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New Device Reduces Pin Count by 50 Percent and Overall System Costs By 40 Percent Compared to Previously Available Class-D Audio Amps

The new device, designated TPA2000D2, is a stereo Class-D audio power amplifier and the first device in TI's new family of Class-D audio amplifiers, the TPA200xD family. The device has an output power of 2-Watts RMS or of 4-Watts peak into 4-Ohm speakers.

``In 1998, Texas Instruments introduced the industry's first stereo Class-D amplifier. By leveraging our technology and design experience along with feedback from TI's audio customers, we developed this new Class-D amplifier with filterless operation to enable designers to push the audio capabilities of their systems much farther in today's highly competitive marketplace,'' said Eric Droge, audio amplifier products marketing manager, Texas Instruments. ``Due to its lower overall system cost and size, the TPA2000D2 allows designers to produce cost-effective and highly-efficient systems with the same quality sound that is available with today's Class AB amplifiers.''

The new 5-volt TPA2000D2 audio power amplifier is designed to consume less power and dissipate less heat than traditional Class-AB linear audio amps. At the same time, the device requires fewer external components than previous Class-D audio amps -- saving system costs, space and simplifying hardware design. In addition to operating without a filter, the device reduces external resistor count by providing four internal gain settings. Low noise characteristics improve fidelity, and shutdown control helps prolong battery charge life by limiting total supply current to less than one micro-Amperes.

Pulse Width Modulation Technology

The TPA200xD audio power amplifiers, like other Class-D devices, are based on an oversampling technique called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM). This technique samples the input audio signal at a rate of 12 times the audio band, and then recreates the audio signal at the speaker. PWM resembles digital data in that it has an on state and an off state. When the output transistors are on, there is very low resistance, and power is delivered more efficiently to the speaker. When the output transistors are off no power is consumed or delivered and therefore, there is no loss in the amplifier.

The PWM consumes much less power and dissipates much less heat than the linear amps traditionally used in audio power applications. This technique allows portable equipment designers to incorporate audio capability into end equipment that previously could not offer audio as a feature due to the inefficiencies of class-AB audio power amplifiers.

TPA2000D2 First Addition to TI's New Family of Class-D Amplifiers

Over the next year, TI plans to release additional TPA2000xD devices. Development plans for this family include integrating stereo headphone drive and lowering supply voltages, as well as different output power levels and mono configurations to provide designers the best-fit for their application.

Full Design Support

To help designers implement Class-D audio power amplifiers, TI has developed an evaluation module fully compatible with TI's Plug-n-Play evaluation system. TI provides a wide range of documentation for the TPA2000D2, including a User's Guide with reference designs and schematics. Gerber files are also available upon request.

Pricing and Availability

The TPA2000D2 is now available in volume from TI and its authorized distributors. The device comes in a 24-pin thin shrink small outline package (TSSOP) and is priced at $2.50 each in quantities of 1,000.

More information about TI's audio amplifier products is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.ti.com/sc/amplifiers.

The worldwide leader and pioneer in digital signal processing solutions since 1982, Texas Instruments provides innovative DSP and mixed signal/analog technologies to more than 30,000 customers in the computer, wireless communications, networking, Internet, consumer, digital motor control and mass storage markets worldwide. To help customers get to market faster, TI offers easy-to-use development tools and extensive software and hardware support, further complemented by close to 300 third-party DSP solutions providers.

Texas Instruments Incorporated is a global semiconductor company and the world's leading designer and supplier of digital signal processing and analog technologies, the engines driving the digitalization of electronics. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company's businesses also include materials and controls, educational and productivity solutions, and digital imaging. The company has manufacturing or sales operations in more than 25 countries.

Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TXN. More information is located on the World Wide Web at http://www.ti.com

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SOURCE: Texas Instruments Incorporated Semiconductor Group