Evaluates: MAX9814
MAX9814 Evaluation Kit
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Quick Start
Recommended Equipment
• 5V 200mA power supply
• Function generator
• Digital multimeter (DMM)
• Oscilloscope
Procedure
The MAX9814 EV kit is fully assembled and tested.
Follow the steps listed below to verify board operation.
Caution: Do not turn on the power supply until all
connections are completed:
1) Verify that shunts are installed across pins 1-2 of
jumpers JU1 (MAX9814 enabled), JU2 (gain =
40dB), and JU3 (attack/release ratio = 1:2000).
2) Verify that a shunt is not installed across jumpers
JU4, JU5, JU6 (attack time ≈53µs).
3) Set the power supply to 5V.
4) Set the function generator’s output for a sine wave
with 10mVP-P, 1kHz frequency, and 0V offset.
5) Turn off the power supply and function generator.
6) Connect channel 1 of the oscilloscope to the
MIC_IN pad and channel 2 of the oscilloscope to
the MIC_OUT pad. Connect the ground leads of the
oscilloscope to the respective SGND_ pads.
7) Connect the 5V terminal of the power supply to the
VCC pad and the ground terminal of the power sup-
ply to the GND pad.
8) Connect the positive output of the function genera-
tor to the MIC_IN pad on the EV kit and the ground
lead of the function generator to the SGND_IN pad.
9) Connect the positive terminal of the digital multime-
ter to the TH pad and the ground terminal to the
GND pad.
10) Turn on the power supply.
11) Verify that the TH voltage is approximately 800mV.
12) Turn on the function generator.
13) Using the oscilloscope, verify that the signal at the
MIC_OUT pad is 1VP-P.
14) Increase the function generator to 50mVP-P.
15) Verify that MIC_OUT amplitude is 1.6VP-P.
Detailed Description
The MAX9814 EV kit is used to evaluate the MAX9814
low-noise microphone amplifier IC, which is designed
for single-supply applications. The power supply must
provide a minimum 200mA to the MAX9814 EV kit,
which has an operating range of 2.7V to 5.5V.
The MAX9814 IC contains a low-noise amplifier, a vari-
able gain amplifier (VGA) with automatic gain control,
an output amplifier, and a microphone bias-voltage
generator. The low-noise preamplifier gain is fixed to a
12dB gain, while the VGA has a dynamic gain from 0dB
to 20dB and the output amplifier has gains of 8dB,
18dB, and 28dB. Without compression, the sum of all of
the gain blocks result in an overall gain of 40dB, 50dB,
or 60dB. The MAX9814 IC incorporates attack-/hold-
and-release timing circuitry that limits the MICOUT pin
to a set voltage.
The MAX9814 compression circuitry monitors MICOUT
and limits the peak voltage to TH. Gain compression is
realized by the VGA, which automatically adjusts its
gain to keep the output voltage peak equal to the set
threshold. The VGA has 20dB of dynamic gain, which
results in a maximum gain compression of 20dB. The
amplifier overall gain, with the AGC disabled, can be
set to 40dB, 50dB, or 60dB using jumper JU2. With the
AGC on and the output voltage fully compressed, the
overall gain will be 20dB, 30dB, or 40dB.
The amplifier’s output is compressed when the peak
voltage amplitude at MICOUT exceeds the voltage set
at TH. The MAX9814 EV kit compression threshold is
preset at 800mV. A custom threshold voltage can be
programmed using resistors R1 and R2, and the 2V
microphone bias output MICBIAS. Removing resistor
R1 and applying a voltage source at the TH pad can
also externally control the MICOUT threshold.
The input signal can either be applied to the RCA jack
J2, or a microphone can be connected between the
MIC_IN and SGND_IN pads. The 2V microphone bias
MICBIAS is connected to the MIC_IN node via R3.
The MAX9814 attack time and attack/release ratio are
set through jumpers JU3–JU6.
Jumper Selection
Shutdown
Jumper JU1 controls the shutdown mode of the
MAX9814 EV kit . The shutdown function can be activat-
ed on the EV kit by installing a shunt across pins 2-3.
The shutdown function can also be controlled by