AD637
FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION
STANDARD CONNECTION
The AD637 embodies an implicit solution of the rms equation
that overcomes the inherent limitations of straightforward rms
computation. The actual computation performed by the AD637
follows the equation
The AD637 is simple to connect for a majority of rms measure-
ments. In the standard rms connection shown in Figure 2, only a
single external capacitor is required to set the averaging time
constant. In this configuration, the AD637 will compute the true
rms of any input signal. An averaging error, the magnitude of
which will be dependent on the value of the averaging capacitor,
will be present at low frequencies. For example, if the filter
capacitor, CAV, is 4 µF, this error will be 0.1% at 10 Hz and
increases to 1% at 3 Hz. If it is desired to measure only ac
signals, the AD637 can be ac coupled through the addition of a
nonpolar capacitor in series with the input as shown in Figure 2.
VIN 2
V rms = Avg
V rms
Figure 1 is a simplified schematic of the AD637, subdivided
into four major sections: absolute value circuit (active recti-
fier), square/divider, filter circuit, and buffer amplifier. The
input voltage VIN, which can be ac or dc, is converted to a
unipolar current I1 by the active rectifier A1, A2. I1 drives one
input of the squarer/divider, which has the transfer function
BUFFER
AD637
1
NC
14
13
I12
I4 =
I3
OPTIONAL
AC COUPLING
CAPACITOR
ABSOLUTE
VALUE
2
3
V
IN
The output current of the squarer/divider I4 drives A4, which
forms a low-pass filter with the external averaging capacitor. If the
RC time constant of the filter is much greater than the longest
period of the input signal, then A4’s output will be proportional
to the average of I4. The output of this filter amplifier is used by
A3 to provide the denominator current I3, which equals Avg. I4
and is returned to the squarer/divider to complete the implicit
rms computation
12 NC
11
BIAS
SECTION
SQUARER/DIVIDER
+V
4
5
6
7
S
25kꢁ
–V
10
S
25kꢁ
V
=
9
8
O
V
2
IN
C
AV
FILTER
2
I1
I = Avg
= I rms
4
1
NC = NO CONNECT
I4
Figure 2. Standard RMS Connection
and
The performance of the AD637 is tolerant of minor variations in
the power supply voltages; however, if the supplies being used
exhibit a considerable amount of high frequency ripple it is
advisable to bypass both supplies to ground through a 0.1 µF
ceramic disc capacitor placed as close to the device as possible.
VOUT = VIN rms
If the averaging capacitor is omitted, the AD637 will compute the
absolute value of the input signal. A nominal 5 pF capacitor should
be used to ensure stability. The circuit operates identically to that
of the rms configuration except that I3 is now equal to I4, giving
The output signal range of the AD637 is a function of the sup-
ply voltages, as shown in Figure 3. The output signal can be
used buffered or nonbuffered depending on the characteristics
of the load. If no buffer is needed, tie the buffer input (Pin 1) to
common. The output of the AD637 is capable of driving 5 mA
into a 2 kΩ load without degrading the accuracy of the device.
I12
I4 =
I4
I4 = I1
The denominator current can also be supplied externally by pro-
viding a reference voltage, VREF, to Pin 6. The circuit operates
identically to the rms case except that I3 is now proportional to
VREF. Thus:
20
15
10
5
I12
I4 = Avg
I3
and
2
VIN
VDEN
VO =
This is the mean square of the input signal.
0
0
ꢂ3
ꢂ5
ꢂ10
ꢂ15
ꢂ18
SUPPLY VOLTAGE – DUAL SUPPLY – V
Figure 3. AD637 Max VOUT vs. Supply Voltage
–6–
REV. F