Operating Modes
The switching frequency of the charge pump is 1/2 the
switching frequency of the Class D amplifier, regard-
less of the operating mode. When SYNC is driven exter-
nally, the charge pump switches at 1/2 fSYNC. When
SYNC = VDD, the charge pump switches with a spread-
spectrum pattern.
Fixed-Frequency Modulation (FFM) Mode
The MAX9770 features two FFM modes. The FFM
modes are selected by setting SYNC = GND for a
1.1MHz switching frequency, and SYNC = unconnect-
ed for a 1.45MHz switching frequency. In FFM mode,
the frequency spectrum of the Class D output consists
of the fundamental switching frequency and its associ-
ated harmonics (see the Wideband Output Spectrum
(Speaker Mode) graph in the
Typical Operating
Characteristics). The MAX9770 allows the switching fre-
quency to be changed by +32% should the frequency
of one or more harmonics fall in a sensitive band. This
can be done during operation and does not affect
audio reproduction.
Spread-Spectrum Modulation (SSM) Mode
The MAX9770 features a unique spread-spectrum
mode that flattens the wideband spectral components,
improving EMI emissions radiated by the speaker and
cables by 5dB. Proprietary techniques ensure that the
cycle-to-cycle variation of the switching period does
not degrade audio reproduction or efficiency (see the
Typical Operating Characteristics). Select SSM mode
by setting SYNC = VDD. In SSM mode, the switching
frequency varies randomly by
±120kHz around the cen-
ter frequency (1.22MHz). The modulation scheme
remains the same, but the period of the sawtooth wave-
form changes from cycle-to-cycle (Figure 2). Instead of
a large amount of spectral energy present at multiples
of the switching frequency, the energy is now spread
over a bandwidth that increases with frequency. Above
a few MHz, the wideband spectrum looks like white
noise for EMI purposes (Figure 3).
External Clock Mode
The SYNC input allows the MAX9770 to be synchro-
nized to a system clock (allowing a fully synchronous
system), or allocating the spectral components of the
switching harmonics to insensitive frequency bands.
Applying an external clock of 800kHz to 2MHz to SYNC
synchronizes the switching frequency of both the Class
D and charge pump. The period of the SYNC clock can
be randomized, enabling the MAX9770 to be synchro-
nized to another spread-spectrum Class D amplifier
operating in SSM mode.
Filterless Modulation/Common-Mode Idle
The MAX9770 uses Maxim’s unique modulation scheme
that eliminates the LC filter required by traditional Class D
amplifiers, improving efficiency, reducing component
count, conserving board space and system cost.
Conventional Class D amplifiers output a 50% duty cycle
square wave when no signal is present. With no filter, the
square wave appears across the load as a DC voltage,
resulting in finite load current, increasing power con-
sumption. When no signal is present at the device input,
the outputs switch as shown in Figure 4. Because the
MAX9770 drives the speaker differentially, the two out-
puts cancel each other, resulting in no net idle mode volt-
age across the speaker, minimizing power consumption.
Efficiency
The efficiency of a Class D amplifier is attributed to the
region of operation of the output stage transistors. In a
Class D amplifier, the output transistors act as current-
steering switches and consume negligible additional
power. Any power loss associated with the Class D out-
put stage is mostly due to the I*R loss of the MOSFET
on-resistance, and quiescent current overhead.
The theoretical best efficiency of a linear amplifier is
78%; however, that efficiency is only exhibited at peak
output powers. Under normal operating levels (typical
music reproduction levels), efficiency falls below 30%,
whereas the MAX9770 still exhibits > 80% efficiencies
under the same conditions (Figure 5).
DirectDrive
Traditional single-supply headphone drivers have their
outputs biased about a nominal DC voltage (typically
half the supply) for maximum dynamic range. Large
coupling capacitors are needed to block this DC bias
from the headphone. Without these capacitors, a signif-
icant amount of DC current flows to the headphone,
resulting in unnecessary power dissipation and possi-
ble damage to both headphone and headphone driver.
MAX9770
1.2W, Low-EMI, Filterless, Mono Class D Amplifier
with Stereo DirectDrive Headphone Amplifiers
12
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