PWM Audio Amplifier Failure Detection via Inverse Signal Conversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing semiconductor devices face inaccuracies in failure detection due to binary or ternary value conversions of reproduction and output signals, leading to decreased accuracy in determining amplifier failures.

Innovation Solution

A semiconductor device incorporating a pulse-width modulation circuit, conversion circuits, and a comparison circuit to convert signals using inverse methods like wavelet packet analysis, ensuring accurate comparison and detection of failures without losing information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If binary or ternary value conversion is used to simplify signal processing, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of failure detection decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal processing complexityVSAvoidfailure detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies inversion by converting the output signal through the inverse of the original conversion process. Instead of directly comparing binary/ternary values, the system converts the output signal back to the original signal format using inverse conversion, enabling accurate failure detection while maintaining simplified processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary conversion process where the output signal is transformed through inverse conversion to a comparable format. This intermediary step allows meaningful comparison between input and output signals without requiring complex direct analysis of the original high-precision signals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If binary or ternary value conversion is used to reduce data processing requirements, then productivity is improved, but loss of information increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal processing efficiencyVSAvoidsignal information loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

By applying inverse conversion to the output signal, the system recovers the original signal information that would otherwise be lost in binary/ternary representation. This allows efficient processing while preserving all necessary signal information for accurate failure detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of operation

If direct comparison of converted signals is performed to simplify the comparison process, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision of failure determination decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomparison process simplicityVSAvoidfailure determination accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent simplifies the comparison process by converting the output signal into the same format as the input signal through inverse conversion. This allows direct term-to-term comparison while maintaining the precision needed for accurate failure determination, avoiding the need for complex analysis of converted binary/ternary values.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS12470867B2Semiconductor device and electronic apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.11.11 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

Provided is a semiconductor device including: a pulse-width modulation circuit configured to pulse-width modulate a signal based on a first pulse-code modulated signal that is a sound source signal, and output a first pulse-width modulated signal; a first conversion circuit configured to convert a second pulse-width modulated signal based on the first pulse-width modulated signal into a second pulse-code modulated signal; and a comparison circuit configured to convert the first pulse-code modulated signal into a first comparison target signal by an inversely convertible conversion method, convert the second pulse-code modulated signal into a second comparison target signal by the conversion method, and compare the first comparison target signal with the second comparison target signal.