December 1994
LM131A/LM131, LM231A/LM231, LM331A/LM331
Precision Voltage-to-Frequency Converters
General Description
The LM131/LM231/LM331 family of voltage-to-frequency
converters are ideally suited for use in simple low-cost cir-
cuits for analog-to-digital conversion, precision frequency-
to-voltage conversion, long-term integration, linear frequen-
cy modulation or demodulation, and many other functions.
The output when used as a voltage-to-frequency converter
is a pulse train at a frequency precisely proportional to the
applied input voltage. Thus, it provides all the inherent ad-
vantages of the voltage-to-frequency conversion tech-
niques, and is easy to apply in all standard voltage-to-fre-
quency converter applications. Further, the LM131A/
LM231A/LM331A attains a new high level of accuracy ver-
sus temperature which could only be attained with expen-
sive voltage-to-frequency modules. Additionally the LM131
is ideally suited for use in digital systems at low power sup-
ply voltages and can provide low-cost analog-to-digital con-
version in microprocessor-controlled systems. And, the fre-
quency from a battery powered voltage-to-frequency con-
verter can be easily channeled through a simple photoisola-
tor to provide isolation against high common mode levels.
has low bias currents without degrading the quick response
necessary for 100 kHz voltage-to-frequency conversion.
And the output is capable of driving 3 TTL loads, or a high
voltage output up to 40V, yet is short-circuit-proof against
V
CC
.
Features
Y
Guaranteed linearity 0.01% max
Y
Improved performance in existing voltage-to-frequency
conversion applications
Y
Split or single supply operation
Y
Operates on single 5V supply
Y
Pulse output compatible with all logic forms
Y
g
Excellent temperature stability, 50 ppm/ C max
§
Y
Y
Low power dissipation, 15 mW typical at 5V
Wide dynamic range, 100 dB min at 10 kHz full scale
frequency
Y
Y
Wide range of full scale frequency, 1 Hz to 100 kHz
Low cost
The LM131/LM231/LM331 utilizes
a new temperature-
compensated band-gap reference circuit, to provide excel-
lent accuracy over the full operating temperature range, at
power supplies as low as 4.0V. The precision timer circuit
Typical Applications
V
R
1
TL/H/5680–1
IN
S
e
f
#
#
OUT
2.09 V
R
R C
t t
L
*Use stable components with low temperature coefficients. See Typical Applications section.
**0.1mF or 1mF, See ‘‘Principles of Operation.’’
FIGURE 1. Simple Stand-Alone Voltage-to-Frequency Converter
e
g
with 0.03% Typical Linearity (f
10 Hz to 11 kHz)
C
1995 National Semiconductor Corporation
TL/H/5680
RRD-B30M115/Printed in U. S. A.