TL/H/7942
LM2907/LM2917 Frequency to Voltage Converter
February 1995
LM2907/LM2917 Frequency to Voltage Converter
General Description
The LM2907, LM2917 series are monolithic frequency to
voltage converters with a high gain op amp/comparator de-
signed to operate a relay, lamp, or other load when the input
frequency reaches or exceeds a selected rate. The tachom-
eter uses a charge pump technique and offers frequency
doubling for low ripple, full input protection in two versions
(LM2907-8, LM2917-8) and its output swings to ground for a
zero frequency input.
Advantages
YOutput swings to ground for zero frequency input
YEasy to use; VOUT efIN cVCC cR1 cC1
YOnly one RC network provides frequency doubling
YZener regulator on chip allows accurate and stable fre-
quency to voltage or current conversion (LM2917)
Features
YGround referenced tachometer input interfaces directly
with variable reluctance magnetic pickups
YOp amp/comparator has floating transistor output
Y50 mA sink or source to operate relays, solenoids, me-
ters, or LEDs
YFrequency doubling for low ripple
YTachometer has built-in hysteresis with either differen-
tial input or ground referenced input
YBuilt-in zener on LM2917
Yg0.3% linearity typical
YGround referenced tachometer is fully protected from
damage due to swings above VCC and below ground
Applications
YOver/under speed sensing
YFrequency to voltage conversion (tachometer)
YSpeedometers
YBreaker point dwell meters
YHand-held tachometer
YSpeed governors
YCruise control
YAutomotive door lock control
YClutch control
YHorn control
YTouch or sound switches
Block and Connection Diagrams Dual-In-Line and Small Outline Packages, Top Views
TL/H/79421
Order Number LM2907M-8 or LM2907N-8
See NS Package Number M08A or N08E
TL/H/79422
Order Number LM2917M-8 or LM2917N-8
See NS Package Number M08A or N08E
TL/H/79423
Order Number LM2907N
See NS Package Number N14A
TL/H/79424
Order Number LM2917M or LM2917N
See NS Package Number M14A or N14A
C1995 National Semiconductor Corporation RRD-B30M115/Printed in U. S. A.
Absolute Maximum Ratings (Note 1)
If Military/Aerospace specified devices are required,
please contact the National Semiconductor Sales
Office/Distributors for availability and specifications.
Supply Voltage 28V
Supply Current (Zener Options) 25 mA
Collector Voltage 28V
Differential Input Voltage
Tachometer 28V
Op Amp/Comparator 28V
Input Voltage Range
Tachometer LM2907-8, LM2917-8 g28V
LM2907, LM2917 0.0V to a28V
Op Amp/Comparator 0.0V to a28V
Power Dissipation
LM2907-8, LM2917-8 1200 mW
LM2907-14, LM2917-14 1580 mW
(See Note 1)
Operating Temperature Range b40§Ctoa
85§C
Storage Temperature Range b65§Ctoa
150§C
Soldering Information
Dual-In-Line Package
Soldering (10 seconds) 260§C
Small Outline Package
Vapor Phase (60 seconds) 215§C
Infrared (15 seconds) 220§C
See AN-450 ‘‘Surface Mounting Methods and Their Effect
on Product Reliability’’ for other methods of soldering sur-
face mount devices.
Electrical Characteristics VCC e12 VDC,T
Ae25§C, see test circuit
Symbol Parameter Conditions Min Typ Max Units
TACHOMETER
Input Thresholds VIN e250 mVp-p @1 kHz (Note 2) g10 g25 g40 mV
Hysteresis VIN e250 mVp-p @1 kHz (Note 2) 30 mV
Offset Voltage VIN e250 mVp-p @1 kHz (Note 2)
LM2907/LM2917 3.5 10 mV
LM2907-8/LM2917-8 5 15 mV
Input Bias Current VIN eg50 mVDC 0.1 1 mA
VOH Pin 2 VIN ea
125 mVDC (Note 3) 8.3 V
VOL Pin 2 VIN eb
125 mVDC (Note 3) 2.3 V
I2,I
3Output Current V2 eV3 e6.0V (Note 4) 140 180 240 mA
I3Leakage Current I2 e0, V3 e0 0.1 mA
K Gain Constant (Note 3) 0.9 1.0 1.1
Linearity fIN e1 kHz, 5 kHz, 10 kHz (Note 5) b1.0 0.3 a1.0 %
OP/AMP COMPARATOR
VOS VIN e6.0V 3 10 mV
IBIAS VIN e6.0V 50 500 nA
Input Common-Mode Voltage 0 VCCb1.5V V
Voltage Gain 200 V/mV
Output Sink Current VCe1.0 40 50 mA
Output Source Current VEeVCC b2.0 10 mA
Saturation Voltage ISINK e5 mA 0.1 0.5 V
ISINK e20 mA 1.0 V
ISINK e50 mA 1.0 1.5 V
2
Electrical Characteristics VCC e12 VDC,T
Ae25§C, see test circuit (Continued)
Symbol Parameter Conditions Min Typ Max Units
ZENER REGULATOR
Regulator Voltage RDROP e470X7.56 V
Series Resistance 10.5 15 X
Temperature Stability a1 mV/§C
TOTAL SUPPLY CURRENT 3.8 6 mA
Note 1: For operation in ambient temperatures above 25§C, the device must be derated based on a 150§C maximum junction temperature and a thermal resistance
of 101§C/W junction to ambient for LM2907-8 and LM2917-8, and 79§C/W junction to ambient for LM2907-14 and LM2917-14.
Note 2: Hysteresis is the sum aVTH b(bVTH), offset voltage is their difference. See test circuit.
Note 3: VOH is equal to */4 cVCC b1V
BE,V
OL is equal to (/4 cVCC b1V
BE therefore VOH bVOL eVCC/2. The difference, VOH bVOL, and the mirror gain,
I2/I3, are the two factors that cause the tachometer gain constant to vary from 1.0.
Note 4: Be sure when choosing the time constant R1 cC1 that R1 is such that the maximum anticipated output voltage at pin 3 can be reached with I3cR1. The
maximum value for R1 is limited by the output resistance of pin 3 which is greater than 10 MXtypically.
Note 5: Nonlinearity is defined as the deviation of VOUT (@pin 3) for fIN e5 kHz from a straight line defined by the VOUT @1 kHz and VOUT @10 kHz.
C1 e1000 pF, R1 e68k and C2 e0.22 mFd.
General Description (Continued)
The op amp/comparator is fully compatible with the ta-
chometer and has a floating transistor as its output. This
feature allows either a ground or supply referred load of up
to 50 mA. The collector may be taken above VCC up to a
maximum VCE of 28V.
The two basic configurations offered include an 8-pin device
with a
ground referenced tachometer
input and an internal
connection between the tachometer output and the op amp
non-inverting input. This version is well suited for single
speed or frequency switching or fully buffered frequency to
voltage conversion applications.
The more versatile configurations provide differential ta-
chometer input and uncommitted op amp inputs. With this
version the tachometer input may be floated and the op
amp becomes suitable for active filter conditioning of the
tachometer output.
Both of these configurations are available with an active
shunt regulator connected across the power leads. The reg-
ulator clamps the supply such that stable frequency to volt-
age and frequency to current operations are possible with
any supply voltage and a suitable resistor.
Test Circuit and Waveform
TL/H/79426
Tachometer Input Threshold Measurement
TL/H/79427
3
Typical Performance Characteristics
Total Supply Current Temperature
Zener Voltage vs
Output vs Temperature
Normalized Tachometer
Output vs Temperature
Normalized Tachometer
and I3vs Supply Voltage
Tachometer Currents I2
and I3vs Temperature
Tachometer Currents I2
vs Temperature
Tachometer Linearity
vs Temperature
Tachometer Linearity
Tachometer Linearity vs R1
vs Temperature
Tachometer Input Hysteresis
Characteristics
Op Amp Output Transistor
Characteristics
Op Amp Output Transistor
TL/H/79425
4
Applications Information
The LM2907 series of tachometer circuits is designed for
minimum external part count applications and maximum ver-
satility. In order to fully exploit its features and advantages
let’s examine its theory of operation. The first stage of oper-
ation is a differential amplifier driving a positive feedback
flip-flop circuit. The input threshold voltage is the amount of
differential input voltage at which the output of this stage
changes state. Two options (LM2907-8, LM2917-8) have
one input internally grounded so that an input signal must
swing above and below ground and exceed the input
thresholds to produce an output. This is offered specifically
for magnetic variable reluctance pickups which typically pro-
vide a single-ended ac output. This single input is also fully
protected against voltage swings to g28V, which are easily
attained with these types of pickups.
The differential input options (LM2907, LM2917) give the
user the option of setting his own input switching level and
still have the hysteresis around that level for excellent noise
rejection in any application. Of course in order to allow the
inputs to attain common-mode voltages above ground, input
protection is removed and neither input should be taken
outside the limits of the supply voltage being used. It is very
important that an input not go below ground without some
resistance in its lead to limit the current that will then flow in
the epi-substrate diode.
Following the input stage is the charge pump where the
input frequency is converted to a dc voltage. To do this
requires one timing capacitor, one output resistor, and an
integrating or filter capacitor. When the input stage changes
state (due to a suitable zero crossing or differential voltage
on the input) the timing capacitor is either charged or dis-
charged linearly between two voltages whose difference is
VCC/2. Then in one half cycle of the input frequency or a
time equal to 1/2 fIN the change in charge on the timing
capacitor is equal to VCC/2 cC1. The average amount of
current pumped into or out of the capacitor then is:
DQ
Teic(AVG) eC1 cVCC
2c(2fIN)eVCC cfIN cC1
The output circuit mirrors this current very accurately into
the load resistor R1, connected to ground, such that if the
pulses of current are integrated with a filter capacitor, then
VOeiccR1, and the total conversion equation becomes:
VOeVCC cfIN cC1 cR1 cK
Where K is the gain constantÐtypically 1.0.
The size of C2 is dependent only on the amount of ripple
voltage allowable and the required response time.
CHOOSING R1 AND C1
There are some limitations on the choice of R1 and C1
which should be considered for optimum performance. The
timing capacitor also provides internal compensation for the
charge pump and should be kept larger than 500 pF for very
accurate operation. Smaller values can cause an error cur-
rent on R1, especially at low temperatures. Several consid-
erations must be met when choosing R1. The output current
at pin 3 is internally fixed and therefore VO/R1 must be less
than or equal to this value. If R1 is too large, it can become
a significant fraction of the output impedance at pin 3 which
degrades linearity. Also output ripple voltage must be con-
sidered and the size of C2 is affected by R1. An expression
that describes the ripple content on pin 3 for a single R1C2
combination is:
VRIPPLE eVCC
2cC1
C2 c#1bVCC cfIN cC1
I2Jpk-pk
It appears R1 can be chosen independent of ripple, howev-
er response time, or the time it takes VOUT to stabilize at a
new voltage increases as the size of C2 increases, so a
compromise between ripple, response time, and linearity
must be chosen carefully.
As a final consideration, the maximum attainable input fre-
quency is determined by VCC, C1 and I2:
fMAX eI2
C1 cVCC
USING ZENER REGULATED OPTIONS (LM2917)
For those applications where an output voltage or current
must be obtained independent of supply voltage variations,
the LM2917 is offered. The most important consideration in
choosing a dropping resistor from the unregulated supply to
the device is that the tachometer and op amp circuitry alone
require about 3 mA at the voltage level provided by the
zener. At low supply voltages there must be some current
flowing in the resistor above the 3 mA circuit current to op-
erate the regulator. As an example, if the raw supply varies
from 9V to 16V, a resistance of 470Xwill minimize the ze-
ner voltage variation to 160 mV. If the resistance goes un-
der 400Xor over 600Xthe zener variation quickly rises
above 200 mV for the same input variation.
Typical Applications
Minimum Component Tachometer
TL/H/79428
5
Typical Applications (Continued)
‘‘Speed Switch’’ Load is Energized When fIN t1
2RC
TL/H/79429
Zener Regulated Frequency to Voltage Converter
TL/H/794210
Breaker Point Dwell Meter
TL/H/794211
6
Typical Applications (Continued)
Voltage Driven Meter Indicating Engine RPM
VOe6V @400 Hz or 6000 ERPM (8 Cylinder Engine)
TL/H/794212
Current Driven Meter Indicating Engine RPM
IOe10 mA @300 Hz or 6000 ERPM (6 Cylinder Engine)
TL/H/794213
Capacitance Meter
VOUT e1V 10V for CXe0.01 to 0.1 mFd
(R e111k)
TL/H/794214
7
Typical Applications (Continued)
Two-Wire Remote Speed Switch
TL/H/794215
100 Cycle Delay Switch
V3 steps up in voltage by the amount VCC cC1
C2
for each complete input cycle (2 zero crossings) TL/H/794216
Example:
If C2 e200 C1 after 100 consecutive input cycles.
V3 e1/2 VCC
8
Typical Applications (Continued)
Variable Reluctance Magnetic Pickup Buffer Circuits
Precision two-shot output frequency
equals twice input frequency.
Pulse width eVCC
2
C1
I2 .
Pulse height eVZENER
TL/H/794239
TL/H/794217
Finger Touch or Contact Switch
TL/H/794218
TL/H/794219
Flashing LED Indicates Overspeed
Flashing begins when fIN t100 Hz.
Flash rate increases with input frequency
increase beyond trip point.
TL/H/794220
9
Typical Applications (Continued)
Frequency to Voltage Converter with 2 Pole Butterworth Filter to Reduce Ripple
fPOLE e0.707
2qRC
uRESPONSE e2.57
2qfPOLE
TL/H/794221
Overspeed Latch
TL/H/794222
Output latches when TL/H/794223
fIN eR2
R1 aR2
1
RC
Reset by removing VCC.
10
Typical Applications (Continued)
Some Frequency Switch Applications May Require Hysteresis in the
Comparator Function Which can be Implemented in Several Ways:
TL/H/794224
TL/H/794225 TL/H/794226
TL/H/794227 TL/H/794228
11
Typical Applications (Continued)
Changing the Output Voltage for an Input Frequency of Zero
TL/H/794229
TL/H/794230
Changing Tachometer Gain Curve or Clamping the Minimum Output Voltage
TL/H/794231
TL/H/794232
12
Anti-Skid Circuit Functions
‘‘Select-Low’’ Circuit
TL/H/794233
TL/H/794234
VOUT is proportional to the lower of the
two input wheel speeds.
‘‘Select-High’’ Circuit
TL/H/794235
TL/H/794236
VOUT is proportional to the higher of
the two input wheel speeds.
‘‘Select-Average’’ Circuit
TL/H/794237
13
Equivalent Schematic Diagram
TL/H/794238
*This connection made on LM2907-8 and LM2917-8 only.
**This connection made on LM2917 and LM2917-8 only.
14
15
Physical Dimensions inches (millimeters)
8-Lead (0.150×Wide) Molded Small Outline Package, JEDEC
Order Number LM2907M-8 or LM2917M-8
NS Package Number M08A
16
Physical Dimensions inches (millimeters) (Continued)
Molded SO Package (M)
Order Number LM2917M
NS Package Number M14A
Molded Dual-In-Line Package (N)
Order Number LM2907N-8 or LM2917N-8
NS Package Number N08E
17
LM2907/LM2917 Frequency to Voltage Converter
Physical Dimensions inches (millimeters) (Continued)
Molded Dual-In-Line Package (N)
Order Number LM2907N or LM2917N
NS Package Number N14A
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