Lecture 5 –

NON-LINEAR APPLICATIONS
CONTENTS:

1. Precision rectifiers
2. Peak detectors
3. Logarithmic amplifier
4. The emitter-coupled pair as a simple multiplier
5. Gilbert multiplier circuit
6. Translinear principle
7. RMS-to-DC converters
8. Limiter circuits

1
Electronic Instrumentation
 5.1 Precision rectifiers
The Shockley diode t = kT/q
iD  v   1.2e-14
i D  IS exp  D   1
  nt   1.0e-14
+ vD -

8.0e-15

Diode Current (A)

6.0e-15

4.0e-15

2.0e-15
I
S
0.0e+0

-2.0e-15
-0.2 -0.1 0.0 0.1
Diode Voltage (V)

Diode behavior near the origin

with IS=10-15 A , n=1 and t = 25 mV

2
Electronic Instrumentation
5.1 Precision rectifiers
The ideal diode

"On" "Off"
A A A

"Short" "Open"
Circuit Circuit

C C C
F
Electronic Instrumentation 3
5.1 Precision rectifiers
Precision Half-Wave Rectifier

vy

DC Analysis
vI>0 vI<0
  v y  vO   vO
v y  A  vI  vO  ; iD  i  I S exp    1 
  nt   R Opamp saturates at negative
 1  n  v  limit (close to –VCC) 
vI  vO 1    t ln  O  1 Diode OFF  vO=0
 A  A  RI S 
Diode voltage drop
Electronic Instrumentation R. C. Jaeger and T. Blalock
4
5.1 Precision rectifiers
Precision Half-Wave Rectifier
• For vI > 0, vO = vI, i > 0, diode is
forward-biased and feedback loop is
closed. Rectification is perfect even for
vy small input voltages.
• For vI < 0, diode is cutoff, i = 0, vO = 0.
• Primary sources of error are gain error
and offset error due to nonideal op amp.
• For negative input voltages, output
voltage vy is saturated at negative limit.
Large negative voltages across input can
destroy unprotected op amps.
• Response time of circuit is slowed down
due to slow recovery of internal circuits
vO is rectified replica of vI from saturation.
without loss of voltage drop as
in diode rectifier circuit.
Electronic Instrumentation R. C. Jaeger and T. Blalock
5
Problem
vI>0
 1  n  v 
vI  vO 1    t ln  O  1
 A  A  RI S 
vy

vI<0  vO  0

Given that nt  40 mV RI S  1 pA , calculate the difference vI  vO for

the following conditions:
1. vO  1 Vand A=10, 1000, ;
2. vO  0.1 Vand A=10, 1000, 

R. C. Jaeger and T. Blalock

Electronic Instrumentation 6
5.1 Precision rectifiers
Improved Precision Half-Wave Rectifier
For vI > 0, vy is negative (one diode-drop
below zero), D2 is forward biased, current
in R2 is zero, vO = 0, and D1 is reverse
biased. Feedback loop is closed through
vy D2.

For vI < 0, vy is one diode-drop above

output voltage, diode D1 turns on, and D2
is off. Circuit behaves as an inverting
amplifier with gain - R2 / R1. Feedback
loop is closed through D1 and R2.

Using this scheme, the opamp output

does not saturate
Electronic Instrumentation R. C. Jaeger and T. Blalock 7
5.1 Precision rectifiers
Ac Voltmeter Half-wave rectifier combined with a LP
filter to form the basic ac voltmeter.

For a sinusoidal input of amplitude VM

and frequency wo, the output is a
rectified sine wave given by its Fourier
series. If the cutoff frequency of the
low-pass filter is wc << wo, the output
consists primarily of the dc voltage
component.
R4 R2 VM
vO 
R3 R1 
Voltmeter range can be adjusted
Response of the half-wave through choice of the four resistor
rectifier to a sinusoidal input . values.
Electronic Instrumentation R. C. Jaeger and T. Blalock 8
5.1 Precision rectifiers
Full-wave rectification
Ideal DA & DB

Electronic Instrumentation A. S. Sedra and K. C. Smith 9

5.2 Peak detectors

Peak detector with reset switch wikipedia

Electronic Instrumentation 10
5.2 Peak detector/envelope detector

AM (amplitude modulated) signal Demodulated signal

Electronic Instrumentation
Envelope detector using “superdiode” 11
A. S. Sedra and K. C. Smith
 5.2 Peak detector

A buffered precision
peak rectifier

vI  vO  vC  D2 ON D1 OFF 
vO does not change

vI  vO  vC  D2 turns OFF, D1 ON 
C is charged up to vI  vO follows vI

Electronic Instrumentation A. S. Sedra and K. C. Smith 12

Problem: Assume that the input bias currents are zero, the offset voltages equal zero,
the differential voltage gains of the op amps are A1=A2=A, and the diodes follow the
Shockley equation. Assume that the input voltage vi is constant.
i. Derive the equations for the output voltages of the op amps and of the current
through D2 in terms of the input voltages of the op amps;
ii. Determine a set of equations for the voltage differences vc-vi, vo-vi , vo1-vi , for
constant vi, in terms of the circuit parameters;
iii. Determine the voltage differences vc-vi, vo-vi , vo1-vi for IS=1 pA; n=1; t=25 mV;
R= 1 M; and vi= 1 V with A=; A=10,000; and A=100.

  VD  
I D  I S exp   -1
vc   nt  
vo1

Electronic Instrumentation 13
 5.3. The logarithmic amplifier
R VI >0
VI   0  VO  
IR IC I R  IC ;  IS  exp    1 
VI R   t  
 V   VI 
_ VO  t ln 1  I   t ln  
 RI S   S
RI
VO V
+ for I  I S
R

VO

What if VI <0 ? VI

Electronic Instrumentation 14
 5.3. The (anti)logarithmic amplifier
IC R VI <0

IR
VI VO   0  VI  
I R  IC ;  IS  exp    1 
_ R   t  
 VI 
VO  RI S exp  
+ VO 
 t 

VO

VI

Electronic Instrumentation 15
5. 4. The emitter-coupled pair as a simple multiplier

-t t

Simplified analysis:
; IC is independent of VC I C1  I C 2 eVid /2t  e Vid /2t
 Vid /2t
I EE e +e Vid /2t
V 
I C1  I S exp  BE1  I C1  I C 2 V 
 t   tanh  id 
V 
I EE  2t 
I C 2  I S exp  BE 2  V V
 t  I C1  I C 2  I EE id for id  1
2t 2t
Vid  VBE1  VBE 2 ; I C1  I C 2  I EE
Electronic Instrumentation P. R. Gray, P. J. Hurst, S. H. Lewis, and R. G. Meyer 16
5. 4. The emitter-coupled pair as a simple multiplier
Vid Vid
I C  I C1  I C 2  I EE for  1
2t 2t
Vi 2  VBE 3
I EE 
R
Vid Vi 2  VBE 3  VidVi 2 VidVBE 3
I C   
2t R 2t R 2t R
Vo  RC I C Undesired
term

2- quadrant multiplier: Vid  + or 

IEE > 0

Electronic Instrumentation P. R. Gray, P. J. Hurst, S. H. Lewis, and R. G. Meyer 17

 5. 5 Gilbert multiplier circuit

  V1    V2 
I out  I C 35  I C 46  I EE  tanh     tanh  
  2t    2t 
 V1   V2   V1   V2 
I out  I EE    for  ,   1

 t  t 
2 2  t   2t
2 
Electronic Instrumentation P. R. Gray, P. J. Hurst, S. H. Lewis, and R. G. Meyer 18
 5. 5 Gilbert multiplier circuit

Gilbert multiplier circuit with

emitter degeneration to improve
input voltage range on V2 input

Electronic Instrumentation P. R. Gray, P. J. Hurst, S. H. Lewis, and R. G. Meyer 19

 5. 5 Gilbert multiplier circuit
Application as a balanced modulator
V1(t)

R R
 VO(t) +

V2(t)

Electronic Instrumentation 20
 5. 6 The translinear principle
Translinear: transconductance of a BJT is linearly proportional to its collector current*

Translinear principle applied to a 4-diode bridge

Ib
 I  I 
ID2 VD  t ln 1  D   t ln  D  for I D  I S
D1 D2  IS   IS 

Ic
ID1
Translinear
loop ID4
VD1  VD 3  VD 2  VD 4
Ia  I D1   I D3   ID2   ID4 
t ln  +
 t ln =
 t ln + 
 t  ln 
D3 D4  I S1   IS3   IS 2   IS 4 
ID3
 I D1  I D 3   I D 2  I D 4 
   =  
 S 1  S 3   S 2  S 4 
I I I I
I D1 I D 3  I D 2 I D 4 for equal I S 's
*B. Gilbert in Chapter 2 of Analogue IC design: the current mode approach (editors:Toumazou, Lidgey, Haigh)
Electronic Instrumentation 21
 Problem: Find the currents through the diodes for Ia= 1mA,
Ib=2 mA, Ic=3mA . The diodes are identical. Now suppose that
the diodes are replaced with equal value resistors. What are the
currents through the corresponding resistors R1, R2, R3, R4?

Ib
ID2
D1 D2
Answer:
Ic
ID1
I D1  1.25 mA; I D 2  0.75 mA
ID4
Ia I D 3  2.25 mA; I D 4  3.75 mA
D3 D4
ID3
I R1  1.5 mA; I R 2  0.5 mA
I R 3  2.5 mA; I R 4  3.5 mA

Electronic Instrumentation 22
 5. 6 The translinear principle
Square root circuit using the translinear principle

Neglecting the base currents show that

IS3IS 4
I o  Ii IB
I S1I S 2

I o  Ii IB for identical transistors

Electronic Instrumentation 23
 5. 6 The translinear principle
Square law circuit using the translinear principle

Neglecting the base currents show that

I B1 I S 3 I S 4 I S 6
I o  Ii2
I B2 2 I S1I S 2 I S 5

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5. 7 RMS-to-DC converter

Electronic Instrumentation 25
5. 7 RMS-to-DC converter

VOUT =VIN2

Electronic Instrumentation 26
5. 7 RMS-to-DC converter

Electronic Instrumentation 27
5. 8 Limiter circuits

ii
 +

vy

For the circuit shown above, assume that

VZ1= VZ2= VZ= 5 V, VON= 0V, Vsat= 10 V, R1=
R2 = 10 k, and -10 V<vi<10 V.
a) For R= 5 k, plot the graphs vo x vi , vz x vi ,
and ii x vi;
b) For R= 10 k, plot the graphs vo x vi , vz x vi ,
and ii x vi; 

c) For R= 20 k, plot the graphs vo x vi , vz x vi ,

and ii x vi;
Electronic Instrumentation 28
Problem: What is the purpose of the circuit below? The output is the
differential current I1-I2. Calculate I1,I2 and I1-I2

Electronic Instrumentation 29
Appendix: Automatic Gain Control (AGC)

VGA: variable
gain amplifier

Electronic Instrumentation
 AD8338 - Low Power, 18 MHz Variable Gain Amplifier

Constant bandwidth over

the entire gain range

Slope =1 dB/12.5 mV

=80 dB/V

Electronic Instrumentation 31
 AD8338 - Low Power, 18 MHz Variable Gain Amplifier

Electronic Instrumentation 32
 Problem: Simplified analysis of the AD8338 VGA
ID/2
ID/2

Derive equations for the OUTP and OUTN in

terms of INPR, INMR, resistances, ID and IN

Electronic Instrumentation 33
 AD8338 configured as an AGC amplifier

Electronic Instrumentation 34
 A. B. Grebene, Bipolar and MOS Analog Integrated Circuit Design, Wiley,
2003.
R. C. Jaeger and T. Blalock, Microelectronic Circuit Design, McGraw-Hill,
New York, any edition.
A. S. Sedra and K. C. Smith, Microelectronic Circuits, any edition.
P. R. Gray, P. J. Hurst, S. H. Lewis, and R. G. Meyer, Analysis and Design
of Analog Integrated Circuits, 4th edition, 2001.

Electronic Instrumentation 35