AD8336
Rev. C | Page 22 of 28
APPLICATIONS INFORMATION
AMPLIFIER CONFIGURATION
The AD8336 amplifiers can be configured in various options. In
addition to the 60 dB gain range variable gain stage, an uncommit-
ted voltage gain amplifier is available to the user as a preamplifier.
The preamplifier connections are separate to enable noninverting
or inverting gain configurations or the use of interstage filtering.
The AD8336 can be used as a cascade connected VGA with pre-
amp input, as a standalone VGA, or as a standalone preamplifier.
This section describes some of the possible applications.
VOUT
VGAI
2
13
PRAO
1
GNEG
3
AD8336
VCOM
VPOS
GPOS
9
8
34dB
PrA
PWRA
ATTENUATOR
–60dB TO 0dB
12
GAIN CONTROL
INTERFACE
11
INPP 4
5
INPN
+
–
BIAS
10
VNEG
0
6228-
07
9
Figure 79. Application Block Diagram
PREAMPLIFIER
While observing just a few constraints, the uncommitted voltage
feedback preamplifier of the AD8336 can be connected in a
variety of standard high frequency op amp configurations. The
amplifier is optimized for a gain of 4× (12 dB) and has a gain
bandwidth product of 600 MHz. At a gain of 4×, the bandwidth
is 150 MHz. The preamplifier gain can be adjusted to a minimum
gain of 2×; however, there will be a small peak in the response at
high frequencies. At higher preamplifier gains, the bandwidth
diminishes proportionally in conformance to the classical voltage
gain amplifier GBW relationship.
While setting the overall gain of the AD8336, the user needs
to consider the input-referred offset voltage of the preamplifier.
Although the offset of the attenuator and postamplifier are almost
negligible, the preamplifier offset voltage, if uncorrected, is
increased by the combined gain of the preamplifier and post-
amplifier. Therefore, for a maximum gain of 60 dB, an input
offset voltage of only 200 μV results in an error of 200 mV at
the output.
Circuit Configuration for Noninverting Gain
The noninverting configuration is shown in
Figure 80. The
preamp gain is described by the classical op amp gain equation:
1
2
+
=
FB
R
Gain
The practical gain limits for this amplifier are 6 dB to 26 dB.
The gain bandwidth product is about 600 MHz, so at 150 MHz,
the maximum achievable gain is 12 dB (4×). The minimum gain
is established internally by fixed loop compensation and is 6 dB
(2×). This amplifier is not designed for unity-gain operation.
Table 5 shows the gain and bandwidth for the noninverting gain
configuration.
PRAO
34dB
AD8336
PREAMPLIFIER
INPP
–60dB TO 0dB
4
5
INPN
9
GAIN = 12dB
RFB1
100
VGAI
13
VPOS
VNEG
10
VOUT
1
06
22
8-
0
8
0
RFB2
301
+5V
–5V
PWRA
2
3
VCOM
8
Figure 80. Circuit Configuration for Noninverting Gain
The preamplifier output reliably sources and sinks currents up
to 50 mA. When using ±5 V power supplies, the suggested sum
of the output resistor values is 400 Ω total for the optimal trade-
off between distortion and noise. Much of the low gain value
device characterization was performed with resistor values of
301 Ω and 100 Ω, resulting in a preamplifier gain of 12 dB (4×).
With supply voltages between ±5 V and ±12 V, the sum of the
output resistance should be increased accordingly; a total
resistance of 1 kΩ is recommended. Larger resistance values,
subject to a trade-off in higher noise performance, can be used
if circuit power and load driving is an issue. When considering
the total power dissipation, remember that the input ladder
resistance of the VGA is part of the preamp load.
Table 5. Gain and Bandwidth for Noninverting Preamplifier
Configuration
Preamp Gain
Preamp BW
(MHz)
Composite
Gain (dB)
Numerical
dB
4×
12
150
14 to +46
8×
18
60
8 to +52
16×
24
30
2 to +58
20×
26
25
0 to +60