AD648
APPLICATION NOTES
The AD648 is a pair of JFET-input op amps with a guaranteed
maximum I
B
of less than 10 pA, and offset and drift laser-
trimmed to 0.3 mV and 3
µV/°C,
respectively (AD648C). AC
specs include 1 MHz bandwidth, 1.8 V/µs typical slew rate and
8
µs
settling time for a 20 V step to
±
0.01%—all at a supply
current less than 400
µA.
To capitalize on the device’s perfor-
mance, a number of error sources should be considered.
The minimal power drain and low offset drift of the AD648 re-
duce self-heating or “warm-up” effects on input offset voltage,
making the AD648 ideal for on/off battery powered applica-
tions. The power dissipation due to the AD648’s 400
µA
supply
current has a negligible effect on input current, but heavy out-
put loading will raise the chip temperature. Since a JFET’s
input current doubles for every 10°C rise in chip temperature,
this can be a noticeable effect.
The amplifier is designed to be functional with power supply
voltages as low as
±
4.5 V. It will exhibit a higher input offset
voltage than at the rated supply voltage of
±
15 V, due to power
supply rejection effects. Common-mode range extends from 3 V
more positive than the negative supply to 1 V more negative
than the positive supply. Designed to cleanly drive up to 10 kΩ
and 100 pF loads, the AD648 will drive a 2 kΩ load with re-
duced open-loop gain.
Figure 21 shows the recommended crosstalk test circuit. A typi-
cal value for crosstalk is –120 dB at 1 kHz.
Figure 22. Board Layout for Guarding Inputs
INPUT PROTECTION
The AD648 is guaranteed to withstand input voltages equal to
the power supply potential. Exceeding the negative supply volt-
age on either input will forward bias the substrate junction of
the chip. The induced current may destroy the amplifier due to
excess heat.
Input protection is required in applications such as a flame de-
tector in a gas chromatograph, where a very high potential may
be applied to the input terminals during a sensor fault condi-
tion. Figures 23a and 23b show simple current limiting schemes
that can be used. R
PROTECT
should be chosen such that the
maximum overload current is 1.0 mA (for example 100 kΩ for a
100 V overload).
Figure 23a. Input Protection of l-to-V Converter
Figure 21. Crosstalk Test Circuit
LAYOUT
To take full advantage of the AD648’s 10 pA max input current,
parasitic leakages must be kept below an acceptable level. The
practical limit of the resistance of epoxy or phenolic circuit
board material is between 1
×
10
12
Ω
and 3
×
10
12
Ω.
This can
result in an additional leakage of 5 pA between an input of 0 V
and a –15 V supply line. Teflon or a similar low leakage material
(with a resistance exceeding 10
17
Ω)
should be used to isolate
high impedance input lines from adjacent lines carrying high
voltages. The insulator should be kept clean, since contaminants
will degrade the surface resistance.
A metal guard completely surrounding the high impedance
nodes and driven by a voltage near the common-mode input
potential can also be used to reduce some parasitic leakages.
The guarding pattern in Figure 22 will reduce parasitic leakage
due to finite board surface resistance; but it will not compensate
for a low volume resistivity board.
Figure 23b. Voltage Follower Input Protection Method
Figure 23b shows the recommended method for protecting a
voltage follower from excessive currents due to high voltage
breakdown. The protection resistor, R
P
, limits the input current.
A nominal value of 100 kΩ will limit the input current to less
than 1 mA with a 100 volt input voltage applied.
The stray capacitance between the summing junction and
ground will produce a high frequency roll-off with a corner
frequency equal to:
f
corner
=
1
2
π
R
P
C
stray
Accordingly, a 100 kΩ value for R
P
with a 3 pF C
stray
will cause
a 3 dB corner frequency to occur at 531 kHz.
–6–
REV. C
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