resolving the contradiction between device complexity and signal quality by distributing the gain adjustment function across multiple units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic gain adjustment by enabling each gain processing module to independently adjust its gain based on real-time signal conditions. The mixing module dynamically selects and combines signals from different branches with optimally adjusted gains, transforming the static periodic adjustment into a dynamic real-time adaptation system.
2Device complexity
If gain adjustment is performed periodically in a single branch, then the device complexity is reduced, but the timeliness of gain adjustment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the signal processing into multiple parallel branches, each with its own gain processing module. This allows simultaneous gain adjustment in multiple branches, eliminating the sequential timing delays inherent in single-branch periodic adjustment and achieving real-time responsiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous gain adjustment by operating multiple gain processing modules in parallel, where at least one branch continuously provides optimally adjusted signals. The mixing module continuously combines these signals, eliminating the interruptions and delays associated with periodic single-branch adjustment.
3Reliability
If multiple parallel branches with different gains are used, then the signal quality is improved through real-time gain adjustment, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple parallel branches with different gain characteristics into a unified output through the mixing module. This combining approach allows the system to leverage the advantages of multiple branches (real-time gain adjustment capability) while presenting a single integrated interface, thereby managing device complexity through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing module serves multiple functions: it receives signals from multiple branches with different gains, performs amplitude adjustment, selects optimal signals, and outputs the final processed signal. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby managing overall device complexity while maintaining high signal quality.
4Device complexity
If a single branch with fixed gain is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different signal conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the gain processing function into multiple specialized branches, each optimized for different signal conditions. This segmentation enables the system to adapt to varying signal conditions by selecting and combining outputs from branches with different gain characteristics, thereby achieving high adaptability without requiring a completely reconfigurable system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the gain parameter across different parallel branches, creating a set of processing paths with different gain characteristics. The mixing module dynamically adjusts and combines these signals based on current signal conditions, enabling the system to adapt to various input scenarios by exploiting parameter diversity across branches.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application provides an analog-to-digital conversion device and an audio device. The analog-to-digital conversion device includes a shunt module, at least two branches, and a mixing module; a first branch includes a first gain processing module and a first analog-to-digital conversion module connected in cascade, and a second branch includes a second gain processing module and a second analog-to-digital conversion module connected in cascade. In the present application, an analog signal is output to two branches through a shunt module, different gains are set for the two branches, and a mixing module adjusts amplitudes of digital signals received from the two branches to minimize an amplitude difference between the two paths of digital signals.