An improved capacitive load driving device that provides increased signal
voltage gain, over-voltage, over-current, and over-temperature
protections, over-modulation prevention, output level control, minimized
harmonic generation, and compensation for propagation medium distortion.
The device includes driver/amplifier circuitry, protection circuitry, and
an output stage. The driver/amplifier circuitry simultaneously modulates
and discretizes an analog input signal by comparing it with a specified
digitally-synthesized modulation waveform, which is a repeating series of
approximately parabolic waveforms. The resulting PWM waveform is
processed to generate a discrete low-harmonic sine wave approximation
used to produce gate drive signals for the output stage. The protection
circuitry monitors the device for fault conditions, and, in the event a
fault condition is detected, controls startup and automatic shutdown. The
output stage includes an H-bridge that drives an impedance-matching
transformer feeding an inductor. When the device is used to drive a
capacitive transducer, the impedance-matching transformer, the inductor,
and the transducer form a series-resonant circuit for boosting the signal
voltage gain, reducing power consumption, and filtering higher harmonics.