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WM8591
LIMITER / AUTOMATIC LEVEL CONTROL (ALC)
The WM8591 has an automatic pga gain control circuit, which can function as a peak limiter or as an
automatic level control (ALC). In peak limiter mode, a digital peak detector detects when the input
signal goes above a predefined level and will ramp the pga gain down to prevent the signal becoming
too large for the input range of the ADC. When the signal returns to a level below the threshold, the
pga gain is slowly returned to its starting level. The peak limiter cannot increase the pga gain above
its static level.
input
signal
PGA
gain
signal
Limiter
after
threshold
PGA
attack
time
decay
time
Figure 21 Limiter Operation
In ALC mode, the circuit aims to keep a constant recording volume irrespective of the input signal
level. This is achieved by continuously adjusting the PGA gain so that the signal level at the ADC
input remains constant. A digital peak detector monitors the ADC output and changes the PGA gain
if necessary.
PP Rev 1.0 May 2005
33
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WOLFSON [ WOLFSON MICROELECTRONICS PLC ]
