
3
Rev. 6/02/03
SP8126 High Speed Differential APC Amplifier
Copyright 2003 Sipex Corporation
PIN DESCRIPTION
PIN NUMBER
NAME
FUNCTION
1VCC
Supply Voltage
2
GAIN
Gain Select
3RGCOM
Common connection point for RGAIN1 and RGAIN2
4
GND
Power Ground
5RGAIN1
Gain Adjust 1 (Gain Select = LOW) or OPEN
6RGAIN2
Gain Adjust 2 (Gain Select = HIGH)
7VOUT-
Output Voltage -
8VOUT+
Output Voltage +
Internal Operation
The SP8126 APC circuit has an integrated photo
detector and is designed with nominal sensitivi-
ties of 3mV/
W for both 650nm and 780nm
wavelength laser light. The part's sensitivity can
also be adjusted continuously and independently
for two different gain modes via two external
resistors over a range of
±6dB. The two gain
modes are controlled by a TTL compatible logic
input, called GAIN SELECT. This logic pin
selects between the two external gain setting
resistors to allow independent control and set-
tings for the two gain functions.
The system is a two stage design, consisting of
a Trans-Impedance Amplifier (TIA) and an out-
put buffer stage. In dark condition the outputs
VOUT- and VOUT+ are set to a reference voltage
that is defined internally as Vcc/2. With 650nm
or 780nm wavelength laser light falling on the
photodetector, the output will swing differen-
tially around Vcc/2 proportional with the light
power according to the chosen gain.
TIA and Gain control
The first stage is a differential TIA used to
convert the photodetector current to a balanced
differential voltage. The traditional fixed feed-
back resistors have been replaced with an active
resistor circuit that sets the trans-impedance value.
A Resistor Control Block that senses the value
of the external gain setting resistor controls the
value of the equivalent feedback resistor.
PARAMETER
CONDITIONS
MIN
TYP
MAX
UNITS
Power Supply Current
15
mA
-20°C < TA < +85°C20
mA
Gain Adjust Range
215 < RGAIN < 1230
-6
6
dB
Gain Select Input Voltage
0.8
V
VIL (TTL Level)
Gain Select Input Voltage
2.0
V
VIH (TTL Level)
ELECTRICAL SPECIFICATIONS: Continued
Unless otherwise noted: VCC = 5.0V, CLOAD = 50pF to GND, RLOADP = RLOADN = 1k to GND, RGAIN = 510
(Nominal Gain), -20°C ≤ TA ≤ +85°C, Output measured differentially.
THEORY OF OPERATION