
AD8312 Data Sheet
Rev. B | Page 12 of 20
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The AD8312 is a logarithmic amplifier similar in design to the
AD8313; further details about the structure and function may be
found in the AD8313 data sheet and the data sheets of other
logarithmic amplifiers produced by Analog Devices, Inc., Figure 21
shows the main features of the AD8312 in block schematic form.
The AD8312 combines two key functions needed for the
measurement of signal level over a moderately wide dynamic range.
First, it provides the amplification needed to respond to small
signals in a chain of four amplifier/limiter cells, each having a small
signal gain of 10 dB and a bandwidth of approximately 3.5 GHz.
At the output of each amplifier stage is a full wave rectifier, essen-
tially a square law detector cell, which converts the RF signal
voltages to a fluctuating current with an average value that
increases with signal level. A further passive detector stage is
added ahead of the first stage. Therefore, there are five detectors,
each separated by 10 dB, spanning some 50 dB of dynamic range.
The overall accuracy at the extremes of this total range, viewed
as the deviation from an ideal logarithmic response, that is, the
law conformance error, can be judged by reference to Figure 3
through Figure 8, which show that errors across the central 40 dB
are moderate. These figures show how the conformance to an ideal
logarithmic function varies with temperature and frequency.
The output of these detector cells is in the form of a differential
current, making their summation a simple matter. It can easily
be shown that such summation closely approximates a logarithmic
function. This result is then converted to a voltage at the VOUT
pin through a high gain stage.
In measurement modes, this output is connected back to a
voltage-to-current (V-to-I) stage, in such a manner that VOUT
is a logarithmic measure of the RF input voltage with a slope
and intercept controlled by the design. For a fixed termination
resistance at the input of the AD8312, a given voltage
corresponds to a certain power level.
The external termination added before the AD8312 determines
the effective power scaling. This often takes the form of a simple
resistor (52.3 Ω provides a net 50 Ω input), but more elaborate
matching networks may be used. This impedance determines the
logarithmic intercept, the input power for which the output would
cross the baseline (VOUT = 0) if the function were continuous
for all values of input. Since this is never the case for a practical
logarithmic amplifiers, the intercept refers to the value obtained
by the minimum error, straight line fit to the actual graph of VOUT
vs. input power. The quoted values assume a sinusoidal (CW)
signal. Where there is complex modulation, as in CDMA, the
calibration of the power response needs to be adjusted accordingly.
Where a true power (waveform independent) response is needed,
the use of an rms responding detector, such as the AD8361,
should be considered.
However, in terms of the logarithmic slope, the amount by which
the output VOUT changes for each decibel of input change (voltage
or power), is, in principle, independent of waveform or termination
impedance. In practice, it usually falls off at higher frequencies
because of the declining gain of the amplifier stages and other
effects in the detector cells. For the AD8312, the slope at low
frequencies is nominally 21.0 mV/dB, falling almost linearly with
frequency to about 18.6 mV/dB at 2.5 GHz. These values are
sensibly independent of temperature and almost totally unaffected
by supply voltages of 2.7 V to 5.5 V.
05260-021
10dB
DET
10dB
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CFLT
RFIN
COMM
OFFSET
COMPENSATION
V-I VSET
BAND-GAP
REFERENCE VPOS
I-V VOUT
AD8312
Figure 21. Block Schematic