AD810
REV. A –11–
GENERAL DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
The AD810 is a current feedback amplifier optimized for use in
high performance video and data acquisition systems. Since it
uses a current feedback architecture, its closed-loop bandwidth
depends on the value of the feedback resistor. Table I below
contains recommended resistor values for some useful closed-
loop gains and supply voltages. As you can see in the table, the
closed-loop bandwidth is not a strong function of gain, as it
would be for a voltage feedback amp. The recommended
resistor values will result in maximum bandwidths with less than
0.1 dB of peaking in the gain vs. frequency response.
The –3 dB bandwidth is also somewhat dependent on the power
supply voltage. Lowering the supplies increases the values of
internal capacitances, reducing the bandwidth. To compensate
for this, smaller values of feedback resistor are sometimes used
at lower supply voltages. The characteristic curves illustrate that
bandwidths of over 100 MHz on 30 V total and over 50 MHz
on 5 V total supplies can be achieved.
Table I. –3 dB Bandwidth vs. Closed-Loop Gain and
Resistance Values (R
L
= 150 V)
V
S
= 615 V
Closed-Loop –3 dB BW
Gain R
FB
R
G
(MHz)
+1 1 kΩ80
+2 715 Ω715 Ω75
+10 270 Ω30 Ω65
–1 681 Ω681 Ω70
–10 249 Ω24.9 Ω65
V
S
= 65 V
Closed-Loop –3 dB BW
Gain R
FB
R
G
(MHz)
+1 910 Ω50
+2 715 Ω715 Ω50
+10 270 Ω30 Ω50
–1 620 Ω620 Ω55
–10 249 Ω24.9 Ω50
ACHIEVING VERY FLAT GAIN RESPONSE AT
HIGH FREQUENCY
Achieving and maintaining gain flatness of better than 0.1 dB
above 10 MHz is not difficult if the recommended resistor
values are used. The following issues should be considered to
ensure consistently excellent results.
CHOICE OF FEEDBACK AND GAIN RESISTOR
Because the 3 dB bandwidth depends on the feedback resistor,
the fine scale flatness will, to some extent, vary with feedback
resistor tolerance. It is recommended that resistors with a 1%
tolerance be used if it is desired to maintain exceptional flatness
over a wide range of production lots.
PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD LAYOUT
As with all wideband amplifiers, PC board parasitics can affect
the overall closed-loop performance. Most important are stray
capacitances at the output and inverting input nodes. (An added
capacitance of 2 pF between the inverting input and ground will
add about 0.2 dB of peaking in the gain of 2 response, and
increase the bandwidth to 105 MHz.) A space (3/16" is plenty)
should be left around the signal lines to minimize coupling.
Also, signal lines connecting the feedback and gain resistors
should be short enough so that their associated inductance does
not cause high frequency gain errors. Line lengths less than 1/4"
are recommended.
QUALITY OF COAX CABLE
Optimum flatness when driving a coax cable is possible only
when the driven cable is terminated at each end with a resistor
matching its characteristic impedance. If coax were ideal, then
the resulting flatness would not be affected by the length of the
cable. While outstanding results can be achieved using
inexpensive cables, some variation in flatness due to varying
cable lengths is to be expected.
POWER SUPPLY BYPASSING
Adequate power supply bypassing can be critical when
optimizing the performance of a high frequency circuit.
Inductance in the power supply leads can contribute to resonant
circuits that produce peaking in the amplifier's response. In
addition, if large current transients must be delivered to the
load, then bypass capacitors (typically greater than 1 µF) will be
required to provide the best settling time and lowest distortion.
Although the recommended 0.1 µF power supply bypass
capacitors will be sufficient in most applications, more elaborate
bypassing (such as using two paralleled capacitors) may be
required in some cases.
POWER SUPPLY OPERATING RANGE
The AD810 will operate with supplies from ±18 V down to
about ±2.5 V. On ±2.5 V the low distortion output voltage
swing will be better than 1 V peak to peak. Single supply
operation can be realized with excellent results by arranging for
the input common-mode voltage to be biased at the supply
midpoint.
OFFSET NULLING
A 10 kΩ pot connected between Pins 1 and 5, with its wiper
connected to V+, can be used to trim out the inverting input
current (with about ±20 µA of range). For closed-loop gains
above about 5, this may not be sufficient to trim the output
offset voltage to zero. Tie the pot's wiper to ground through a
large value resistor (50 kΩ for ±5 V supplies, 150 kΩ for ±15 V
supplies) to trim the output to zero at high closed-loop gains.
Applications–