Low-power Low-noise Digital-input PDM Class-D Audio Amplifier

Master Thesis (2025)
Author(s)

Y. Yao (TU Delft - Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science)

Contributor(s)

Qinwen Fan – Mentor (TU Delft - Electronic Components, Technology and Materials)

F Sebastiano – Graduation committee member (QCD/Sebastiano Lab)

Muhammad Kamran – Graduation committee member (NXP Semiconductors)

Faculty
Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science
More Info
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Publication Year
2025
Language
English
Graduation Date
21-08-2025
Awarding Institution
Delft University of Technology
Programme
['Electrical Engineering']
Faculty
Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science
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Abstract

This thesis presents the design of a low-power digital-input Class-D amplifier for battery-powered headphone applications. This Class-D amplifier operates with pulse density modulation (PDM) at a 12.288 MHz sampling frequency with three-level and dynamic hysteresis operation in the power stage to enhance the efficiency across a wide output power range. A three-level resistive digital-to-analog converter (RDAC) with reset-then open control strategy is used to improve the dynamic range while maintaining good linearity. This design is implemented in 16 nm FinFET technology. With a 1.8 V supply and a 40-Ω + 4-mH speaker load, the Class-D amplifier achieves a dynamic range (DR) of 116.7 dB and an idle power consumption of 1.71 mW. At the 23 mW maximum output power, it achieves 88.7% efficiency and a peak total harmonic distortion (THD) of -105.7 dB.

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File under embargo until 20-08-2027