
The log-domain filter cutoff frequency is usually
placed well below the frequency range of interest.
For an audio-band detector, a typical value would be
5Hz, or a 32ms time constant ( ).
constant is determined by an external capacitor at-
tached to the CT pin, and an internal current source
(I
TIME
) connected to CT. The current source is pro-
grammed via the IT pin: current in IT is mirrored to
I
TIME
 with a gain of approximately one. The resulting
time
constant
is
approximately
The filter’s time
equal
to
(0.026
matics of rms detection, the attack and release time
constants are fixed in their relationship to each other.
CT) / I
T
. Note that, as a result of the mathe-
The DC output of the detector is scaled with the
same constant of proportionality as the VCA gain
control: 6.1mV/dB. The detector’s zero dB reference
(Iin0, the input current which causes zero volts out-
put), is determined by IT as follows:
detector output stage is capable of sinking or sour-
Iin0=IT. The
cing l00 A.
Differences between the 4311’s RMS-Level Detec-
tor circuitry and that of the THAT 2252 RMS Detec-
tor are as follows:
1. The rectifier in the 4311 RMS Detector is inter-
nally balanced by design, and cannot be balanced via
an external control. The 4311 will typically balance
positive and negative halves of the input signal within
±1.5%, but in extreme cases the mismatch may
reach +20%. However, a 20% mismatch will not sig-
nificantly increase ripple-induced distortion in dy-
namics processors over that caused by signal ripple
alone.
2. The time constant of the 4311’s RMS detector
is determined by the combination of an external ca-
pacitor (connected to the CT pin) and an internal,
programmable current source. The current source is
equal to IT. Normally, a resistor is not connected di-
rectly to the CT pin on the 4311.
3. The zero dB reference point, or level match, is
not adjustable via an external current source. How-
ever, as in the 2252, the level match is affected by the
timing current, which, in this case, is drawn from the
IT pin and mirrored internally to CT.
4. The input stage of the 4311 RMS detector uses
integrated P-channel FETs rather than a bias-current
corrected bipolar differential amplifier.
currents are therefore negligible, improving perfor-
mance at low signal levels.
Input bias
The Opamps - in Brief
The three opamps in the 4311 are intended for
general purpose applications. All are 5MHz opamps
with slew rates of approximately 2V/ s. All use bipo-
lar PNP input stages. However, the design of each is
optimized for its expected use. Therefore, to get the
THAT Corporation; 45 Sumner Street; Milford, Massachusetts 01757-1656; USA
Tel: +1 508 478 9200; Fax: +1 508 478 0990; Web: www.thatcorp.com
Page 8
Low-voltage, Analog Engine
Dynamics Processor
Preliminary Information
IN
17
12
OUT
VCA
EC-
EC+
SYM
OA3
THAT 4311
Vref
U1A
Iset
THAT 4311
2
TC
5
IN
1
OUT
4
RMS
U1B
3
7
OA2
Vref
6
U1C
THAT 4311
18
19
20
OA1
U1D
THAT 4311
Cap
8
Vee
THAT 4311
10
Vref9
Vcc
11
Vref
U1E
Vref
R1
20k
R2
20k
R3
51R
R4
51k
C1
+
47u
C2
47p
C5
10u
C8
22u
C7
100n
R5
50k
+5
+5
Signal In
Signal Out
Control Port Drive
N/C
N/C
N/C
N/C
N/C
N/C
N/C
N/C
N/C
15
14
13
16
+
+
Fig 18. Circuit showing gain control at E
C+