
TA8106F
2002-10-30
2
Summary Of Matrix Drive Method
Though the BTL is usually used to obtain enough power at low voltage, it can not be used for the headphone
amplifier (especially, 1.5V use), which has only one left-and right common line.
Then a new modified BTL drive method is developed, which is called “matrix drive method”. It has only one
common line.
Fig.1 shows the principle. The input signals of the audio frequency are applied to the terminal of L / R. These
are transformed by the matrix converter into the outputs, as following;
V(a) = L - αR
V(b) = - α (L + R)
V(c) = R - αL
L, R: input signal
α: matrix ratio
And the output signals of L / R loads are given by
VL = V(a) -V(b) = (1 + α) L
VR = V(c) -V(b) = (1 + α) R
Thus, each output signal does not leak to another
channel load.
This gain is (1 + α) times as high as a conventional single
amplifiers’. However the undistorted maximum output is
determined by each clipping point of lines, (a), (b) and (c).
Therefore, the most effective point is determined by the
following states of input. As the state of input is at L = R
mode, α is 1 / 3, so this system is operated most
effectively. At L = -R mode, α is whatever. And at single
input mode (L or R only), α is 1.
It is a common saying that the practical musical source
consists of the common phase component in most. And
the low frequency of that causes the clipping to product
mostly. Therefore in this item, α is 1 / 3.
In result at L = R mode, this gain is obtained twice as
high as a single amplifiers.
At single input mode, 4 / 3 times, at L = -R mode, is
obtained as same as a single.
Application Note
(1) Input stage
The first stage is composed of the differential amplifier
of PNP-input. Therefore, it is not necessary to use any
coupling condensers (Fig.3).
The input impedance is determined by the internal
resistance (51k).
This output is connected to the next stage through the
emitter follower.