Multi-Channel Pulse Modulator System

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multi-channel pulse modulator system comprising a pulse modulator circuit, wherein said pulse modulator circuit comprises an N-channel, wherein the modulator output is output from the pulse modulator circuit by means of L output connections of the pulse modulator circuit and where L is less than the number of modulator channels N. The invention further relates to a method of converting an N-channel pulse modulated signal into an M-channel signal, where M is less than N.

1 . A multi-channel pulse modulator system comprising a pulse modulator circuit,
 wherein said pulse modulator circuit comprises an N-channel pulse width modulator for modulating an N-channel input signal,   wherein modulator output is multiplexed and output from the pulse modulator circuit by means of L output connections of the pulse modulator circuit and where L is less than the number of modulator channels N.   
   
   
       2 . A multi-channel pulse modulator system according to  claim 1 , wherein said multi-channel pulse modulator system further comprises a switched output stage,
 wherein said pulse modulator circuit comprises an N-channel pulse width modulator,   wherein the modulator output is interfaced from the pulse modulator circuit to the switching output stage by means of L output connections, of the modulator circuit and where L is less than the number of modulator channels N.   
   
   
       3 . A multi-channel pulse modulator system according to  claim 1 , wherein the L output connections outputs an M-channel signal where M is less than N,
 wherein said M-channel signal is established by a pulse signal combiner,   wherein said pulse signal combiner combines at least one of said M-channel signals into a non-coincident pulse modulated signal representing at least a subset of an N-channel pulse modulated signal established by said N-channel pulse width modulator.   
   
   
       4 . A multi-channel pulse modulator system according to  claim 2 , wherein the number of output channels of the switching output stage is N. 
   
   
       5 . A multi-channel pulse modulator system according to  claim 3 , wherein said pulse signal combiner combines said N-channel pulse modulated signal by an initial establishment of said N-channel pulse signal of non-coincident pulses and whereby said non-coincident pulses subsequently are combined into said M-channel signal. 
   
   
       6 . A multi-channel pulse modulator system according to  claim 3 , whereby said M-channel output comprises a sequence of analog pulses, and whereby said sequence of analog pulses defines the pulses of an N-channel pulse modulated signal. 
   
   
       7 . A multi-channel pulse modulator system according to  claim 1 , wherein said pulse modulator circuit comprises a pulse modulator chip. 
   
   
       8 . A multi-channel pulse modulator system according to  claim 1 , wherein said L connections comprises L output pins. 
   
   
       9 . A multi-channel pulse modulator system according to  claim 2 , wherein said switched output stage is comprised in one single chip. 
   
   
       10 . A multi-channel pulse modulator system according to  claim 2 , wherein said switched output stage is distributed in two or more chips. 
   
   
       11 . A multi-channel pulse modulator system according to  claim 1 , wherein said pulse modulation is a two-level modulation, a three-level modulation or a higher-level modulation. 
   
   
       12 . A multi-channel pulse modulator system according to  claim 1 , wherein said multi-channel pulse modulator system comprises a pulse width modulation system comprising a multi-channel pulse width modulator comprised in said pulse modulator circuit. 
   
   
       13 . A multi-channel pulse modulator system according to  claim 1 , wherein said pulse modulator system is an audio converter 
   
   
       14 . A multi-channel pulse modulator system according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one of said L-output connections facilitate a bi-directional communication between the modulation circuit and said output stage. 
   
   
       15 . A multi-channel pulse modulator system according to  claim 2 , wherein said pulse modulator circuit comprises at least one connection dedicated for receipt of information from the state of the output stage. 
   
   
       16 . A multi-channel pulse modulator system according to  claim 2 , wherein said output stage comprises a pulse signal splitter. 
   
   
       17 . A multi-channel pulse modulator system according to  claim 16 , wherein said pulse signal splitter corrects modifications applied in the pulse signal combiner. 
   
   
       18 . A multi-channel pulse modulator system according to  claim 1 , whereby the number L of output connections is one. 
   
   
       19 . A multi-channel pulse modulator system according to  claim 1 , whereby the number L of output connections is two. 
   
   
       20 . A multi-channel pulse modulator system according to  claim 3 , whereby at least one of said M-channels are bidirectional. 
   
   
       21 . A multi-channel pulse modulator system according to  claim 3 , whereby at least a subset of said M-channels are directed from the pulse modulator circuit. 
   
   
       22 . A multi-channel pulse modulator system according to  claim 21 , whereby at least a further subset of said M-channels are directed to the pulse modulator circuit. 
   
   
       23 . A multi-channel pulse modulator system according to  claim 3 , wherein said M-channel signal is converted into an N-channel signal and distributed to N-channels of an output stage as pulse modulated signals. 
   
   
       24 . A multi-channel pulse modulator system according  claim 23 , wherein said N-channel signal distributed to said output stage corresponds to an N-channel signal established by an N-channel pulse width modulator of said pulse modulator circuit. 
   
   
       25 . Method of converting an N-channel pulse width modulated signal established from an N-channel input signal into an M-channel signal, where M is less than N, said method comprising:
 modifying at least one of said M-channel signals into a non-coincident pulse modulated signal representing at least a subset of said N-channel pulse width modulated signal and where said subset of said N-channel pulse width modulated signal comprises at least two channels.   
   
   
       26 . Method of converting an N-channel pulse width modulated signal into an M-channel signal according to  claim 25 , whereby said converting of said N-channel pulse width modulated signal comprises an initial establishment of said N-channel pulse width modulated signal of non-coincident pulses and whereby said non-coincident pulses subsequently are combined into said M-channel signals.