Analysis of the influence of load inductance on nonlinear distortions of a class D amplifier caused by «dead time»

Goal. Analysis of the effect of load inductance at the output of the class D amplifier for different values of the duration of «dead time» and assessment of the adequacy of existing mathematical models for calculating the THD at the output of the amplifier depending on the duration of «dead time». Methodology. The study of the effect of «dead time» on the THD was performed using a computer model of the half-bridge converter board EPC9035 from Efficient Power Conversion. This board contains GaN transistors EPC2022 eGaN®, the corresponding control driver and other necessary elements for operation. The use of GaN transistors has made it possible to investigate the operation in a wide range of frequent switching, both to control the motor and to amplify the audio signal. Results. It is established that the value of load inductance affects the level of nonlinear distortions caused by «dead time». At inductance values that provide a constant sign of the output current, a difference arises between the duration of the input and output pulses, which increases the THD. At inductance values, when the choke current changes sign during a pulse, there is no error between the duration of the input and output pulses. Changing the inductance changes the relationship between the error signal and the non-error signal. THD changes accordingly. At high conversion frequencies, the voltage spikes caused by the choke current through the built-in diodes during the dead time are partially compensated by overcharging the output capacitance of the transistors, which also reduces harmonic distortion. Originality. For the first time, the value of the THD at the outlets in the fallowness of the different indices of the inductance of the choke and the theoretical calculation of the value in the results of the computer model was obtained. Practical significance. The dependence of the THD values on the inductance of the choke for converters with a switching frequency range from 1 kHz to 400 kHz, which allows them to be used both to control the motor and to amplify the audio signal.

Switched Capacitor Compensation of Supply Distortion in Class-D Amplifiers

This paper presents a switched capacitor technique for bus-pumping compensation in a half-bridge class-D amplifier. The proposed approach, in addition to the almost complete reduction of the bus-pumping effect, allows the half-bridge class-D amplifier to preserve maximum energy efficiency. The studied hardware implementation of the proposed technique demonstrates its advantages of high efficiency, simple circuit, and low cost. The principal design and operating principles are analyzed and described. The experimental static characteristics and time-domain waveforms for the proposed technique are shown to verify its feasibility.