AD539
Rev. B | Page 15 of 20
A 50 MHZ VOLTAGE-CONTROLLED AMPLIFIER
Figure 24 is a circuit for a 50 MHz voltage-controlled amplifier
(VCA) suitable for use in high quality video-speed applications.
The outputs from the two signal channels of the AD539 are
applied to the op amp in a subtracting configuration. This
connection has two main advantages: first, it results in better
rejection of the control voltage, particularly when overdriven
(VX < 0 V or VX > 3.3 V). Secondly, it provides a choice of either
noninverting or inverting response, using either input, VY1 or
VY2, respectively. In this circuit, the output of the op amp equals
V
0
for
V
2
)
(
2
1
>
=
X
Y
X
OUT
V
Therefore, the gain is unity at VX = 2 V. Because VX can over-
range to 3.3 V, the maximum gain in this configuration is
about 4.3 dB.
The 3 dB bandwidth of this circuit is over 50 MHz at a full
gain and is not substantially affected at lower gains. When VX is
zero (or slightly negative, to override the residual input offset)
there is still a small amount of capacitive feedthrough at high
frequencies; therefore, extreme care is required in laying out the
PC board to minimize this effect. In addition, for small values
of VX, the combination of this feedthrough with the multiplier
output can cause a dip in the response where they are out of
phase.
Figure 15 shows the ac response from the noninverting
input, with the response from the inverting input, VY2, essentially
identical. Test conditions include VY1 = 0.5 V rms for values of
VX from 10 mV to 3.16 V; this is with a 75 Ω load on the output.
The feedthrough at VX = 10 mV is also shown.
With the VCA driving a 75 Ω load and the transient response of
the signal channel at VX = 2 V, VY = VOUT = ±1 V is shown in
Figure 16. The rise and fall times are approximately 7 ns.
A more detailed description of this circuit, including differential
gain and phase characteristics, is given in the
AN-213 Application
Note, Low Cost, Two Chip Voltage-Controlled Amplifier and
Video Switch, available from Analog Devices.
0
9
6
79
-0
24
1
2
3
4
16
15
14
13
5
12
6
11
7
10
8
9
AD539
VX
HF COMP
VY1
+VS
–VS
VY2
INPUT
COMMON
OUTPUT
COMMON
NOTES
1. THOMPSON-CSF BAR. 10 OR SIMILAR SCHOTTKY DIODE
SHORT DIRECT CONNECTION TO GROUND PLANE.
BASE
COMMON
W1
Z1
CHAN1
OUTPUT
CHAN2
OUTPUT
Z2
W2
CF
600pF
VX
75
10
D1
VY2 IN
–9V
+9V
VY2 IN
1F
75
CC 3000pF
–9V
10
14
1
9
7
3
+9V
–9V
100k
180
470
0.25pF TO
1.5pF
200
GAIN ADJUST
(±4% RANGE)
50k
(OPTIONAL)
OUTPUT OFFSET
0.47F
VOUT
0.47F
+9V
2.7
CF
Figure 24. A Wide Bandwidth Voltage-Controlled Amplifier (16-Lead SBDIP and PDIP Shown)