
12
Staircase Generator
Figure 10 shows a staircase generator circuit utilizing three
CMOS operational amplifiers. Two CA3130s are used; one
as a multivibrator, the other as a hysteresis switch. The third
amplifier, a CA3160, is used as a linear staircase generator.
Picoammeter Circuit
Figure 11 is a current-to-voltage converter configuration
utilizing a CA3160 and CA3140 to provide a picoampere
meter for 13pA full scale meter deflection. By placing
Terminals 2 and 4 of the CA3160 at ground potential, the
CA3160 input is operated in the “guarded mode”. Under this
operating condition, even slight leakage resistance present
between Terminals 3 and 2 or between Terminals 3 and 4
would result in zero voltage across this leakage resistance,
thus substantially reducing the leakage current.
If the CA3160 is operated with the same voltage on input
Terminals 3 and 2 as on Terminal 4, a further reduction in the
NOTE: Asquarewave signalmodulatestheexternalsweepinginput
toproduce1Hzand1MHz,showingthe1,000,000/1frequencyrange
of the Function Generator.
FIGURE 9B. TWO-TONE OUTPUT SIGNAL FROM THE
FUNCTION GENERATOR
NOTE: The bottom trace is the sweeping signal and the top trace is
the actualgeneratoroutput.Thecentertracedisplays the 1MHzsignal
via delayed oscilloscope triggering of the upper swept output signal.
FIGURE 9C. TRIPLE-TRACE OF THE FUNCTION GENERATOR
SWEEPING TO 1MHz
FIGURE 9. 1,000,000/1 SINGLE CONTROL FUNCTION GENERATOR: 1Hz to 1MHz
8
3
2
4
7
CA3130
-
+
6
2
3
4
7
CA3160
+
-
6
3
2
4
7
CA3130
-
+
8
6
+15V
100
k
1M
+15V
15 - 115pF
FREQ
ADJUST
MULTIVIBRATOR RETRACE INHIBIT
100
k
100
k
MULTIVIBRATOR
STEP HEIGHT
ADJUST
4 - 60pF
8.2k
CHARGE
COMMUTATING
NETWORK
470pF
+15V
INTEGRATOR
STAIRCASE
OUTPUT
10k
2k
1.5
M
HYSTERESIS SWITCH
+15V
+15V
+15mV TO +10V
51k
100k
5.1k
1N914
1N914
FIGURE 10A. STAIRCASE GENERATOR CIRCUIT
CA3160, CA3160A