AD8361
2.5 GHz. However, it is necessary to calibrate for a given
application to accommodate for the change in conversion gain
at higher frequencies.
One of the AD8361s (U2) has a net gain of about 14 dB
preceding it and therefore operates most accurately at low input
signal levels. This is referred to as the weak signal path. U4, on
the other hand, does not have the added gain and provides
accurate response at high levels. The output of U2 is attenuated
by R1 in order to cancel the effect of U2’s preceding gain so that
the slope of the transfer function (as seen at the slider of R1) is
the same as that of U4 by itself.
Dynamic Range Extension for the AD8361
The accurate measurement range of the AD8361 is limited by
internal dc offsets for small input signals and by square law
conformance errors for large signals. The measurement range
may be extended by using two devices operating at different
signal levels and then choosing only the output of the device
that provides accurate results at the prevailing input level.
The circuit comprising U3, U5, and U6 is a crossfader, in which
the relative gains of the two inputs are determined by the output
currents of a fuzzy comparator made from Q1 and Q2.
Assuming that the slider of R2 is at 2.5 V dc, the fuzzy
comparator commands full weighting of the weak signal path
when the output of U2 is below about 2.0 V dc, and full
weighting of the strong signal path when the output of U3
exceeds about 3.0 V dc. U3 and U5 are OTAs (operational
transconductance amplifiers).
Figure 60 depicts an implementation of this idea. In this circuit,
the selection of the output is made gradually over an input level
range of about 3 dB in order to minimize the impact of
imperfect matching of the transfer functions of the two
AD8361s. Such a mismatch typically arises because of the
variation of the gain of the RF preamplifier U1 and both the
gain and slope variations of the AD8361s with temperature.
5V
270Ω
0.01µF
U2
12V
1
2
3
4
8
7
6
5
RFC
+12V
16kΩ
100pF
U1
2
AD8361
R1
5kΩ
U3
6dB
PA D
ERA-3
20dB
5V
6
CA3080
0.1µF
68Ω
3
5
8.2nF
12V
–5V
5V
7
20kΩ
100Ω
2
U6
1kΩ
1kΩ
6
5V
V
AD820
4
OUT
3
20kΩ
Q2
Q1
R2
10kΩ
6dB
SPLITTER
RF
INPUT
2N3906 2N3906
5V
0.01µF
U4
+12V
1
8
7
6
5
20kΩ
12kΩ
2
3
100pF
2
3
4
U5
5
AD8361
CA3080
5V
6
0.1µF
68Ω
1MΩ
–5V
+5V
–5V
R3
10kΩ
Figure 60. Range Extender Application
Rev. C | Page 19 of 24