AD636
Data Sheet
Rev. E | Page 12 of 16
The 2-pole post filter uses an active filter stage to provide even
greater ripple reduction without substantially increasing the
settling times over a circuit with a 1-pole filter. The values of
C
AV
, C2, and C3 can then be reduced to allow extremely fast
settling times for a constant amount of ripple. Caution should
be exercised in choosing the value of C
AV
, because the dc error
is dependent upon this value and is independent of the post
filter. For a more detailed explanation of these topics, refer to
the RMS-to-DC Conversion Application Guide, 2nd Edition.
Rx
10k&
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
AD636
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
ABSOLUTE
VALUE
SQUARER
DIVIDER
BUF
CURRENT
MIRROR
+
+
+
+
C2
C3
(FOR SINGLE POLE, SHORT Rx,
REMOVE C3)
C
V
V
IN
V
IN
+V
S
+V
V
rms
OUT
10k&
10k&
NC
NC
NC
COM
R
L
I
OUT
NC
V
S
C
AV
dB
BUF OUT
BUF IN
N =N   NNE T
V
S
Figure 15. 2-Pole Post Filter
FREQUENCY(Hz)
10
0.1
1
10
100
1k
10k
p-pRIPPLE
(ONEPOLE)
C
AV
=1礔
C2=4.7礔
DCERROR
C
AV
=1礔
(ALLFILTERS)
p-pRIPPLE
(TWOPOLE)
C
AV
=1礔,C2=C3=4.7礔
p-pRIPPLE
C
AV
=1礔
(STANDARDCONNECTION)
Figure 16. Performance Features of Various Filter Types
A COMPLETE AC DIGITAL VOLTMETER
Figure 17 shows a design for a complete low power ac digital
voltmeter circuit based on the AD636. The 10 M?input
attenuator allows full-scale ranges of 200 mV, 2 V, 20 V, and
200 V rms. Signals are capacitively coupled to the AD636 buffer
amplifier, which is connected in an ac bootstrapped configuration
to minimize loading. The buffer then drives the 6.7 k?input
impedance of the AD636. The COM terminal of the ADC
provides the false ground required by the AD636 for single-
supply operation. An AD589 1.2 V reference diode is used to
provide a stable 100 mV reference for the ADC in the linear
rms mode; in the dB mode, a 1N4148 diode is inserted in series
to provide correction for the temperature coefficient of the dB
scale factor. Adjust R13 to calibrate the meter for an accurate
readout at full scale.
Calibration of the dB range is accomplished by adjusting R9
for the desired 0 dB reference point, and then adjusting R14 for the
desired dB scale factor (a scale of 10 counts per dB is convenient).
Total power supply current for this circuit is typically 2.8 mA
using a 7106-type ADC.
A LOW POWER, HIGH INPUT, IMPEDANCE dB METER
The portable dB meter circuit combines the functions of the
AD636 rms converter, the AD589 voltage reference, and a
??A77
6 low power operational amplifier (see Figure 18). This
meter offers excellent bandwidth and superior high and low
level accuracy while consuming minimal power from a
standard 9 V transistor radio battery.
In this circuit, the built-in buffer amplifier of the AD636 is
used as a bootstrapped input stage increasing the normal 6.7 k?
input Z to an input impedance of approximately 10
10
?
Circuit Description
The input voltage, VIN, is ac-coupled by C4 while R8, together
with D1 and D2, provide high input voltage protection.
The buffers output, Pin 6, is ac-coupled to the rms converters
input (Pin 1) by capacitor C2. Resistor R9 is connected between
the buffers output, a Class A output stage, and the negative output
swing. Resistor R1 is the amplifiers bootstrapping resistor.
With this circuit, single-supply operation is made possible by
setting ground at a point between the positive and negative
sides of the battery. This is accomplished by sending 250 糀
from the positive battery terminal through R2, then through the
1.2 V AD589 band gap reference, and finally back to the negative
side of the battery via R10. This sets ground at 1.2 V + 3.18 V
(250 糀 ?12.7 k? = 4.4 V below the positive battery terminal and
5.0 V (250 糀 ?20 k? above the negative battery terminal.
Bypass capacitors, C3 and C5, keep both sides of the battery at a
low ac impedance to ground. The AD589 band gap reference
establishes the 1.2 V regulated reference voltage, which together
with R3 and trimming Potentiometer R4, sets the 0 dB reference
current, IREF.
Performance Data
0 dB Reference Range = 0 dBm (770 mV) to 20 dBm (77 mV) rms
0 dBm = 1 mW in 600 ?
Input Range (at I
REF
= 770 mV) = 50 dBm
Input Impedance = approximately 10
10
?
V
SUPPLY
Operating Range = +5 V dc to +20 V dc
I
QUIESCENT
= 1. 8 mA typical
Accuracy with 1 kHz sine wave and 9 V dc supply:
0 dB to 40 dBm ?0.1 dBm
0 dBm to 50 dBm ?0.15 dBm
+10 dBm to 50 dBm ?0.5 dBm