An
amplifier having an active and passive
gain stage connect to a load for driving a load according to a
system analog input. A first embodiment of the
amplifier in accordance with the present invention includes a
logic network connected between a
comparator network and a switching
system, wherein the
comparator network connects to the passive
gain stage. Specifically, the active
gain stage may include an
active filter connected to receive an analog or
digital input and provide a difference between the analog or
digital input and the feedback
signal relative to the
gain factor of a gain unit connected to the
active filter. The passive
gain stage includes a passive filter. The
logic network generates at least one
switching signal which controls the switching
system that includes at least one switching device to selectively provide power to the load. An output
signal from the switching system provides output for the
amplifier and is fed back to the active
gain stage. In another embodiment, the output is a two-level
signal and the passive and active filters are second order low pass filters, where the
gain factor is about 25 or more. In yet another embodiment, the
gain factor is approximately 250. Moreover, the amplifier may include a digital
delta-sigma modulator connected to supply a two level input.