8.3.3 Speaker Amplifier Protection Suite

The speaker amplifier in the TAS5760M includes a robust suite of error handling and protection features. It is protected against Over-Current, Under-Voltage, Over-Voltage, Over-Temperature, DC, and Clock Errors. The status of these errors is reported via the SPK_FAULT pin and the appropriate error status register in the I²C Control Port. The error or handling behavior of the device is characterized as being either "Latching" or "Non-Latching" depending on what is required to clear the fault and resume normal operation (that is playback of audio).

For latching errors, the SPK_SD pin or the SPK_SD bit in the control port must be toggled in order to clear the error and resume normal operation. If the error is still present when the SPK_SD pin or bit transitions from LOW back to HIGH, the device will again detect the error and enter into a fault state resulting in the error status bit being set in the control port and the SPK_FAULT line being pulled LOW. If the error has been cleared (for example, the temperature of the device has decreased below the error threshold) the device will attempt to resume normal operation after the SPK_SD pin or bit is toggled and the required fault time out period (T_{SPK_FAULT} ) has passed. If the error is still present, the device will once again enter a fault state and must be placed into and brought back out of shutdown in order to attempt to clear the error.

For non-latching errors, the device will automatically resume normal operation (that is playback) once the error has been cleared. The non-latching errors, with the exception of clock errors will not cause the SPK_FAULT line to be pulled LOW. It is not necessary to toggle the SPK_SD pin or bit in order to clear the error and resume normal operation for non-latching errors. Table 1 details the types of errors protected by the TAS5760M's Protection Suite and how each are handled.