APEX MICROTECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
5980 NORTH SHANNON ROAD
TUCSON, ARIZONA 85741
USA
APPLICATIONS HOTLINE: 1 (800) 546-2739
OPERATING
CONSIDERATIONS
PA52
PA52A
GENERAL
Please read Application Note 1 "General Operating Consid-
erations" which covers stability, supplies, heat sinking, mount-
ing, current limit, SOA interpretation, and specification inter-
pretation. Visit www.apexmicrotech.com for design tools that
help automate tasks such as calculations for stability, internal
power dissipation, current limit; heat sink selection; Apex
’
s
complete Application Notes library; Technical Seminar Work-
book; and Evaluation Kits.
CURRENT LIMIT
There is no internal circuit provision for current limit in the
PA52. However, the PA52 circuit board in the PA52 evaluation
kit does provide a means whereby the output current can be
sensed. An external circuit current limit can thereby be imple-
mented if needed. See EK27 data sheet for more details.
BOOST OPERATION
With the V
feature the small signal stages of the
amplifier are operated at higher supply voltages than the
amplifier
’
s high current output stage. +V
(pin 11) and
–
V
(pin 12) are connected to the small signal circuitry of
the amplifier. +V
(pin 9,10) and
–
V
(pin 3,4) are connected to
the high current output stage. An additional 10V on the V
pins is sufficient to allow the small signal stages to drive the
output transistors into saturation and improve the output
voltage swing for extra efficient operation when required.
When close swings to the supply rails is not required the
+V
BOOST
and +V
S
pins must be strapped together as well as the
–
V
and
–
V
pins. The boost voltage pins must not be at a
voltage lower than the V
S
pins.
COMPENSATION
Compensation is internally fixed for a gain of 3 or more and
is not adjustable by the user. The PA52 therefore is not unity
gain stable.
POWER SUPPLY BYPASSING
Proper and sufficient power supply bypassing is crucial to
proper operation of the PA52. Bypass the +Vb and -Vb supply
pins with a minimum .1
μ
F ceramic capacitors directly at the
supply pins. On the +Vs and -Vs pins use a combination of
ceramic and electrolytic capacitors. Use 1
μ
F ceramic capaci-
tors and an electrolytic capacitor at least 10
μ
F for each amp of
output current required.