Data Sheet
AD8551/AD8552/AD8554
Rev. E | Page 17 of 24
1/f NOISE CHARACTERISTICS
Another advantage of auto-zero amplifiers is their ability to
cancel flicker noise. Flicker noise, also known as 1/f noise, is
noise inherent in the physics of semiconductor devices, and it
increases 3 dB for every octave decrease in frequency. The 1/f
corner frequency of an amplifier is the frequency at which the
flicker noise is equal to the broadband noise of the amplifier.
At lower frequencies, flicker noise dominates, causing higher
degrees of error for sub-Hertz frequencies or dc precision
applications.
Because the AD855x amplifiers are self-correcting op amps, they
do not have increasing flicker noise at lower frequencies. In
essence, low frequency noise is treated as a slowly varying offset
error and is greatly reduced as a result of autocorrection. The
correction becomes more effective as the noise frequency
approaches dc, offsetting the tendency of the noise to increase
exponentially as frequency decreases. This allows the AD855x
to have lower noise near dc than standard low noise amplifiers
that are susceptible to 1/f noise.
INTERMODULATION DISTORTION
The AD855x can be used as a conventional op amp for gain/
bandwidth combinations up to 1.5 MHz. The auto-zero correction
frequency of the device is fixed at 4 kHz. Although a trace amount
of this frequency feeds through to the output, the amplifier can
output of the AD8552 with the amplifier configured for unity
gain and the input grounded.
The 4 kHz auto-zero clock frequency appears at the output with
less than 2 μV of amplitude. Harmonics are also present, but at
reduced levels from the fundamental auto-zero clock frequency.
The amplitude of the clock frequency feedthrough is proportional
to the closed-loop gain of the amplifier. Like other autocorrection
amplifiers, at higher gains there is more clock frequency
feedthrough.
Figure 57 shows the spectral output with the
amplifier configured for a gain of 60 dB.
FREQUENCY (kHz)
0
–140
0
10
1
OU
TP
U
T
S
IGN
A
L
(
dB
)
–20
–40
–60
–80
–100
–120
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
VSY = 5V
AV = 0dB
01101-
056
Figure 56. Spectral Analysis of AD8552 Output in Unity Gain Configuration
FREQUENCY (kHz)
0
–140
0
10
1
OU
TP
U
T
S
IGN
A
L
(
dB
)
–20
–40
–60
–80
–100
–120
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
VSY = 5V
AV = 60dB
01101-
057
Figure 57. Spectral Analysis of AD855x Output with +60 dB Gain
When an input signal is applied, the output contains some
degree of intermodulation distortion (IMD). This is another
characteristic feature of all autocorrection amplifiers. IMD
appears as sum and difference frequencies between the input
signal and the 4 kHz clock frequency (and its harmonics) and is
at a level similar to, or less than, the clock feedthrough at the
output. The IMD is also proportional to the closed-loop gain of
the amplifier.
Figure 58 shows the spectral output of an AD8552
configured as a high gain stage (+60 dB) with a 1 mV input signal
applied. The relative levels of all IMD products and harmonic
distortion add up to produce an output error of 60 dB relative
to the input signal. At unity gain, these add up to only 120 dB
relative to the input signal.
IMD < 100V rms
OUTPUT SIGNAL
1V rms @ 200Hz
FREQUENCY (kHz)
0
10
1
OU
TP
U
T
S
IGN
A
L
(
dB
)
–20
–40
–60
–80
–100
–120
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
VSY = 5V
AV = 60dB
01101-
058
Figure 58. Spectral Analysis of AD8552 in High Gain with a 1 mV Input Signal
For most low frequency applications, the small amount of auto-
zero clock frequency feedthrough does not affect the precision
of the measurement system. If it is desired, the clock frequency
feedthrough can be reduced through the use of a feedback
capacitor around the amplifier. However, this reduces the
configuration for reducing the clock feedthrough and the
corresponding spectral analysis at the output. The 3 dB
bandwidth of this configuration is 480 Hz.