TI Software Tool Makes Audio Power Design Easier and More Accurate
DALLAS (November 3, 1997) -- A new software tool that takes the guesswork out of audio power system design is now available from Texas Instruments. The software program is a key part of TI's strategy to offer comprehensive audio power amplifier solutions for audio system developers. The Audio Power Program™, available at no charge from TI's Web site, realistically simulates audio system operation under a wide variety of conditions, enabling designers to determine power requirements faster and more accurately and helping them design more cost-effective systems.
"The Audio Power Program gives designers insight into an area that has always been murky," said Ted Thomas, systems engineering manager for TI's amplifier products. "Designers basing their system analysis on tone often overbudget for power output. This program gives them solid information for decision-making and can help them design more power- and cost-efficiently."
Unlike common methods of estimating audio power requirements that are based on steady state tone as a rule-of-thumb, the Audio Power Program uses dynamic samplings of music and voice to calculate a variety of power-related characteristics of system operation. Windows 95™/Windows NT™ screens
allow users to modify system parameters interactively and compare output reports with ease. Important features of the software include thermal analysis and computation modes for both linear and Class-D type amplifiers. By condensing the results of millions of calculations into reports issued in
seconds, the program simplifies the iterative design process and enhances the precision of the overall audio power design, allowing system developers to make important design tradeoffs based on full knowledge of their implications.
The Audio Power Program reflects TI's leadership and expertise in supplying solutions for audio power systems. Among its product offerings are the TPA4860 and TPA4861 bridge-tied load (BTL) mono audio power amps, the TPA302 single-ended stereo audio power amp, the TPA0102 stereo BTL audio power amp for
speakers and headphones, and the TPA1517 single-ended stereo audio power amp. Interchangeable modules based on all of these devices are available for use with TI's innovative Plug-n-Play evaluation board.
The Audio Power Program can be used to evaluate all of TI's current audio power amps. The program is available for downloading at no charge from TI's Internet Web site at 
http://www.ti.com/sc/docs/msp/pran/app_supp/analysis.htm. More information regarding TI's audio power amplifier products and amplifier Plug-n-Play evaluation modules is also available at this site.
Related Documentation: