Optimal Control of a Nine-Level Class-D Audio Amplifier Using Sliding-Mode Quantization

This paper presents an optimal control scheme for a multilevel inverter working for audio power amplification. The proposed control scheme comprises two loops of feedback around a sliding-mode quantizer. The double-loop feedback generates a continuous equivalent control signal, while the quantizer that operates in the sliding mode converts the equivalent control signal into a staircase voltage waveform used to drive a loudspeaker through an LC filter for audio signal tracking. The control scheme is optimized to reduce the frequency weighted tracking error and the equivalent control signal simultaneously, compromising between a satisfactory performance and a wide stable input range. With the proposed design, a nine-level class-D audio amplifier is built and tested, which exhibits high-robustness and high-quality audio reproduction.

[1]  Ying Zhang,et al.  A High-efficiency Cascade Multilevel Class-D Amplifier with Sliding Mode Control , 2008, 2008 IEEE Conference on Robotics, Automation and Mechatronics.

[2]  Tokuo Ohnishi,et al.  PWM control method for a four-level inverter , 1995 .

[3]  Karsten Agersted Nielsen High-Fidelity PWM-Based Amplifier Concept for Active Loudspeaker Systems with Very Low Energy Consumption , 1997 .

[4]  C.S. Diaz,et al.  Adaptive sigma-delta modulator applied to control a five level multilevel inverter , 2004, Proceedings of the Fifth IEEE International Caracas Conference on Devices, Circuits and Systems, 2004..

[5]  Zhang Ying,et al.  A High-efficiency Cascade Multilevel Class-D Amplifier with Sliding Mode Control , 2008 .

[6]  V.F. Pires,et al.  Narrow Pulse Elimination PWM for Multilevel Digital Audio Power Amplifiers Using Two Cascaded H-Bridges as a Nine-Level Converter , 2007, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics.

[7]  Andreas Steimel,et al.  Sliding-Mode-Based Control for a Three-Level Inverter Drive , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics.

[8]  N. Gupta Frequency-shaped cost functionals - Extension of linear-quadratic-Gaussian design methods , 1980 .

[9]  K. Iwaya,et al.  100 kHz, 10 kW switching type power amplifier using multilevel inverter , 2001, 4th IEEE International Conference on Power Electronics and Drive Systems. IEEE PEDS 2001 - Indonesia. Proceedings (Cat. No.01TH8594).

[10]  D. G. Holmes,et al.  Optimized space vector switching sequences for multilevel inverters , 2003 .

[11]  Mark Sandler,et al.  Power digital-to-analogue conversion using a sigma-delta modulator with controlled limit cycles , 1995 .

[12]  M.R. Baiju,et al.  A Simple Space Vector PWM Generation Scheme for Any General $n$-Level Inverter , 2009, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics.

[13]  B. Anderson,et al.  Optimal control: linear quadratic methods , 1990 .

[14]  M Marchesoni,et al.  Sliding mode multilevel control for improved performances in power conditioning systems , 1995 .

[15]  R. Thomas,et al.  A study of sigma-delta modulation control strategies for multi-level voltage source inverters , 1998 .

[16]  G. Sciutto,et al.  A new multilevel PWM method: a theoretical analysis , 1990, 21st Annual IEEE Conference on Power Electronics Specialists.

[17]  Keiju Matsui,et al.  Application of parallel connected NPC-PWM inverters with multilevel modulation for AC motor drive , 2000 .

[18]  Mark Sandler,et al.  Digital Power Amplification Using Sigma-Delta Modulation and Bit Flipping , 1997 .

[19]  YuQing Yang,et al.  A Single-Die 124 dB Stereo Audio Delta-Sigma ADC With 111 dB THD , 2008, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits.

[20]  Marcelo A. Pérez,et al.  Predictive Control Algorithm Technique for Multilevel Asymmetric Cascaded H-Bridge Inverters , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics.

[21]  J. Fernando Silva,et al.  Optimal Predictive Control of Three-Phase NPC Multilevel Converter for Power Quality Applications , 2008, IEEE transactions on industrial electronics (1982. Print).

[22]  Fang Zheng Peng,et al.  Multilevel converters-a new breed of power converters , 1995, IAS '95. Conference Record of the 1995 IEEE Industry Applications Conference Thirtieth IAS Annual Meeting.

[23]  Shiang-Hwua Yu Analysis and design of single-bit sigma-delta Modulators using the theory of sliding modes , 2006, IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology.

[24]  John Y. Hung,et al.  Variable structure control: a survey , 1993, IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron..

[25]  Fang Zheng Peng,et al.  Multilevel inverters: a survey of topologies, controls, and applications , 2002, IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron..

[26]  Leon M. Tolbert,et al.  Multilevel converters for large electric drives , 1999 .

[27]  Sarah K. Spurgeon,et al.  Sliding Mode Control , 1998 .

[28]  Francisco D. Freijedo,et al.  Multilevel Multiphase Space Vector PWM Algorithm , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics.

[29]  Shiang-Hwua Yu,et al.  Use of Sliding-Mode Modulation in Switch-Mode Power Amplification , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics.

[30]  Julius S. Bendat,et al.  Engineering Applications of Correlation and Spectral Analysis , 1980 .