Glossary:Class A/B/C/D: Difference between revisions
(Created page with "Class A, B, C and D refer to different design architectures for an amplifier, having different power efficiencies. Class A drives the output throughout a cycle, and is the least efficient. Class B drives the output for only a half cycle. Usually, a second Class B driver drives alternate half cycles. Class C drives the output for less than half a cycle and generally drives a tuned circuit to restore the output (typically in a transmitter) to a p...") |
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Class A, B, C and D refer to different design architectures for an amplifier, having different power efficiencies. Class A drives the output throughout a cycle, and is the least efficient. Class B drives the output for only a half cycle. Usually, a second Class B driver drives alternate half cycles. Class C drives the output for less than half a cycle and generally drives a [[Glossary:Tuned Circuit|tuned circuit]] to restore the output (typically in a transmitter) to a pure [[Glossary:Sine wave|sine wave]]. Class D, the most efficient, uses [[Glossary:PWM|pulse width modulation]].The | Class A, B, C and D refer to different design architectures for an amplifier, having different power efficiencies. Class A drives the output throughout a cycle, and is the least efficient. Class B drives the output for only a half cycle. Usually, a second Class B driver drives alternate half cycles. Class C drives the output for less than half a cycle and generally drives a [[Glossary:Tuned Circuit|tuned circuit]] to restore the output (typically in a transmitter) to a pure [[Glossary:Sine wave|sine wave]]. Class D, the most efficient, uses [[Glossary:PWM|pulse width modulation]]. The output is switched on and off at a rate well above the audio to create the amplified signal. | ||
Latest revision as of 22:05, 22 February 2024
Class A, B, C and D refer to different design architectures for an amplifier, having different power efficiencies. Class A drives the output throughout a cycle, and is the least efficient. Class B drives the output for only a half cycle. Usually, a second Class B driver drives alternate half cycles. Class C drives the output for less than half a cycle and generally drives a tuned circuit to restore the output (typically in a transmitter) to a pure sine wave. Class D, the most efficient, uses pulse width modulation. The output is switched on and off at a rate well above the audio to create the amplified signal.