The present invention is directed to a signal processing and amplifying
system that uses advance knowledge of a digital signal, before it is
converted to analog form and applied to the input stage of the amplifier
stage, to "intelligently" amplify the signal with the maximum power
efficiency and minimal distortion. This advance knowledge of the digital
signal allows a switch control logic (SCL) unit to open and close solid
state switches and seamlessly turn off and on the low and high power
stages correctly to minimize the amplifier distortion while conserving
power. In one embodiment, the system comprises a shift register, which
receives the supplied digital signal to be amplified and delays the
digital signal by a known amount, a digital to analog converter, an
amplifying circuit, which is made up of at least two amplifiers, and an
SCL unit. The SCL unit comprises control logic, and multiple solid state
switches. The SCL unit monitors the digital signal determine when to
activate/deactivate amplifier stages and open/close switches for the most
power efficient operation. This system and method efficiently amplifies
signals with low distortion due to the intelligent use of solid state
switches, via the SCL unit to monitor exactly when to enable/disable
amplifier stages. This system achieves low distortion and power efficient
amplification--necessary to a variety of systems from cellular phones,
mobile electronics, and high-density line cards for DSL and other
communications services.
