SETTING THE REFERENCE CURRENT
V+
V+
When the LOG101 is used to compute logarithms, either I1 or
I2 can be held constant and becomes the reference current to
which the other is compared.
I1 = 2.5nA to 1mA
4
2.5V
1
3
REF3025
VOUT
1GΩ to 2.5kΩ
LOG101
100kΩ
100Ω
I
2 = 2.5nA
V
OUT is expressed as:
10MΩ
8
VOUT = (1V) • log (I1/I2)
(1)
+25mV
3
5
6
GND
IREF can be derived from an external current source (such as
shown in Figure 3), or it may be derived from a voltage
source with one or more resistors. When a single resistor is
used, the value may be large depending on IREF. If IREF is
10nA and +2.5V is used:
+2.5V
CC
V–
OPA335 Chopper Op Amp
–2.5V
(2)
RREF = 2.5V/10nA = 250MΩ
FIGURE 5. Current Source with Offset Compensation.
IREF
2N2905
at different levels of input signals. Smaller input currents
require greater gains to maintain full dynamic range, and will
slow the frequency response of the LOG101.
RREF
3.6kΩ
2N2905
+15V
–15V
6V
IN834
6V
FREQUENCY COMPENSATION
IREF
=
RREF
Frequency compensation for the LOG101 is obtained by
connecting a capacitor between pins 3 and 8. The size of the
capacitor is a function of the input currents, as shown in the
Typical Characteristic Curves (Minimum Value of Compen-
sation Capacitor). For any given application, the smallest
value of the capacitor which may be used is determined by
the maximum value of I2 and the minimum value of I1. Larger
values of CC will make the LOG101 more stable, but will
reduce the frequency response.
FIGURE 3. Temperature Compensated Current Source.
A voltage divider may be used to reduce the value of the
resistor, as shown in Figure 4. When using this method, one
must consider the possible errors caused by the amplifier’s
input offset voltage. The input offset voltage of amplifier A1
has a maximum value of 1.5mV, making VREF a suggested
value of 100mV.
In an application, highest overall bandwidth can be achieved
by detecting the signal level at VOUT, then switching in
appropriate values of compensation capacitors.
VREF = 100mV
R1 R3
VOS
+
–
1
+5V
NEGATIVE INPUT CURRENTS
A1
IREF
R2
The LOG101 will function only with positive input currents
(conventional current flows into pins 1 and 8). In situations
where negative input currents are needed, the circuits in
Figures 6, 7, and 8 may be used.
R3 >> R2
FIGURE 4. T Network for Reference Current.
Figure 5 shows a low-level current source using a series
resistor. The low offset op-amp reduces the effect of the
LOG101’s input offset voltage.
QA
QB
IIN
National
LM394
FREQUENCY RESPONSE
The frequency response curve seen in the Typical Charac-
teristic Curves is shown for constant DC I1 and I2 with a small
signal AC current on one input.
D1
D2
The 3dB frequency response of the LOG101 is a function of
the magnitude of the input current levels and of the value of the
frequency compensation capacitor. See Typical Characteristic
Curve “3dB Frequency Response” for details.
OPA703
IOUT
The transient response of the LOG101 is different for in-
creasing and decreasing signals. This is due to the fact that
a log amp is a nonlinear gain element and has different gains
FIGURE 6. Current Inverter/Current Source.
LOG101
6
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