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AppleGranted patentChips & hardwareInterest 3/10

Apple patents power circuit design for smaller audio chips

Apple describes a method for managing power in digital-to-analog converters (DACs), which are chips that turn digital data into analog signals like sound. The design uses a low-dropout regulator with multiple pass devices and a programmable short to maintain stable voltage as devices get smaller and operate at lower voltages.

Why it mattersThis is a routine hardware improvement that helps maintain consistent power delivery in compact electronics, such as headphones or speakers, without increasing the risk of electrical shorts.

In the filing’s own words

The present disclosure relates to power management for digital-to-analog converters (DACs). As electronic devices and the components therein become increasingly smaller to satisfy the desire for more compact/portable devices, the operating voltage may be reduced to reduce the likelihood of shorts and/or voltage/current bleeds. To maintain comparable power output with the reduced operating voltage, the current may increase proportionally to the decrease in voltage. Consequently, in scaled devices and applications, high-current low-voltage regulators may be beneficial. As such, a low-dropout regulator (LDO) including one or more operational amplifiers and multiple pass devices may be implemented between a power supply and the DAC to regulate the power supply to the DAC. Moreover, the LDO may include one or more feedback loops to maintain a desired voltage regulation of the pass devices.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. Transmit circuitry, comprising: a digital-to-analog converter (DAC); a first pass device configured to output a first power supply signal to a first power input of the DAC; a first amplifier configured to regulate a first gate voltage of the first pass device based at least in part on the first power supply signal; a second pass device configured to output a second power supply signal to a second power input of the DAC; and a programmable short coupled to the DAC, the programmable short configured to adjust an impedance between the first power input of the DAC and the second power input of the DAC.

Facts

Company
Apple (Apple Inc.)
Official title
Split pass device applications for DAC supply systems
Patent number
US12732200B2
Application number
18904845
Filed
Oct 2, 2024
Granted
Sep 8, 2026
Inventors
4
Claims
20

Classified under

H03M 1/002 Electricity & electronicsG05F 1/575 Physics & computingH03F 3/45071 Electricity & electronicsH03F 3/45475 Electricity & electronicsH03M 1/66 Electricity & electronicsH03F 3/20 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.