THAT Line Driver Patent Cleans Up Clipping Behavior

December 2001 - For immediate release ...

Line Driver Patent Cleans Up Clipping Behavior

THAT1646
OutSmarts®
Balanced Line Driver

Milford , MA - THAT Corporation announces that its Chief Technology Officer, Gary K. Hebert, has been awarded U.S. Patent No. 6,316,970 describing a "Floating Balanced, Output Circuit". Hebert’s invention is a significant improvement in output driver design because, unlike conventional IC drivers feeding single-ended equipment, the new circuit keeps large, uncontrolled ground currents from flowing when the output is clipped.

In typical audio installations like recording studios, live sound venues, and broadcast environments, these large spikes of current, often exceeding 50 milliamps, may take unpredictable paths before returning to the source. This return current has a tendency to crosstalk into the audio signal, resulting in a disturbance that is substantially more audible than simple clipping. Hebert’s new circuit maintains equal and opposite current in its two output lines even when clipped into single-ended loads, thus preventing this audible artifact.

The first devices to use the new patented technology are the THAT 1606 and THAT 1646 OutSmarts® Balanced Line Drivers. These ICs, which also incorporate patented technology licensed from Audio Toys, Inc. are targeted towards the professional, industrial, and high-end consumer product manufacturers.

About THAT Corporation
THAT Corporation, founded in 1989, designs, manufactures, and sells high-performance analog integrated circuits for professional audio manufacturers. THAT’s ICs include InGenius® input and OutSmarts® output stages, low-noise preamplifiers, Analog Engine® processors, and its original line of Blackmer® voltage-controlled amplifiers (VCAs) – all used throughout the pro audio industry. Under the dbx-tv® brand name, THAT also licenses patents, trademarks, and other intellectual property to the TV broadcast and reception industries. These include Total Sonics™, Total Surround™, and Total Volume™, audio enhancement technology and digital implementations of worldwide legacy TV audio receiver standards. The company is headquartered in Milford, Massachusetts, with offices in Milpitas, California.

For more information, contact:
  THAT Corporation, 45 Sumner Street, Milford, MA 01757-1656 , USA
  Telephone: +1 (508) 478-9200; Fax +1 (508) 478-0990
  Email:

Editorial Contact:
  Ken Nevard, IC Marketing Manager
  Tel: +1 (508) 478-9200 x108
  Email: