AD8021
With the AD8021, a variety of trade-offs can be made to fine-tune
its dynamic performance. Sometimes more bandwidth or slew
rate is needed at a particular gain. Reducing the compensation
capacitance, as illustrated in TPC 3, will increase the bandwidth
and peaking due to a decrease in phase margin. On the other hand,
if more stability is needed, increasing the compensation cap will
decrease the bandwidth while increasing the phase margin.
this high impedance with a current gain of 5,000, so that the
AD8021 can maintain a high open-loop gain even when driving
heavy loads.
Two internal diode clamps across the inputs (Pins 2 and 3) protect
the input transistors from large voltages that could otherwise cause
emitter-base breakdown, which would result in degradation of
offset voltage and input bias current.
As with all high speed amplifiers, parasitic capacitance and induc-
tance around the amplifier can affect its dynamic response.
Often, the input capacitance (due to the op amp itself, as well
as the PC board) could have a significant effect. The feedback
resistance, together with the input capacitance, may contribute to
a loss of phase margin, thereby affecting the high frequency response,
as shown in TPC 10. Furthermore, a capacitor (CF) in parallel
with the feedback resistor can compensate for this phase loss.
+V
S
OUTPUT
+IN
Additionally, any resistance in series with the source will create
a pole with the input capacitance (as well as dampen high fre-
quency resonance due to package and board inductance and
capacitance), the effect of which is shown in TPC 11.
C
INTERNAL
1.5pF
–IN
–V
S
It must also be noted that increasing resistor values will increase
the overall noise of the amplifier, and that reducing the feedback
resistor value will increase the load on the output stage, thus
increasing distortion (TPC 18).
C
COMP
C
C
Figure 6. Simplified Schematic
Using the Disable Feature
When Pin 8 (DISABLE) is approximately 2 V or more higher than
Pin 1 (LOGIC REFERENCE), the part is enabled. When Pin 8
is brought down to within about 1.5 V of Pin 1, the part is dis-
abled. See the Specification tables for exact disable and enable
voltage levels. If the disable feature is not going to be used, Pin 8
can be tied to VS or a logic high source, and Pin 1 can be tied to
ground or logic low. Alternatively, if Pin 1 and Pin 8 are not
connected, the part will be in an enabled state.
PCB LAYOUT CONSIDERATIONS
As with all high speed op amps, achieving optimum performance
from the AD8021 requires careful attention to PC board layout.
Particular care must be exercised to minimize lead lengths
between the ground leads of the bypass capacitors and between
the compensation capacitor and the negative supply. Otherwise,
lead inductance can influence the frequency response and even
cause high frequency oscillations. Use of a multilayer printed
circuit board, with an internal ground plane, will reduce ground
noise and enable a compact component arrangement.
THEORY OF OPERATION
The AD8021 is fabricated on the second generation of Analog
Devices’ proprietary High Voltage eXtra-Fast Complementary
Bipolar (XFCB) process, which enables the construction of PNP
and NPN transistors with similar fTs in the 3 GHz region. The
transistors are dielectrically isolated from the substrate (and each
other), eliminating the parasitic and latch-up problems caused
by junction isolation. It also reduces nonlinear capacitance
(a source of distortion) and allows a higher transistor fT for a
given quiescent current. The supply current is trimmed, which
results in less part-to-part variation of bandwidth, slew rate,
distortion, and settling time.
Due to the relatively high impedance of Pin 5 and low values of
the compensation capacitor, a guard ring is recommended. The
guard ring is simply a PC trace that encircles Pin 5 and is
connected to the output, Pin 6, which is at the same potential as
Pin 5. This serves two functions. It shields Pin 5 from any local
circuit noise generated by surrounding circuitry. It also mini-
mizes stray capacitance, which would tend to otherwise reduce
the bandwidth. An example of a guard ring layout may be seen
in Figure 7.
Also shown in Figure 7, the compensation capacitor is located
immediately adjacent to the edge of the AD8021 package, spanning
Pin 4 and Pin 5. This capacitor must be a high quality surface-
mount COG or NPO ceramic. The use of leaded capacitors is not
recommended. The high frequency bypass capacitor(s) should
be located immediately adjacent to the supplies, Pins 4 and 7.
As shown in Figure 6, the AD8021 input stage consists of an NPN
differential pair in which each transistor operates at 0.8 mA collec-
tor current. This allows the input devices a high transconductance;
thus, the AD8021 has a low input noise of 2.1 nV/√Hz @ 50 kHz.
The input stage drives a folded cascode that consists of a pair of
PNP transistors. The folded cascode and current mirror provide
a differential to single-ended conversion of signal current. This
current then drives the high impedance node (Pin 5), where the
CC external capacitor is connected. The output stage preserves
To achieve the shortest possible lead length at the inverting
input, the feedback resistor RF is located beneath the board and
just spans the distance from the output, Pin 6, to inverting input
Pin 2. The return node of resistor RG should be situated as
closely as possible to the return node of the negative supply
bypass capacitor connected to Pin 4.
REV. D
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