Direct measurement of an input signal to a loudspeaker to determine and limit a temperature of a voice coil of the loudspeaker

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure pertain to a system and method for providing temperature limiting for a voice coil of a speaker. The system and method provide the aforementioned temperature limiting based upon monitoring (e.g., measurement) of an amplifier output signal provided to the speaker. Providing the aforementioned temperature limiting promotes improved protection for the speaker.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for providing temperature limiting for a voice coil of a speaker, comprising:
 an amplifier connected to the speaker, the amplifier configured for receiving an amplifier input signal, generating an amplifier output signal based upon the amplifier input signal and transmitting the amplifier output signal to the speaker;   a sensing circuit connected to the amplifier, the sensing circuit configured for measuring a voltage and a current of the amplifier output signal and providing an output signal including the measured voltage and measured current;   a filter block connected to the sensing circuit, the filter block configured for receiving the sensing circuit output signal, and based upon the sensing circuit output signal, providing an output signal including the measured voltage and measured current; and   a resistance estimator module including a processor, the resistance estimator module being connected to the filter block, the resistance estimator module configured for receiving the measured current and measured voltage from the filter block, calculating an estimated resistance of the voice coil based upon the measured voltage and the measured current, and providing an output including the estimated resistance; and   a temperature estimator module connected to the resistance estimator module, the temperature estimator module being configured for receiving the resistance estimator module output and calculating a temperature of the voice coil based upon the estimated resistance,   wherein the amplifier input signal is attenuated based upon a comparison of the calculated temperature of the voice coil against a pre-determined threshold temperature of the voice coil.   
     
     
         2 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sensing circuit is configured for sensing voltage across the speaker and current going into the speaker. 
     
     
         3 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a comparator, the comparator being connected to the temperature estimator module, the comparator configured for comparing the calculated temperature against the pre-determined threshold temperature, the comparator configured for providing an output based upon the comparison.   
     
     
         4 . The system as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an audio gain circuit, the audio gain circuit being connected to the comparator, the audio gain circuit configured for receiving the comparator output, the audio gain circuit configured for receiving an audio input signal, the audio gain circuit configured for attenuating the audio input signal based upon the comparator output to provide an audio gain circuit output.   
     
     
         5 . The system as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a signal summer, the signal summer being connected to the audio gain circuit, the signal summer configured for receiving the audio gain circuit output, the signal summer configured for receiving a stimulus signal from a stimulus source, the signal summer configured for combining the audio gain circuit output with the stimulus signal to produce the amplifier input signal.   
     
     
         6 . The system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the stimulus signal is a subsonic signal. 
     
     
         7 . A method for providing temperature limiting for a voice coil of a speaker of a speaker system, comprising:
 receiving an audio input signal at an audio gain circuit of the system;   based upon the received audio input signal, producing an audio gain circuit output via the audio gain circuit;   combining the audio gain circuit output with a stimulus signal to produce an amplifier input signal; and   receiving the amplifier input signal via an amplifier of the system.   
     
     
         8 . The method for providing temperature limiting as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 transmitting an output signal from the amplifier to the speaker of the system, the amplifier output signal being derived from the amplifier input signal, the amplifier output signal including a voltage and a current.   
     
     
         9 . The method for providing temperature limiting as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 measuring the voltage and current of the amplifier output signal, via a sensing circuit, and transmitting the measured voltage and current to a filter block of the system.   
     
     
         10 . The method for providing temperature limiting as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising:
 receiving the measured voltage and current at the filter block and transmitting an output from the filter block to a resistance estimator module of the system based upon the received voltage and current.   
     
     
         11 . The method for providing temperature limiting as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising:
 calculating a resistance of the voice coil, via the resistance estimator module, based upon the filter block output.   
     
     
         12 . The method for providing temperature limiting as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 transmitting the calculated resistance from the resistance estimator module to a temperature estimator module of the system.   
     
     
         13 . The method for providing temperature limiting as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 calculating a temperature of the voice coil, via the temperature estimator module, based upon the calculated resistance and outputting the calculated temperature to a comparator of the system.   
     
     
         14 . The method for providing temperature limiting as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 comparing the calculated temperature against a pre-determined threshold temperature of the voice coil via the comparator and providing an output to an audio gain circuit of the system based upon the comparison.   
     
     
         15 . The method for providing temperature limiting as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising:
 based upon the comparator output, attenuating the audio input signal via the audio gain circuit.   
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method for providing temperature limiting for a voice coil of a speaker of a speaker system, the method comprising:
 receiving an audio input signal at an audio gain circuit of the system;   based upon the received audio input signal, producing an audio gain circuit output via the audio gain circuit;   combining the audio gain circuit output with a stimulus signal to produce an amplifier input signal;   receiving the amplifier input signal via an amplifier of the system; and   transmitting an output signal from the amplifier to the speaker of the system, the amplifier output signal being derived from the amplifier input signal, the amplifier output signal including a voltage and a current.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium as claimed in  claim 16 , the method further comprising:
 measuring the voltage and current of the amplifier output signal, via a sensing circuit, and transmitting the measured voltage and current to a filter block of the system; and   receiving the measured voltage and current at the filter block and transmitting an output from the filter block to a resistance estimator module of the system based upon the received voltage and current.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium as claimed in  claim 17 , the method further comprising:
 calculating a resistance of the voice coil, via the resistance estimator module, based upon the filter block output; and   transmitting the calculated resistance from the resistance estimator module to a temperature estimator module of the system.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium as claimed in  claim 18 , the method further comprising:
 calculating a temperature of the voice coil, via the temperature estimator module, based upon the calculated resistance and outputting the calculated temperature to a comparator of the system; and   comparing the calculated temperature against a pre-determined threshold temperature of the voice coil via the comparator and providing an output to an audio gain circuit of the system based upon the comparison.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium as claimed in  claim 19 , the method further comprising:
 based upon the comparator output, attenuating the audio input signal via the audio gain circuit.