
9
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We selected the component values as follows:
I
R
f1
= 3.0k
, for unity gain of the CLC408
I
R
m1
= Z
o
= 50
, the characteristic impedance
of the transmission line
I
R
f2
= R
g2
= 100
≥
R
m1
, the recommended
value for the CLC426 at A
v
= 2
)–R
2
I
These values give excellent isolation from the other input:
The CLC408 provides large output current drive, while
consuming little supply current, at the nominal bias
point. It also produces low distortion with large signal
swings and heavy loads. These features make the
CLC408 an excellent choice for driving transmission
lines. The CLC426 was used as the receiver because
it has good high frequency CMRR.
Precision, Low 1/f Noise Composite Amplifier
The circuit in Figure 7 has the DC precision and low-
frequency performance of U1, and the high-frequency
performance of U2. This means that the 1/f noise
performance is dominated by U1, not U2. Vin needs to
be a low impedance source to minimize the impact of
U2’s non-inverting bias current (I
BN
) and current noise
(i
bn
). R
1
is an optional resistor that terminates the
source. The potentiometer R
7
allows the gain at low
frequencies to be manually matched to the gain at high
frequencies.
Figure 7: Precision, Low-Noise Composite Amplifier
U1 needs to be an op amp with the following features:
voltage-feedback, low bandwidth (compared to U2),
low DC offsets and low 1/f noise. National
Semiconductor’s OP-07 meets all of these requirements.
U2 is a high-frequency op amp that meets your high-
frequency requirements. This application circuit will
assume a current-feedback op amp (the CLC408) for
U2. This circuit also works well when U2 is a high-
frequency, voltage-feedback op amp (such as the
CLC425 or CLC428).
The transfer function is:
where A
U1
(j
ω
) is the open-loop voltage gain of U1, and
Z
U2
(j
ω
) is the open-loop transimpedance gain of U2.
The approximations hold when the bandwidth of U1 is
much less than the bandwidth of U2. Now the gain of
the composite amplifier can be selected:
A
v
must be within the stable gain range of U1.
Make R
2
, R
6
and R
7
small so that they produce little
thermal noise, but large enough to not overload the
output of U2. Minimize the input offset voltage by
making R
2
= (R
6
|| R
7
):
, the value for gain flatness
The potentiometer should have a maximum value
about double the value calculated for R
7
. Use a
potentiometer with multiple turn capability, and low
parasitics. Replace R
7
with a resistor when AC gain
and step response flatness are not a concern.
Set R
5
to the recommended feedback resistor value for
the CLC408 at a gain of A
v
.
Select R
3
and R
4
so that the high-frequency gain is
correct, and so that any change in output impedance of
U1 has a minimal impact:
The selection of R
3
and R
4
affects the frequency where
U2 starts to dominate the performance of the composite
amplifier. This frequency is approximately:
R
(R
||R
25
t2
f2
g2
m1
=
=
V
V
38dB, f
≈
5.0MHz
oA(B)
inB(A)
=
-
+
OP-07
CLC408
-
R
2
V
in
R
5
+
U1
U2
V
o
R
4
R
L
R
3
R
1
R
6
R
7
V
V
1
R
R
R
R
A
(j )
R
R
1
R
Z
(j )
A
(j )
R
R
R
R
R
1
R
R
, A
(j )
1
1
R
R
R
R
1
R
Z
(j )
,
o
in
5
3
5
4
U1
5
3
5
U2
U1
5
3
7
6
7
5
3
U1
5
3
5
4
5
U2
=
+
+
+
+
+
+
≈ +
>>
≈
+
+
+
A
(j )
1
U1
A
1
R
R
1
R
R
R
R
V
6
7
5
3
5
4
= +
= +
+
R
R
1
R
R
A
1
R
R
3
4
3
5
v
3
4
>>
=
+
f
R
R
R
R
R
GBWP
UG
5
3
7
6
7
U1
≈
+
R
A R
R
A
v
R
1
6
2
7
6
=
≈