APPLICATION INFORMATION
WIDEBAND VARIABLE GAIN AMPLIFIER
0.1 F
m
X2Y
Capacitor
(seedetail)
+V
S
-VS
G
1
G
2
A
B
X2Y
CapacitorDetail
SO-14
VCA821
x1
x2
R
200
G
W
R
G+
V
IN
x1
R
G-
-VIN
I
RG
V
G
V
OUT
FB
R
F
1kW
V
REF
+5V
-5V
2.2 F
m
2.2 F
m
+
20W
V
OUT
+V
IN
www.ti.com ....................................................................................................................................... SBOS407B – DECEMBER 2007 – REVISED DECEMBER 2008
For test purposes, the input impedance is set to 50
OPERATION
with a resistor to ground and the output impedance is
set to 50
with a series output resistor. Voltage
The VCA821 provides an exceptional combination of
high output power capability with a wideband, greater
are taken directly at the input and output pins, while
than 40dB gain adjust range, linear in dB variable
output power (dBm) is at the matched 50
load. For
gain amplifier. The VCA821 input stage places the
the circuit in
Figure 74, the total effective load is
transconductance element between two input buffers,
100
1k
. Note that for the SO-14 package, there
using the output currents as the forward signal. As
is a voltage reference pin, VREF (pin 9). For the
the differential input voltage rises, a signal current is
SO-14 package, this pin must be connected to
generated through the gain element. This current is
ground through a 20
resistor in order to avoid
then mirrored and gained by a factor of two before
possible oscillations of the output stage. In the
reaching the multiplier. The other input of the
MSOP-10 package, this pin is internally connected
multiplier
is
the
voltage
gain
control
pin,
VG.
and does not require such precaution. An X2Y
Depending on the voltage present on VG, up to two
capacitor has been used for power-supply bypassing.
times
the
gain
current
is
provided
to
the
The combination of low inductance, high resonance
transimpedance output stage. The transimpedance
frequency, and integration of three capacitors in one
output stage is a current-feedback amplifier providing
package (two capacitors to ground and one across
high output current capability and high slew rate,
the supplies) enables the VCA821 to achieve the low
2500V/
s. This exceptional full-power performance
second-harmonic distortion reported in the
Electricalcomes at the price of relatively high quiescent current
(34mA), but low input voltage noise for this type of
VCA821 operates can be found in the
Operatingarchitecture (6nV/
√Hz).
Figure 74 shows the dc-coupled, gain of +10V/V, dual
power-supply circuit used as the basis of the ±5V
Figure 74. DC-Coupled, AVMAX = 20dB, Bipolar Supply Specification and Test Circuit
Copyright 2007–2008, Texas Instruments Incorporated
19
Product Folder Link(s):
VCA821