
9
Error-Amplifier in Regulated Power Supplies
The CA3160 is an ideal choice for error-amplifier service in
regulated power supplies since it can function as an error-
amplifier when the regulated output voltage is required to
approach zero.
The circuit shown in Figure 6 uses a CA3160 as an error
amplifier in a continuously adjustable 1A power supply. One
of the key features of this circuit is its ability to regulate down
to the vicinity of 0V with only one DC power supply input.
An RC network, connected between the base of the output
drive transistor and the input voltage, prevents “turn-on
overshoot”, a condition typical of many operational
amplifier regulator circuits. As the amplifier becomes
operational, this RC network ceases to have any influence
on the regulator performance.
Precision Voltage-Controlled Oscillator
The circuit diagram of a precision voltage-controlled oscillator is
shown in Figure 7. The oscillator operates with a tracking error
in the order of 0.02% and a temperature coefficient of
0.01%/
o
C. A multivibrator (A
1
) generates pulses of constant
amplitude (V) and width (T
2
). Since the output (Terminal 6) of
A
1
(a CA3130) can swing within about 10mV of either supply-
rail, the output pulse amplitude (V) is essentially equal to V+.
The average output voltage (E
AVG
= V T
2
/T
1
) is applied to the
non-inverting Input terminal of comparator A
2
via an integrating
network R
3
, C
2
. Comparator A
2
operates to establish circuit
conditions such that E
AVG
= V
1
. This circuit condition is
accomplished by feeding an output signal from Terminal 6 of A
2
through R
4
, D
4
to the inverting terminal (Terminal 2) of A
1
,
thereby adjusting the multivibrator interval, T
3
.
Voltmeter With High Input Resistance
The voltmeter circuit shown in Figure 8 illustrates an
application in which a number of the CA3160 characteristics
are exploited. Range-switch SW
1
is ganged between input
and output circuitry to permit selection of the proper output
voltage for feedback to Terminal 2 via 10k
current-limiting
resistor. The circuit is powered by a single 8.4V mercury
battery. With zero input signal, the circuit consumes
somewhat less than 500
μ
A plus the meter current required
to indicate a given voltage. Thus, at full scale input, the total
supply current rises to slightly more than 1500
μ
A.
CA3085
1
2
6
3
0.001
μ
F
4
7
6
13
8
1
5
12
CD4007A
“SWITCHES”
10
3
14
11
2
9
4
7
806K
1%
402K
1%
200K
1%
806K
1%
6
13
8
1
12
CD4007A
“SWITCHES”
10
3
100K
1%
(2)
806K
1%
6
13
8
12
CD4007A
“SWITCHES”
10
3
806K
1%
806K
1%
(4)
806K
1%
(8)
806K
1%
1
5
806K
1%
750K
1%
10V LOGIC INPUTS
PARALLELED
RESISTORS
OUTPUT
+10.010V
LSB
9
MSB
1
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
8
+10.010V
22.1K
1%
1K
3.83K
1%
2
μ
F
25V
+
-
+15V
62
VOLTAGE
REGULATOR
REGULATED
VOLTAGE
ADJUST
CA3160
3
4
2
0.1
μ
F
+
-
1
5
6
2K
+15V
100K
VOLTAGE
FOLLOWER
7
OFFSET
NULL
LOAD
10K
BIT
REQUIRED
RATIO-MATCH
1
Standard
2
±
0.1%
±
0.2%
±
0.4%
±
0.8%
±
1% ABS.
3
4
5
6 - 9
FIGURE 5. 9-BIT DAC USING CMOS DIGITAL SWITCHES AND CA3160
806K
1%
5
CA3160, CA3160A