AD8330
Rev. E | Page 21 of 32
Connections to the input and output pins are not shown in
Figure 57 because of the many options that are available. When
the AD8330 is used to drive an ADC, connect the OPHI and
OPLO pins directly to the differential inputs of a suitable converter,
such as an AD9214. If an adjustment is needed to this common-
mode level, it can be introduced by applying that voltage to the
CNTR pin, or, more simply, by using a resistor from this pin to
either ground or the supply (see the Applications section). The
CNTR pin can also supply the common-mode voltage to an
ADC that supports such a feature.
When the loads to be driven introduce a dc resistive path to
ground, coupling capacitors must be used. These should be of
sufficient value to pass the lowest frequency components of the
signal without excessive attenuation. Keep in mind that the
voltage swing on such loads alternates both above and below
ground, requiring that the subsequent component must be able
to cope with negative signal excursions.
Gain and Swing Adjustments When Loaded
The output can also be coupled to a load via a transformer to
achieve a higher load power by impedance transformation. For
example, using a 2:1 turns ratio, a 50 final load presents a
200 load on the output. The gain loss (relative to the basic
value with no termination) is 20 log10{(200+150)/200} or
4.86 dB, which can be restored by raising the voltage on the
VMAG pin by a factor of 104.86/20 or × 1.75, from its basic value
of 0.5 V to 0.875 V. This also restores the peak swing at the 200
level to ±2 V, or ±1 V into the 50 final load.
Whenever a stable supply voltage is available, additional voltage
swing can be provided by adding a resistor from the VMAG pin
to the supply. The calculation is based on knowing that the in-
ternal bias is delivered via a 5 k source; because an additional
0.375 V is needed, the current in this external resistor must be
0.375 V/5 k = 75 A. Thus, using a 5 V supply, a resistor of
5 V − 0.875 V/75 A = 55 k is used. Based on this example,
the corrections for other load conditions are easy to calculate.
If the effects on gain and peak output swing due to supply
variations cannot be tolerated, VMAG must be driven by an
accurate voltage.
Input Coupling
The dc common-mode voltage at the input pins varies with
the supply, the basic gain bias, and temperature (see Figure 55);
for this reason, many applications need to use coupling capaci-
tors from the source that are large enough to support the lowest
frequencies to be transmitted. Using one capacitor at each input
pin, their minimum values can be readily found from the expression
HPF
IN_CPL f
CF320
= (15)
where fHPF is the –3dB frequency expressed in hertz. Thus, for
an fHPF of 10 kHz, 33 nF capacitors are used.
Occasionally, it is possible to avoid the use of coupling
capacitors when the dc level of the driving source is within a
certain range, as shown in Figure 56. This range extends from
3.5 V to 4.5 V when using a 5 V supply, and at high basic gains,
where the effect of an incorrect dc level degrades the noise level
due to internal aspects of the input stage. For example, suppose
the driver, IC, is an LNA having an output topology in which its
load resistors are taken to the supply, and the output is buffered
by emitter followers. This presents a source for the AD8330 that
can readily be directly coupled.
DC-Coupled Signal Path
In many cases, where the VGA is not required to provide its
lowest noise, the full common-mode input range of zero to VS
can be used without problems, avoiding the need for any ac
coupling means. However, such direct coupling at both the input
and output does not automatically result in a fully dc-coupled
signal path. The internal offset compensation loop must also be
disengaged by connecting the OFST pin to ground. Keep in
mind that at the maximum basic gain of 50 dB (×316), every
millivolt of offset at the input, arising from whatever source,
causes an output offset of 316 mV, which is an appreciable
fraction of the peak output swing.
Because the offset correction loop is placed after the front-end
variable gain sections of the AD8330, the most effective way
of dealing with such offsets is at the input pins, as shown in
Figure 58. For example, assume, for illustrative purposes, that
the resistances associated with each side of the source in a cer-
tain application are 50 . If this source has a very low (op amp)
output impedance, the extra resistors should be inserted, with a
negligible noise penalty and an attenuation of only 0.83 dB. The
resistor values shown provide a trim range of about ±2 mV.
COMM
OPHI
INLO OPLO
INHI
VPSI VPSO
CMOP
MODE
VDBS CMGN VMAG
OFST RTNCLBNEVPOS
BIAS AND
V-REF
GAIN INTERFACE
CM MODE AN D
OF F SE T CO NT ROL
OUTPUT
STAGES
OUTPUT
CONTROL
VG A C O RE OUTPUT,
±2V MAX
NC
BASI C GAIN BI A S
V
DBS:
0V TO 1. 5V
1DR
CD1 CD3
RD2
50kΩ
75kΩ
R
S
ASSU M E D
TO BE 50Ω
ON EACH
SIDE
GROUND
03217-059
CD2
V
S
2.7V T O 6V
Figure 58. Input Offset Nulling in a DC-Coupled System