Toshiba America Electronic Components Inc. (TAEC) has unveiled the latest member in its family of automotive ICs, the TB2932HQ audio amplifier. TB2932HQ is designed with a new circuit structure that improves audio amplifier performance metrics—noise and distortion are diminished, operating stability is better, slew rates are faster and die size is reduced compared to existing products from Toshiba based on BiCMOS technology.
Sound quality in today's cars is often better than what most people have at home. But, no matter where the music comes from (CD, terrestrial or satellite radio), it must be played over speakers; so every car with a radio needs an amplifier. Moreover, audio sources with DSP sound enhancements require increasingly powerful and sophisticated amplifiers. As a result, the demand for high-performance audio amplifiers, able to deliver the highest quality sound output, is on the rise.
However, developing high-performance car audio amplifiers is a demanding undertaking. High ambient temperature, high currents into low-impedance loads and numerous short-circuit scenarios must be addressed to reliably deliver an audiophile-level of sound quality for many years of car operation.
New circuit structureThe TB2932HQ employs a single-stage driver circuit structure that improves performance compared to the previous generation products based on BiCMOS technology for better sound. TB2932HQ now gives designers the option to use an I²C bus to control and configure the power amplifier. Adding the I²C interface allows the TB2932HQ to report better diagnostic information to the host MCU. A typical power amp IC without I²C would have one or perhaps two outputs for diagnostic information, allowing designers to check for only a few error conditions. But, amplifiers can be subject to a broad range of potential fault conditions such as shorting, overheating or overloading. By adding an I²C port, the host MCU gains more information about the amp's operating conditions, and offers more configurability and control options. The ability to detect a potential fault and take corrective action is critical for a high-reliability application like a car radio, and support for this feature by the TB2932HQ will ultimately result in a more reliable radio.
In addition, by fine tuning its BiCMOS process, Toshiba has reduced the on-resistance of channel source drain, which allows its output transistor to be smaller yet carry the same current load. Toshiba calls this its Low-RdsON, or Low-RON, process. Smaller transistors translate to smaller die. This die size reduction also lowers packaging costs thus enabling the TB2932HQ to better meet the cost sensitive requirements of the automotive industry.
The TB2932HQ is currently available in production quantities. Pricing in 10,000 quantities is Rs.116.46 ($2.95) per unit