AD8318
output voltage at ambient. This is a key difference in comparison
to the previous plots. Up to now, all errors have been calculated
with respect to the ideal transfer function at ambient.
Rev. 0 | Page 17 of 24
When we use this alternative technique, the error at ambient
becomes by definition equal to 0 (see Figure 33)
.
This would be valid if the device transfer function perfectly
followed the ideal V
OUT
= Slope × (Pin-Intercept) equation.
However since a log amp in practice will never perfectly follow
this equation (especially outside of its linear operating range),
this plot tends to artificially improve linearity and extend the
dynamic range. This plot is a useful tool for estimating
temperature drift at a particular power level with respect to the
(non-ideal)
output voltage
at ambient. However, to achieve this
level of accuracy in an end application would require calibration
at multiple points in the device’s operating range.
2.2
2.0
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
–65 –60 –55 –50 –45 –40 –35 –30 –25 –20 –15 –10 –5
P
IN
(dBm)
0
5
0
V
O
2.5
–2.5
–2.0
–1.5
–1.0
–0.5
0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
E
V
OUT
+25
°
C
V
OUT
–40
°
C
V
OUT
+85
°
C
ERROR +25
°
C wrt V
OUT
ERROR –40
°
C wrt V
OUT
ERROR +85
°
C wrt V
OUT
Figure 33. Error vs. Temperature with respect to Output Voltage at 25 °C Does
Not Take into Account Transfer Functions’ Nonlinearities at 25°C
VARIATION IN TEMPERATURE DRIFT FROM DEVICE
TO DEVICE
Figure 34 shows a plot of output voltage and error for multiple
AD8318 devices, measured in this case at 5.8 GHz. The
concentration of black error plots represents the performance
of the population at 25
°C
(slope and intercept has been
calculated for each device). The red and blue plots of error
indicate the measured behavior of a population of devices over
temperature. This suggests a range on the drift (from device to
device) of 1.2 dB.
2.2
2.0
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
–65
–55
–45
–35
–25
–15
–5
5
15
0
P
IN
(dBm)
V
O
2.0
–2.0
–1.6
–1.2
–0.8
–0.4
0
0.4
0.8
1.2
1.6
E
Figure 34. Output Voltage and Error vs. Temperature (+25°C, –40°C, and
+85°C) of a Population of Devices Measured at 5.8 GHz
TEMPERATURE DRIFT AT DIFFERENT
TEMPERATURES
Figure 35 shows the log slope and error over temperature
for a 5.8 GHz input signal. Error due to drift over
temperature consistently remains within ±0.5 dB, and only
begins to exceed this limit when the ambient temperature
drops below
20
°
C. For all frequencies when using a
reduced temperature range higher measurement accuracy is
achievable.
2.2
2.0
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
–65 –60 –55 –50 –45 –40 –35 –30 –25 –20 –15 –10 –5
P
IN
(dBm)
0
5
0
O
V
2.5
–2.5
–2.0
–1.5
–1.0
–0.5
0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
E
VAPC +25°C
VAPC 0°C
ERROR –10°C
ERROR +70°C
VAPC –40°C
VAPC +70°C
ERROR –20°C
VAPC –10°C
ERROR –40°C
VAPC +85°C
ERROR +25°C
ERROR 0°C
VAPC –20°C
ERROR +85°C
Figure 35. Typical Drift at 5.8 GHz for Various Temperatures
SETTING THE OUTPUT SLOPE IN
MEASUREMENT MODE
To operate in measurement mode, VOUT must be
connected to VSET. This yields the nominal logarithmic
slope of approximately 25 mV/dB. The output swing
corresponding to the specified input range will then be
approximately 0.5 V to 2.1 V. The slope and output swing