Copyright ANPEC Electronics Corp.
Rev. A.5 - Feb., 2010 www.anpec.com.tw22
APA2059
GAIN0 GAIN1
AV(dB) Ri(kΩ) Rf(kΩ)
0 0 10 76 240
0 1 12 60 240
1 0 15.6 40 240
1 1 21.6 20 240
Function Description
Figure 1: The Cap-Free Headphone Driver’s Operation
Fully Differential Amplifier
Gain Setting Function
Headphone Mode Operation
Thermal Protection
Over-Current Protection (OCP)
The APA2059’s power amplifier is a fully differential
amplifier with differential inputs and outputs. The fully
differential amplifier has some advantages versus tradi-
tional amplifier. Firstly, don’t need the input coupling ca-
pacitors because the common-mode feedback will com-
pensate the input bias. The inputs can be biased from
0.5V to VDD-0.5V, and the outputs are still biased at mid-
supply voltage of the power amplifier. If the inputs are
biased out of the input range, the coupling capacitors are
required. Secondly, the fully differential amplifier has out-
standing immunity against supply voltage ripple (217Hz)
caused by GSM RF transmitters’ signal, which is better
than the typical audio amplifier.
For the convenient uses, the APA2059’s power amplifiers
provide four gain setting options by GAIN0 and GAIN1
pins.
The Cap-free headphone drivers use a charge pump to
invert the positive power supply (VDD) to the negative power
supply (VSS) (see Figure 1). The headphone amplifiers
operate at this bipolar power supply, and the outputs ref-
erence refers to the ground. This feature eliminates the
output capacitor that using in conventional single-ended
headphone amplifiers. In addition, the power supply rail
for Cap-free headphone drivers has almost 1.5X com-
pare to the single power supply rail headphone drivers.
The thermal protection circuit limits the junction tem-
perature of the APA2059. When the junction tempera-
ture exceeds TJ = +150oC, a thermal sensor turns off the
amplifier, allowing the devices to cool. The thermal sen-
sor allows the amplifier to start-up after the junction tem-
perature down about 125 oC. The thermal protection is
designed with a 25 o C hysteresis to lower the average TJ
during continuous thermal overload conditions, increas-
ing lifetime of the ICs.
• The power amplifier monitors the output buffers’ current.
When the over-current occurs, the output buffers’ current
will be reduced and limited to a fold-back current level.
The power amplifier will go back to normal operation until
the over-current current situation has been removed. In
addition, if the over-current period is long enough and the
IC’s junction temperature reaches the thermal protection
threshold, the IC enters thermal protection mode.
• The LDO regulator provides a current-limit circuitry,
which monitors and controls P-channel MOS’s gate
voltage, limiting the output current to 0.4A. For reliable
operation, the device should not be operated in current-
limit for extended period time. When the output voltage
drops below 0.6V, which is caused by the over load or
short circuit, the internal short circuit current-limit circuitry
limits the output current down to 250mA. The short circuit
current-limit is used to reduce the power dissipation dur-
ing short circuit condition. The short circuit current-limit
has a blanking time feature after the under-voltage lock-
out threshold is reached, therefore, it will avoid the output
causing short circuit current-limit protection during start-
up; the blanking time is about 600µs.
Gnd
VOUT
HVDD
VSS
Gnd
VOUT
Conventional Headphone Driver
Cap-free Headphone Driver
HVDD
HVDD/2