
11
VSP3000
high performance 12-bit A/D converter. The analog MUX is
not cycling between channels in this mode. Instead, the
analog MUX is connected to a specific channel, depending on
the data in the Configuration Register.
As specified in the “1-Channel CIS Mode” timing diagram,
the active period of CK1 (t
CK1B
) must be in the LOW period
of ADCCK. If it is in the HIGH period of ADCCK, the
VSP3000 will not function properly.
ANALOG PGA
There is one analog PGA on each channel. Each analog PGA
is controlled by a 5-bit PGA gain register. The analog PGA
gain varies from 1 to 4.44 (0dB to +13dB). The transfer
function of the PGA is:
Gain = 4/(4 – 0.1 X)
where X is the integer representation of the 5-bit PGA gain
register. Figure 1 shows the PGA transfer function plot.
V
CLAMP
, is derived from the reference. V
CLAMP
depends on
the value of V
REF
; if V
REF
is set to 1V, V
CLAMP
is 2.5V and
if V
REF
is set to 1.5V, V
CLAMP
is 3V. There are many factors
that determine the size of the input coupling capacitors
including CCD signal swing, voltage droop across the input
capacitor since the last clamp interval, leakage current of the
VSP3000 input circuitry, and the time period of CK1. Figure
2 shows a simplified equivalent circuit of the VSP3000
inputs. In this equivalent circuit, the input coupling capacitor,
C
IN
, and the sampling capacitor, C
1
, are constructed as a
capacitor divider (during CK1). For AC analysis, op amp
inputs are grounded. Therefore, the sampling voltage, V
S
(during CK1) is:
V
S
= (C
IN
/C
IN
+ C
1
)) V
IN
From this equation, we see that a larger value of C
IN
makes
V
S
closer to V
IN
. In other words, the input signal V
IN
will be
attenuated less if C
IN
is large. However, there is a disadvan-
tage to using a large value of C
IN
: the larger the C
IN
, the more
dummy or optical black pixels must be used to restore the DC
component of the input signal.
CHOOSING C
MAX
AND C
MIN
As mentioned previously, a large C
IN
is preferable if there is
enough time for the CLP signal to charge up C
IN
. Typically,
0.01
μ
F to 0.1
μ
F of C
IN
can be used for most cases. In order
to optimize C
IN
, the following two equations can be used to
calculate C
MAX
and C
MIN
:
C
MAX
= ( t
CK1
N)/[R
SW
l
n
(V
D
/V
ERROR
)]
where, t
CK1
is the time when both CK1 and CLP are HIGH
and N is the number of black pixels, R
SW
is the total switch
resistance, V
D
is the droop across C
IN
and V
ERROR
is the
difference between V
S
and V
CLAMP
. The nominal value of
R
SW
is 4k
plus the driver’s impedance. 0.1V should be
tolerable for V
ERROR
and still keep the VSP3000 working
properly.
C
MIN
= ( I/V
ERROR
) t
where, I is 10nA, the typical leakage current of the VSP3000
input circuitry and t is the time between clamp pulses.
FIGURE 1. PGA Transfer Function Plot.
PGA TRANSFER FUNCTION
0
5
10
PGA Gain Setting
15
20
25
31
0
5
10
PGA Gain Setting
15
20
25
31
G
4.5
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
PGA TRANSFER FUNCTION
G
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
C
1
4pF
C
2
4pF
C
IN
V
S
V
CLAMP
OP
AMP
CK1
CK2
CLP
V
IN
CK1
FIGURE 2. Equivalent Circuit of VSP3000 Inputs.
CHOOSING AC INPUT COUPLING CAPACITORS
The purpose of the input coupling capacitor is to isolate the
DC output of the CCD array from affecting the VSP3000. The
internal clamping circuitry restores the necessary DC compo-
nent to the CCD output signal. The internal clamp voltage,