Programmable Switchmode Audio Amplifier for Parallel Channel Sharing

The patent merges multiple separate feedback circuits into a single shared feedback circuit that controls multiple parallel amplifier channels. The feedback signal is taken from the combined output of parallel channels and fed back to a single error amplifier, which then controls all channels through a common modulator. This eliminates the need for separate feedback circuits for each channel while maintaining current sharing through the inherent properties of the parallel connection and single-point control.

The single feedback circuit serves multiple functions: it monitors the combined output of all parallel channels, regulates the overall power delivery, and indirectly controls current distribution across all channels. The error amplifier and modulator act as universal control elements that manage multiple channels simultaneously, reducing the total number of control components while maintaining system reliability.

The patent connects all parallel amplifier channels to a common feedback network, ensuring that each channel operates from the same reference potential and control signal. The single feedback circuit creates an equipotential control environment where all channels receive identical error correction signals, promoting equal current contribution through balanced operating conditions rather than through separate control loops.

The parallel amplifier channels inherently self-regulate their current contribution through the single feedback control. When one channel tends to deliver more current than others, the resulting voltage drop across the shared load and output impedance automatically reduces the error signal for that channel, causing it to deliver less current. This self-correcting mechanism maintains current balance without requiring active intervention from separate feedback circuits for each channel.

The patent incorporates a processor that automatically queries the user for speaker configuration parameters (number of speakers, impedance values) and then provides real-time feedback by calculating and displaying the optimal amplifier channel configuration. This interactive feedback loop replaces static tables with dynamic computation, allowing users to input minimal information and receive precise configuration guidance without manually consulting extensive charts or performing complex calculations.

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of users manually consulting physical or printed tables and charts with an electronic computational system. The processor automatically performs the configuration calculations that would otherwise require users to cross-reference multiple parameters in tables, substituting manual information retrieval and interpretation with automated electronic computation and display of results.