
TL441AM
LOGARITHMIC AMPLIFIER
SLFS038 – JUNE 1976 – REVISED FEBRUARY 1989
7
POST OFFICE BOX 655303
DALLAS, TEXAS 75265
APPLICATION INFORMATION
Although designed for high-performance applications such as broadband radar, infrared detection and
weapons systems, this device has a wide range of applications in data compression and analog computation.
basic logarithmic function
The basic logarithmic response is derived from
the exponential current-voltage relationship of
collector current and base-emitter voltage. This
relationship is given in the equation:
m
V
BE
= In [(I
C
+ I
CES
)/I
CES
]
where:
I
C
=
collector current
I
CES
=
m =
collector current at V
BE
= 0
q/kT (in V
– 1
)
V
BE
=
base-emitter voltage
The differential input amplifier allows dual-polarity
inputs, is self-compensating for temperature
variations, and is relatively insensitive to
common-mode noise.
logarithmic sections
As can be seen from the schematic, there are eight differential pairs. Each pair is a 15-dB log subsection, and
each input feeds two pairs for a range of 30-dB per stage.
Four compensation points are made available to allow slight variations in the gain (slope) of the two individual
15-dB stages of input A2 and B2. By slightly changing the voltage on any of the compensation pins from its
quiescent value, the gain of that particular 15-dB stage can be adjusted to match the other 15-dB stage in the
pair. The compensation pins may also be used to match the transfer characteristics of input A2 to A1 or B2 to
B1.
The log stages in each half of the circuit are summed by directly connecting their collectors together and
summing through a common-base output stage. The two sets of output collectors are used to give two log
outputs, Y and Y (or Z and Z) which are equal in amplitude but opposite in polarity. This increases the versatility
of the device.
By proper choice of external connections, linear amplification, and linear attenuation, and many different
applications requiring logarithmic signal processing are possible
input levels
The recommended input voltage range of any one stage is given as 0.01 V to 1 V. Input levels in excess of
1 V may result in a distorted output. When several log sections are summed together, the distorted area of one
section overlaps with the next section and the resulting distortion is insignificant. However, there is a limit to the
amount of overdrive that may be applied. As the input drive reaches
±
3.5 V, saturation occurs, clamping the
collector-summing line and severely distorting the output. Therefore, the signal to any input must be limited to
approximately
±
3 V to ensure a clean output.
Figure 11
INPUT
A1
CA2
INPUT
A2
CA2’
Log
Log
Log
Log
Log
Log
Log
Log
–15 dB
–15 dB
–15 dB
–15 dB
Σ
Σ
Y
Y
Z
Z
Outputs
INPUT
B1
CB2
INPUT
B2
CB2’
functional block diagram