A low cost digital amplitude regulator

Abstract: Apparatus for digital amplitude regulation is disclosed, for use as a volume control or the like, utilizing pulse width modulation to control signal transmission through a two terminal non-linear element, the resistance of which varies with current, e.g., a diode (74) or diode like element. A stream of pulses (54), the duty cycle of which is variable and digitally controlled, is filtered (56,58) to produce a quasi-continuously variable reference signal (50). The value of the reference signal regulates gain by controlling the component of the signal (65) of interest that is actually available for amplification. For low cost implementation in a system already employing a microprocessor (52) or microcomputer the determinative duty cycle can be derived under software control and supplied as an output from a single latchable output pin (54). In an exemplary implementation, a derived DC component of the variable duty cycle pulses controls the DC output voltage from a voltage divider (62,64) and is used to regulate the magnitude of a series of fixed magnitude pulses (65). Additionally, the use of an energy storing type filter (56,58) allows the continuous stream of variable duty cycle pulses to be momentarily interrupted so that a pin used for supplying the pulses can be used for the performance of additional functions without affecting the perceived volume level.

Description: This invention relates to apparatus for digitally regulating the magnitude of an output signal derived from an input signal. Demand for higher functionality in today's consumer and business electronics continues to require greater complexity from modern circuits. The further requirement that such products be available at lower cost requires the reuse or multiple function use of as many components as possible. Many microprocessor based products such as telephones, digitally tuned radios, games and facsimile machines produce and/or transmit signals, the amplitudes of which must be regulated. Typically, this regulation process is performed under direct customer control, i.e., volume controls and the like, although there are implementations in which the regulation is done automatically. Today, there is an increasing trend toward push button control because of the low cost of physically providing a button and the circuitry to sense the state of the button. However, the digitally controlled regulators that are responsive to the state of the button continue to add substantial cost. Prior digital controls generally required multiple dedicated pins of a microprocessor or dedicated pins of a latched output port to set volume levels. These control systems typically utilized some type of digital to analog (D/A) converter to which a binary number is supplied as an input and from which a representative voltage magnitude of a predetermined set of voltage magnitudes is derived. This derived voltage magnitude is used to determine the gain of a voltage controlled amplifier. Alternatively, multiple controls for shunting or series incorporating elements, typically resistors, are used to set the gain of an amplification stage. In order to reduce costs, component count and thus the number of gain settings was limited, resulting in noticeable discontinuity between magnitude levels. These prior gain regulation systems did, however, enjoy the advantage of simple and straight forward software development and implementation. Another prior gain regulation system, disclosed in United States patent 4,868,519, uses microprocessor control to generate a variable duty cycle waveform that indirectly controls the drain to source resistance of an FET which is constantly monitored via a feedback loop, to regulate the gain of a two stage amplifier. Still other gain regulators, such as disclosed in United States patent 4,468,631, suggest the use of FETs or photo-resistors and photo-transistors for use in amplitude control apparatus. These systems are relatively expensive to implement because of their complexities. Additional cost is typically incurred by the introduction of non-essential elements that introduce indirectness of control and, most notably, in the use of feedback to monitor the actual value of the gain controlling factor or mechanism. EP-A-0 199 954 discloses a device that receives a pulse-width modulated signal (PWM signal) that indicates how much exhaust gas an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) valve should allow to recirculate in motor vehicle engines. In particular, the EGR valve is disclosed as having a plurality of valve ports that are solenoid actuated. An electronic control unit generates the PWM signal and deliver it to a low pass filter which outputs a DC voltage signal whose level corresponds to the duty cycle of the PWM signal, and the DC voltage signal is input into a comparator. The comparator generates a binary number or BCD signal based on the DC voltage signal, with the aid of threshold voltages from a threshold means. The BCD signal from the threshold means is input to a power switch means, which turns on appropriate ones of the plurality of valve ports in the binary operable EGR valve. Patent Abstract of Japan, vol. 6, no. 47 (E-99), 26.03.92 & JP-A-56 162 516 discloses an audio signal power amplifier device that includes a PWM system, in order to provide increased power efficiency. Specifically, a class A or class B voltage amplifier is provided with an input audio signal. The output of the amplifier is then input to a single-ended, push-pull (SEPP) power amplifier whose output is transmitted to a load, such as a speaker. The audio signal input to the voltage amplifier is also input to a PWM power amplifier whose output has a greater gain than that of the voltage amplifier, and is thus suitable for use as a power source for the SEPP power amplifier. Since the output of the PWM power amplifier corresponds to the input signal, and since power loss in the audio signal power amplifier device is proportional to the difference between the output signal amplitude of the SEPP power amplifier and the output signal amplitude of the PWM circuit, the PWM power amplifier does not supply large amounts of excess power to the SEPP power amplifier when large amounts of power are not required. Thus, overall power efficiency of the audio signal power amplifier device is improved. According to this invention there is provided apparatus as claimed in claim 1. The prior difficulties with digital amplitude regulators, such as volume controls and the like, are avoided, in one embodiment of the invention, by utilizing pulse width modulation to control the transmission of a signal through a two terminal non-linear element whose resistance varies with current, e.g., a diode or diode like element. A continuous stream of pulses, the duty cycle of which is variable and digitally controlled, is filtered to produce a quasi-continuously variable direct-current (DC) voltage. The DC voltage, either directly or by providing a DC current, regulates gain by controlling the component of the signal of interest that exceeds a predetermined threshold and therefor is actually available for amplification. For low cost implementation in a system already employing a microprocessor or microcomputer the determinative duty cycle can be derived under software control and supplied as an output from a single latchable output pin. In an exemplary implementation, most suitable for regulating the amplitude of square waves, the DC voltage is generated in response to the variable duty cycle pulses by a single stage passive filter. This DC voltage is directly used to regulate the DC component of the output voltage from a voltage divider to which is input a series of fixed magnitude variable frequency pulses, the magnitude of which are to be regulated. The pulses, for example, are to be used as audible tones, e.g., for alerting purposes in a telephone. A further filter, diode-based in this example, permits only that part of the voltage divider output which is greater than a predetermined DC threshold to be passed to a fixed gain amplifier. The magnitude of the resulting amplified signal is thus regulated. One advantage of this system is that because of the natural filtering action inherent in the basic operating principles of the system coupled with the large number of discrete duty cycles that even a reasonably highly loaded microprocessor can produce, the transitions between levels can easily be made to appear continuous to a user. Additionally, the use of an energy storing type filter allows the stream of variable duty cycle pulses to be momentarily interrupted so that the pin used for supplying the pulses can be used for the performance of additional functions without affecting the perceived volume level. Thus, for example, the pin can also be used as an output that supplies pulses for scanning a key pad for button depressions. A further advantage of the invention is that it can be easily implemented in a system with only a single voltage supply. Brief Description of the Drawing In the Drawing: Shown in FIG. 1 is an example implementation of a digital amplitude regulator that is most suitable for regulating the amplitude of square waves. Detailed Description Shown in Fig. 1 is an example implementation wherein a DC reference voltage is generated at node 50 by filtering variable width pulses of a fixed frequency, i.e., variable duty cycle pulses, output by microcomputer 52. The pulses are supplied at pin 54, which is established as a latched output pin. Microcomputer 52, for example, is an 8-bit microcomputer such as MC68HC05C4 made by the Motorola Corporation. Any known technique for generating and digitally controlling the duty cycle of the pulses may be used. For purposes of the present example, it is assumed that the software of microcomputer 12 is responsive to a keyboard or serial message system (not shown), to determine the actual duty cycle to be used at any particular moment. If the amplitudes of multiple signals are to be independently controlled by a single microprocessor each independent control will require its own latchable output pin and corresponding circuitry. This example implementation is most suitable for regulating the amplitude of square waves. The filtering is accomplished by a single stage passive filter comprising resistor 56 and capacitor 58. The magnitude of the voltage at node 50 is proportional to and varies directly with the duty cycle of the pulses. Changes in the duty cycle will be tracked by corresponding changes in the reference signal, i.e., voltage magnitude. Resistor 56 and capacitor 58 are selected so that the DC voltage maintained at node 50 is stable for any particular duty cycle, and yet, an undue amount of time, as perceived by a user, is not necessary to effect the required changes in the DC voltage. In this example, microcomputer 52 provides a pulse width modulated signal, at an amplitude of 5 volts peak-to peak the duty cycle of which may vary anywhere from 0% to 100%. Thus, the voltage at node 50 will vary from nearly 0 volts at a duty cycle of 0% to nearly 5 volts at a duty cycle of 100% with correspondingly proportionate voltages produced at corresponding duty cycles. Node 60 is the intermediate node of a voltage divider comprising resistors 62 and 64. On one side the voltage divider is supplied with the voltage generated at node 50. The DC voltage generated at node 50 thus is directly used to regulate the DC component of the output voltage developed at node 60. On the other side, the voltage divider is supplied from pin 65 of microcomputer 52 with a series of fixed magnitude variable frequency pulses, the magnitude of which are to be regulated. Naturally, in other implementations, these signals may be generated by other independent circuitry. The fixed magnitude variable frequency pulses, for example, are to be used as audible tones, e.g., for alerting purposes in a telephone. A further filter, diode based in this example, permits only the instantaneous part of the sum of the AC and DC signal developed at node 60 which is greater than a predetermined DC threshold to be passed to fixed gain amplifier 66. In this example, a speaker driver amplifier chip is used as fixed gain amplifier 66. The speaker driver includes an op-amp and functions as an op-amp with differential outputs. The speaker driver is responsive to an enable signal supplied to pin 1 which can be used to turn the speaker driver amplifier off under external control. The enable signal is supplied by microcomputer 52. Non-inverting terminal FC1 is connected to signal ground, a fixed predetermined DC voltage, the magnitude of which determines the maximum AC signal that is transmitted and amplified. For simplicity, the magnitude of signal ground should not be less than the minimum or more than the maximum voltage that can be directly supplied by the variable duty cycle pulses. If the magnitude of signal ground is less than the minimum or more than the maximum voltage that can be directly supplied by the variable duty cycle pulses some type of level shifting must be performed on the pulses. Level shifting is well known in the art. The feedback loop for speaker driver 66 is completed by feedback resistor (R f ) 68 in parallel with optional roll off capacitor 70 between output V01 and input Vin. Output V01 is the normal op-amp output and V02 is the inverse of V01. The differential output between outputs V01 and V02 is supplied to speaker 71 for conversion of the electrical signal into audible sound waves. The value of feedback resistor 68 determines the overall gain in conjunction with the input resistance of the op-amp. Completing of the feedback loop causes a virtual signal ground to appear at the inverting input terminal of the op-amp, i.e. at node 72. Novel re-utilization of both components and signals allows a very low cost design to be implements The DC magnitude of the virtual signal ground serves as a reference voltage for a clipper circuit comprising diode 74 and resistor 76. Additionally, resistor 76 serves as the input resistance R i to the op-amp in the speaker driver. The clipper circuit is used as a DC threshold filter, i.e., an amplitude selector. Thus, only that part of the total signal at node 60 that is greater than the DC magnitude of the signal ground is transmitted to and amplified by the speaker driver. The gain of speaker driver 66 as shown is computed like the gain of an op-amp in the inverting configuration. The gain G varies inversely with input resistance, in accordance with the formula G=-( R f /R i ) wherein R f is a fixed, predetermined feedback resistor, and R i is the input resistance. Note that the feedback used for establishing the gain of an op-amp is not the same as the mentioned feedback used in prior systems to monitor the actual value of the gain controlling factor or mechanism. The minus sign in the gain formula indicates that the output of the op-amp is 180 degrees out of phase with the input. By changing the duty cycle of the variable duty cycle pulses at node 54 the DC magnitude of the reference voltage at node 50 can be varied. The reference voltage in turn determines the DC component of voltage at node 60, regulating how much of the original signal from pin 65 is amplified, i.e., controlling the resultant gain. The magnitude of the resulting amplified signal is thus regulated. To generate tones with the system configuration shown in FIG. 1, a desired volume level is determined by microcomputer 52. Variable duty cycle pulses with a duty cycle corresponding to the desired volume level are output for a sufficient time to build up the required reference voltage at node 50. These pulses are continuously generated until a new volume level is chosen. Next, microcomputer 52 supplies a signal to enable speaker driver amplifier 66. A pattern of variable frequency pulses corresponding to the desired tone is supplied by microcomputer 52 at pin 65. Finally, microcomputer 52 supplies a signal to disable speaker driver amplifier 66. If desired, the amplitude of the variable frequency pulses may be dynamically varied by changing the duty cycle of the variable duty cycle pulses while the variable frequency pulses are being generator. An advantage of the presented types of digital volume control systems is that because of the natural filtering action inherent in the basic operating principles of the system coupled with the large number of discrete duty cycles that even a reasonably highly loaded microprocessor can produce, the transitions between levels can easily be made to appear continuous to a user. Another advantage of the invention is that it can be easily implemented in a system with only a single voltage supply. Further, the use of an energy storing type filter allows the stream of variable duty cycle pulses to be interrupted momentarily so that a pin supplying the variable duty cycle pulses can be used for another function without affecting the perceived volume level. Thus, for example, a microcomputer pin can also be used for supplying variable duty cycle pulses as well as an output for purposes of scanning a key pad for button depressions. Also shown in FIG. 1 is an example optional mini-keyboard for selecting volume up or volume down by a user. The keyboard and associated circuitry comprises push button switches 78 and 80, pull down resistors 82 and 84 and isolation resistor 86. Pins 88 and 90 of microcomputer 52 are configured as input ports. While keyboard scanning techniques are well known in the art, they must be combined with the generation of the variable duty cycle pulses. The keyboard only need be scanned at prescribed intervals and does not need the constant attention of microcomputer 52. When the signals from the keyboard are not being input by microcomputer 52, the signal being supplied to pin 54 is ignored by the keyboard scanning process. At an appropriate time to check the keyboard for switch closures, the value that is being provided to pin 54 as part of a variable duty cycle pulse is temporarily removed. Typically, this value is already stored in a register of microcomputer 52 from which it is copied and supplied to pin 54. Further, the value being output for the variable width pulses is generally determined by an interrupt routine initiated via the timeout of a timer and may actually change during the keyboard scanning operation. The keyboard scanning process in this simple example is initiated by writing a logic one to pin 54 and latching the logic levels appearing at pins 88 and 90. The appropriate value for the variable duty cycle pulses is then replaced at pin 54, by copying the value currently stored in the register, as if the keyboard scanning never took place. Considering switch 78 to signal volume up and switch 80 to signal volume down, a logic one appearing at pin 88 indicates that the user has closed switch 78 and is signaling volume up while a logic zero indicates switch 78 is open. Similarly, a logic one appearing at pin 90 indicates that the user has closed switch 80 and is signaling volume down while a logic zero indicates switch 80 is open. The keyboard is debounced over several cycles. If volume up is signaled, the duty cycle of the variable duty cycle pulses is increased by one unit. If volume down is signaled, the duty cycle of the variable duty cycle pulses is decreased by one unit. If both volume up and volume down are signaled simultaneously the button depressions are ignored and the current duty cycle is maintained. Before the duty cycle, and thus the volume, can be changed to another value either a predetermined time must elapse or both buttons must be found in the open state. It will be obvious, to one skilled in the art, that the multiplexed pin can can be used to scan the states of additional switches and that these additional switched need not be functionally related to the volume control mechanism.

Claims: Apparatus for digitally regulating the magnitude of an output signal derived from an input signal supplied by an input signal source (52) comprising means (52) for generating a stream of pulses with a controllable variable duty cycle independently from the input signal; means (52) for controlling said duty cycle of said pulses; means for supplying said generated stream of variable duty cycle pulses; first means (56,58) for filtering said supplied stream of variable duty cycle pulses to develop a DC voltage, the magnitude of said DC voltage being responsive to and proportional with the duty cycle of said stream of pulses; and being CHARACTERIZED BY : means (62,64) for developing a composite output signal containing components of said input signal and said DC voltage; second means (74,76) supplied with said composite output signal and being responsive to a predetermined threshold level for filtering any portion of said composite signal the magnitude of which is below said threshold level and for supplying as an output a filtered version of said composite signal; and amplifier means (66) for amplifying said output of said second means to generate an output signal having a prescribed output magnitude. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for generating said stream of pulses is digital. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said second means comprises a clipper circuit. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said second means comprises a series combination of a resistor (76) and a diode (74), one terminal of said diode being for receiving said composite output signal, the other terminal of said diode being connected to a first terminal of said resistor and a second terminal of said resistor being connected to said source (72) of a predetermined threshold level. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said amplifier means is an operational amplifier type having at least first and second input terminals, said amplifier being configured so as to have a virtual ground at said first input terminal (72) to which is input said composite output signal wherein the DC magnitude at said virtual ground directly follows the value of said source of a predetermined threshold level and said DC magnitude of said virtual ground is applied to said second means for filtering. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said means for developing is a voltage divider having first (62) and second (64) elements connected in prescribed circuit relationship. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein, in operation, said composite output signal includes components of said input signal and said DC voltage proportional to the values of said first and second voltage divider elements. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim comprising means (52) for receiving a signal indicating an increase in said output magnitude and means (52) for receiving a signal indicating a decrease in said output magnitude, said means for controlling said duty cycle of said pulses being responsive to said signals received by said means for receiving signals for increasing or decreasing said duty cycle in accordance with said signal to correspondingly adjust said output magnitude. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said means for controlling said duty cycle comprises means for varying said duty cycle between 0% and 100%. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said input signal source is a microprocessor. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said means for generating and said means for controlling comprise a microprocessor. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said input signal source is said microprocessor. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim comprising means (52) for multiplexing said means for supplying so that said means for supplying supplies other signals in addition to said generated stream of variable duty cycle pulses. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 comprising means (52) for generating a periodic signal, means (78) responsive to said periodic signal for producing a first output indicating increase said output magnitude, means (80) responsive to said periodic signal for producing a second output indicating decrease said output magnitude, and said means for supplying serves to supply on a multiplexed basis said periodic signal, and said means for controlling is responsive to said first and second outputs to appropriately determine said duty cycle. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 comprising means (52) for generating a periodic signal, and one or more switch means (78,80) for general purpose use, each of said switch means having at least one state, each of said switch means being responsive to said periodic signal so as to produce an output indicative of each of said switch states, and said means for supplying serving to supply said periodic signal.

Inventors: KUTZAVITCH WALTER G, ROSENTHAL EUGENE J, KUTZAVITCH, WALTER G., ROSENTHAL, EUGENE J.
Applicants: AT & T CORP, AT&T CORP.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: H03G3
IPC codes: H03G3, H03G1