Patent attributes
A digital amplifier apparatus includes a gain-adjusting section operable to adjust a gain of a digital audio signal; a dither-superposing section operable to superpose a predetermined dither on the digital audio signal; a pulse-width-modulated signal generating section operable to generate a pulse-width-modulated signal corresponding to the digital audio signal; an amplifying section operable to cause a switching element to perform a switching operation in accordance with the pulse-width-modulated signal; a pulse-width changing section operable to change a ratio between a “high” state and a “low” state of the pulse-width modulated signal; and a control section operable to perform a muting process by causing the gain-adjusting section to set the gain of the digital audio signal to a zero level, the dither-superposing section to stop superposing the dither, and the pulse-width changing section to change, step by step, the ratio between the “high” state and the “low” state of the pulse-width modulated signal toward the “low” state upon receipt of a predetermined muting signal for muting the digital audio signal, thereby maintaining the “low” state and stopping the switching operation performed in accordance with the pulse-width modulated signal.
