Application Information
BRIDGE CONFIGURATION EXPLANATION
The Audio Amplifier portion of the LM4960 has two internal
amplifiers allowing different amplifier configurations. The first
amplifier’s gain is externally configurable, whereas the sec-
ond amplifier is internally fixed in a unity-gain, inverting
configuration. The closed-loop gain of the first amplifier is set
by selecting the ratio of Rf to Ri while the second amplifier’s
gain is fixed by the two internal 20k
resistors. Figure 1
shows that the output of amplifier one serves as the input to
amplifier two. This results in both amplifiers producing sig-
nals identical in magnitude, but out of phase by 180. Con-
sequently, the differential gain for the Audio Amplifier is
A
VD
= 2 *(Rf/Ri)
By driving the load differentially through outputs Vo1 and
Vo2, an amplifier configuration commonly referred to as
“bridged mode” is established. Bridged mode operation is
different from the classic single-ended amplifier configura-
tion where one side of the load is connected to ground.
A bridge amplifier design has a few distinct advantages over
the single-ended configuration. It provides differential drive
to the load, thus doubling the output swing for a specified
supply voltage. Four times the output power is possible as
compared to a single-ended amplifier under the same con-
ditions. This increase in attainable output power assumes
that the amplifier is not current limited or clipped. In order to
choose an amplifier’s closed-loop gain without causing ex-
cessive clipping, please refer to the
Audio Power Amplifier
Design
section.
The bridge configuration also creates a second advantage
over single-ended amplifiers. Since the differential outputs,
Vo1 and Vo2, are biased at half-supply, no net DC voltage
exists across the load. This eliminates the need for an output
coupling capacitor which is required in a single supply,
single-ended amplifier configuration. Without an output cou-
pling capacitor, the half-supply bias across the load would
result in both increased internal IC power dissipation and
also possible loudspeaker damage.
AMPLIFIER POWER DISSIPATION
Power dissipation is a major concern when designing a
successful amplifier, whether the amplifier is bridged or
single-ended. A direct consequence of the increased power
delivered to the load by a bridge amplifier is an increase in
internal power dissipation. Since the amplifier portion of the
LM4960 has two operational amplifiers, the maximum inter-
nal power dissipation is 4 times that of a single-ended am-
plifier. The maximum power dissipation for a given BTL
application can be derived from Equation 1.
P
DMAX(AMP)
= 4(V
DD
)
2
/ (2
π
2
Z
L
)
(1)
where
Z
L
= R
o
1 + R
o
2 +1/2
π
fc
BOOST CONVERTER POWER DISSIPATION
At higher duty cycles, the increased ON-time of the switch
FET means the maximum output current will be determined
by power dissipation within the LM2731 FET switch. The
switch power dissipation from ON-time conduction is calcu-
lated by Equation 2.
P
DMAX(SWITCH)
= DC x I
IND
(AVE)
2
x R
DS
(ON)
(2)
where DC is the duty cycle.
There will be some switching losses as well, so some derat-
ing needs to be applied when calculating IC power dissipa-
tion.
TOTAL POWER DISSIPATION
The total power dissipation for the LM4960 can be calculated
by adding Equation 1 and Equation 2 together to establish
Equation 3:
P
DMAX(TOTAL)
= [4*(V
DD
)
2
/2
π
2
Z
L
] + [DC x I
IND
(AVE)
2
xR
D-
S
(ON)]
(3)
The result from Equation 3 must not be greater than the
power dissipation that results from Equation 4:
P
DMAX
= (T
JMAX
- T
A
) /
θ
JA
(4)
For the LQA28A,
θ
= 59C/W. T
= 125C for the
LM4960. Depending on the ambient temperature, T
, of the
system surroundings, Equation 4 can be used to find the
maximum internal power dissipation supported by the IC
packaging. If the result of Equation 3 is greater than that of
Equation 4, then either the supply voltage must be in-
creased, the load impedance increased or T
A
reduced. For
the typical application of a 3V power supply, with V1 set to
12V and a 800nF + 20
load, the maximum ambient tem-
perature possible without violating the maximum junction
temperature is approximately 118C provided that device
operation is around the maximum power dissipation point.
Thus, for typical applications, power dissipation is not an
issue. Power dissipation is a function of output power and
thus, if typical operation is not around the maximum power
dissipation point, the ambient temperature may be increased
accordingly. Refer to the Typical Performance Characteris-
tics curves for power dissipation information for lower output
levels.
EXPOSED-DAP PACKAGE PCB MOUNTING
CONSIDERATIONS
The LM4960’s exposed-DAP (die attach paddle) package
(LD) provides a low thermal resistance between the die and
the PCB to which the part is mounted and soldered. The low
thermal resistance allows rapid heat transfer from the die to
the surrounding PCB copper traces, ground plane, and sur-
rounding air. The LD package should have its DAP soldered
to a copper pad on the PCB. The DAP’s PCB copper pad
may be connected to a large plane of continuous unbroken
copper. This plane forms a thermal mass, heat sink, and
radiation area. Further detailed and specific information con-
cerning PCB layout, fabrication, and mounting an LD (LLP)
package is found in National Semiconductor’s Package En-
gineering Group under application note AN1187.
L
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