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VCA610
9
–80dB to +80dB. Simply connecting V
C1
and V
C2
to the
same 0 to –2V gain control voltage can produce this range,
however, separate control voltages for the two amplifiers
offer a noise performance improvement. In that configura-
tion, each amplifier separately controls one half the gain
range in a manner that always holds G
1
at the maximum
level possible.
FIGURE 6. Two Series Connected VCA610s Expand the
Gain Range and Improve Noise Performance.
GAIN
–80dB to 0dB
0dB to 80dB
V
C1
0 to –2V
–2V
G
1
–40dB to +40dB
+40dB
V
C2
0V
0 to –2V
G
2
–40dB
–40dB to +40dB
G
2
G
1
V
C2
V
O
V
C1
V
IN
VCA
1
VCA
2
At higher gains, variation of V
C2
alone makes VCA
2
provide
all of the gain control, leaving the gain of VCA
1
fixed at its
maximum of 40dB. This gain maximum corresponds to the
maximum bias currents in VCA
1
, minimizing this amplifier’s
noise. Thus, for composite circuit gains of 0dB to +80dB,
V
CA1
serves as a low-noise, fixed-gain preamp.
For lower composite gains, VCA
1
provides the gain control
and VCA
2
acts as a fixed attenuator. There, variation of V
C1
varies G
1
from –40dB to +40dB while V
C2
remains fixed at
0V for G
2
= –40dB. This mode produces the –80dB to 0dB
segment of the composite gain range.
FIGURE 8. Adding Wein-bridge Feedback to the AGC Circuit of Figure 7 Produces an Amplitude Stabilized Oscillator.
VCA610
C
H
1μF
V–
OPA620
V
0.1 VDC
V
OPEAK
= V
R
V
O
R
3
HP5082
R
1
50k
C
4700pF
R
4
100
1k
R
2
50k
R
W1
300
R
W2
300
C
W2
4700pF
C
C
10pF
f = 1/2
π
R
W1
C
W1
R
W1
=
R
W2
C
W1
=
C
W2
V
C
WIDE-RANGE AGC AMPLIFIER
The voltage-controlled gain feature of the VCA610 makes
this amplifier ideal for precision AGC applications with
control ranges as large as 60dB. The AGC circuit of Figure
7 adds an op amp and diode for amplitude detection, a
holding capacitor to store the control voltage and resistors
R
1
through R
3
that determine attack and release times.
Resistor R
4
and capacitor C
C
phase compensate the AGC
feedback loop. The op amp compares the positive peaks of
output V
O
with a DC reference voltage V
R
. Whenever a V
O
peak exceeds V
R
, the OPA620 output swings positive, for-
ward biasing the diode and charging the holding capacitor.
This drives the capacitor voltage in a positive direction,
reducing the amplifier gain. R
3
and the C
H
largely determine
the attack time of this AGC correction.
Between gain corrections, resistor R
1
charges the capacitor
in a negative direction, increasing the amplifier gain. R
1
, R
2
and C
H
determine the release time of this action. Resistor R
2
forms a voltage divider with R
1
, limiting the maximum
negative voltage developed on C
H
. This limit prevents input
overload of the VCA610’s gain control circuit.
FIGURE 7. This AGC Circuit Maintains a Constant Output
Amplitude for a 1000:1 Input Range.
VCA610
C
0.1μF
V–
V
IN
OPA620
V
R
V
OUT PEAK
= V
R
V
O
R
3
1k
HP5082
R
1
50k
2mV to 2V
100kHz
R
2
50k
C
C
50pF
0.1 VDC
R
4
100
V
C