500 MHz, Linear-in-dB VGA
with AGC Detector
AD8367
Rev. A
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FEATURES
Broad-range analog variable gain: −2.5 dB to +42.5 dB
3 dB cutoff frequency of 500 MHz
Gain up and gain down modes
Linear-in-dB, scaled 20 mV/dB
Resistive ground referenced input
Nominal Z
IN
= 200 Ω
On-chip, square-law detector
Single-supply operation: 2.7 V to 5.5 V
APPLICATIONS
Cellular base stations
Broadband access
Power amplifier control loops
Complete, linear IF AGC amplifiers
High speed data I/O
FUNCTIONAL BLOCK DIAGRAM
02710-001
PSI
12
PSO
11
ENBL
2
DETO
6
GAIN
5
MODE
4
ICOM
14
ICOM
1
INPT
3
ICOM
7
DECL
9
HPFL
13
VOUT
10
OCOM
8
9-STAGE ATTENUATOR BY 5dB
GAUSSIAN INTERPOLATOR
BIAS
SQUARE
LAW
DETECTOR
g
m
CELLS
AD8367
Figure 1.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The AD8367 is a high performance 45 dB variable gain
amplifier with linear-in-dB gain control for use from low
frequencies up to several hundred megahertz. The range,
flatness, and accuracy of the gain response are achieved using
Analog Devices’ X-AMP® architecture, the most recent in a
series of powerful proprietary concepts for variable gain
applications, which far surpasses what can be achieved using
competing techniques.
The input is applied to a 9-stage, 200 Ω resistive ladder network.
Each stage has 5 dB of loss, giving a total attenuation of 45 dB.
At maximum gain, the first tap is selected; at progressively
lower gains, the tap moves smoothly and continuously toward
higher attenuation values. The attenuator is followed by a
42.5 dB fixed gain feedback amplifier—essentially an
operational amplifier with a gain bandwidth product of
100 GHz—and is very linear, even at high frequencies. The
output third order intercept is +20 dBV at 100 MHz (+27 dBm,
re 200 Ω), measured at an output level of 1 V p-p with V
S
= 5 V.
The analog gain-control input is scaled at 20 mV/dB and runs
from 50 mV to 950 mV. This corresponds to a gain of −2.5 dB
to +42.5 dB, respectively, when the gain up mode is selected and
+42.5 dB to −2.5 dB, respectively, when gain down mode is
selected. The gain down, or inverse, mode must be selected
when operating in AGC in which an integrated square-law
detector with an internal setpoint is used to level the output to
354 mV rms, regardless of the crest factor of the output signal.
A single external capacitor sets up the loop averaging time.
The AD8367 can be powered on or off by a voltage applied to
the ENBL pin. When this voltage is at a logic LO, the total
power dissipation drops to the milliwatt range. For a logic HI,
the chip powers up rapidly to its normal quiescent current of
26 mA at 25°C. The AD8367 is available in a 14-lead TSSOP
package for the industrial temperature range of −40°C to +85°C.
