CLC5523 Operation
The key features of the CLC5523 are:
Using the CLC5523 in AGC Applications
In AGC applications, the control loop forces the CLC5523
to have a fixed output amplitude. The input amplitude will
vary over a wide range and this can be the issue that
limits dynamic range. At high input amplitudes, the
■
Low Power
■
Broad voltage controlled gain and attenuation
range
Bandwidth independent, resistor programmable
gain range
Broad signal and gain control bandwidths
Frequency response may be adjusted with R
High Impedance signal and gain control Inputs
■
distortion due to the input buffer driving R may exceed
g
that which is produced by the output amplifier driving the
load. In the plot, Harmonic Distortion vs. Gain, second
and third harmonic distortion are plotted over a gain
range of nearly 40dB for a fixed output amplitude
■
■
f
■
of 100mV
in the specified configuration, R = 1k,
pp
f
The CLC5523 combines a closed loop input buffer, a volt-
age controlled variable gain cell and an output amplifier.
The input buffer is a transconductance stage whose gain
R = 100W. When the gain is adjusted to 0.1 (i.e. 40dB
g
down from A
), the input amplitude would be 1V and
vmax
pp
we can see the distortion is at its worst at this gain. If the
output amplitude of the AGC were to be raised above
100mV, the input amplitudes for gains 40dB down from
is set by the gain setting resistor, R . The output amplifi-
g
er is a current feedback op amp and is configured as a
transimpedance stage whose gain is set by, and equal to,
A
would be even higher and the distortion would
vmax
the feedback resistor, R . The maximum gain, A
, of
f
vmax
degrade further. It is for this reason that we recommend
lower output amplitudes if wide gain ranges are desired.
Using a post-amp like the CLC404 or CLC409 would be
the best way to preserve dynamic range and yield output
the CLC5523 is defined by the ratio; R / R . As the
f
g
gain control input (V ) is adjusted over its 0 to 2V range,
G
the gain is adjusted over a range of 80dB relative to the
maximum set gain.
amplitudes much higher than 100mV .
pp
Setting the CLC5523 Maximum Gain
Another way of addressing distortion performance and
its limitations on dynamic range, would be to raise the
R
f
A
=
vmax
value of R . Just like any other high-speed amplifier, by
g
R
g
increasing the load resistance, and therefore decreasing
the demanded load current, the distortion performance
Although the CLC5523 is specified at A
= 10, the
vmax
will be improved in most cases. With an increased R , R
g
f
recommended A
varies between 2 and 100. Higher
vmax
will also have to be increased to keep the same A
and this will decrease the overall bandwidth.
vmax
gains are possible but usually impractical due to
output offsets, noise and distortion. When varying A
several tradeoffs are made:
vmax
Gain Partitioning
R : determines the input voltage range
If high levels of gain are needed, gain partitioning should
be considered.
g
R : determines overall bandwidth
f
The amount of current which the input buffer can source
VG
into R is limited and is specified in the I
sets the maximum input voltage:
spec. This
R max
g
g
Vin
+
1
25Wž
2
3
CLC425
Vo
6
Rc
V (max) = I
× R
g
-
CLC5523
in
Rgmax
R2
7
4
Rf
The effects of maximum input range on harmonic distortion
are illustrated in the Input Harmonic Distortion plot.
R1
Rg
25W
Variations in R will also have an effect on the small
g
signal bandwidth due to its loading of the input buffer and
can be seen in Frequency Response vs. R . Changes in
g
R will have a more dramatic effect on the small signal
bandwidth. The output amplifier of the CLC5523 is a
current feedback amplifier(CFA) and its bandwidth is
f
Figure 1: Gain Partitioning
The maximum gain range for this circuit is given by the
following equation:
determined by R . As with any CFA, doubling the feed-
f
back resistor will roughly cut the bandwidth of the device
in half (refer to the plot Frequency Response vs. R ). For
f
æ
ö
ö
æ
R
R
R
2
f
more
information
covering
CFA’s,
there
is
maximum gain = 1+
×
ç
÷ ç
÷
R
è
ø
è
ø
a basic tutorial, OA-20, Current Feedback Myths
Debunked or a more rigorous analysis, OA-13, Current
Feedback Amplifier Loop Gain Analysis and Performance
Enhancements.
1
g
5
http://www.national.com