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Combine two 8-bit outputs to make one 16-bit DAC

Steve Woodward, Chapel Hill, NC
nexpensive, 16-bit, monolithic DACs can serve almost all applications. However, some applications require unconventional approaches. This Design Idea design concerns circuitry I recently designed for a tunable-diode laser spectrometer for a Mars-exploration application. The control circuitry included two 16-bit DACs that interface to the radiation-hardened, 8051-variant 69RH051A microcontroller. Because of the intended space-flight-qualified specification, everything in the design had to consist solely of components from the NPSL (NASA parts-selection list). This restric-

tion posed a challenge, because, at design finalization, the NPSL included no appropriate, flight-qualified, 16-bit DACs, and the budget included no funds for certification of new devices. I escaped from this impasse by exploiting two fortuitous facts: The update rate of the two DACs was only tens of hertz, and the 69RH051A had a number of uncommitted, 8bit, 14.5-kHz PWM outputs. These outputs made one 16-bit DAC; a second pair of PWM bits and an identical circuit made the other (Figure 1). Hex inverter IC1s VCC rail connects to a precision 5V reference. The inverters
IC2 C4 27 pF 14.756 MHz 69RH051 A 18
Y1 VDD2

Combine two 8-bit outputs to make one 16-bit DAC ..................................85 LED driver provides software-controlled intensity ..........................86 Improve roll-off of Sallen-Key filter ................88 AC-coupling instrumentation amplifier improves rejection range of differential dc input voltage..................................................88 Simplify computer-aided engineering with scientific-to-engineering conversion ....94 1.5V battery powers white-LED driver ..........96 Simple VCOM adjustment uses any logic-supply voltage ..................................96
Publish your Design Idea in EDN. See the Whats Up section at www.edn.com.

5V 40 0.1 F VSS 20 31

XTAL1

19 C5 27 pF VDAC 0 TO 5V (REFERENCE) R3 200k V4 R2 3.92k V1 R1 1M 9

XTAL2 RST

EA A15 A14 A13 A12 A11 A10 A9 A8 WR R0

11 10 3

TX0 RX0

4 HC04 10 HC04

IC1

28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 16 17

IC1

11

ALE 30 8 7 6 5 4 AD7 AD6 AD5 AD4 AD3 AD2 AD1 AD0 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 29

R5 200k C9 0.01 F

12 13 IC1 C8 HC04 0.0056 R4 F V 3.92k 2

2 HC04

IC1 1

PWM1 PWM0

CEX4 CEX3 CEX2 CEX1 CEX0

8 R 6 V3 1M HC04

IC1 9 12 R7 1M

INTO PSEN

6 HC04

IC1 5

5V (REFERENCE)

Figure 1
Two PWM outputs from a microcontroller combine to form a monotonic 16-bit DAC. www.edn.com
C1B 0.1 F

14 VCC GND IC1 HCO4 7

outputs are accurate analog square waves. The low-order PWM-signal output, PWM0, of the 8051 controls the V3 square wave, and the high-order PWM output, PWM1, controls the V1 square wave. R2 and R6 passively sum the two square waves in the ratio R2/R6 3290/1 million 1/255 to produce V4, duplicating the 28 ratio of the 16-bit sum. This action makes the dc component of V4 equal to 5V(REF)(PWM0 255PWM1)/256. Thus, if you write the 0 to 255, high-order byte of a 0 to 65,535, 16-bit DAC setting to the CEX1 register of the 8051 and write the 0 to 255, low-order byte to CEX0, a corresponding 16-bit analog representation appears in the dc component of V4. The accuracy of the R2-to-R6 ratio is the only limit on the monotonicity and accuracy of this circuit. For example, one part in 25,500 14.5 bits for 1%-tolerance R2 and R6 and a full 16 bits for 0.3% tolerance or better. But the story doesnt end there. Two problems remain. The first problem is the extraction of V4s desired dc component from allor
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tively nulls out approximately 99% of the ripple. This nullifying action leaves such a small residue that an approximately 2msec and, therefore, approximately 25msec-settling-time R3C9 product easily erases it. The other problem is compensation for the low, but still nonzero, on-resistance of the HC14 internal CMOS switches, so that the resistance doesnt perturb the critical R2-to-R6 ratio. This issue is of no particular concern for R6, because the R6to-on-resistance ratio is greater than 10,000-to-1, making any associated error negligible. This situation is not the case for R2, however, in which, despite the triple-parallel gates, the R2-to-on-resistance ratio is approximately 300-to-1, which is small enough to merit attention. Load-cancellation resistor R1 provides such attention. R1 sums a current into the R2 driving node that, because it is equal in magnitude but opposite in phase to the current through R6, effectively cancels the load on the R2 drivers. This process makes the combined on-resistance approximately 100 times less important than it otherwise would be. The result is a simple, highly linear and accurate voltageoutput DAC with a respectable, if not blazingly fast, settling time of approximately 25 msec. And the most important result, in this case, was a parts list with an impeccable NPSL-compliant pedigree.

at least 15 or 16 bits 99.995%of the undesired square-wave ac ripple. The R3C9 lowpass filter does some of this work. If you make C9 large enough, in principle, the filter could do the whole job. The reason this simple approach wouldnt work is that, to get such a large ripple attenuation of approximately 90 dB with a single-stage RC filter would require an approximately 300-msec time constant and a resultant 3-sec, 16-bit settling time. This glacial response time would be too slow even for this undemanding application. To speed things, the R4, R5, R7, C8 network synthesizes and then sums V2: an inverse-polarity duplicate of V4s 14.5kHz ac component. This summation ac-

LED driver provides software-controlled intensity

Neda Shahi and Bjorn Starmark, Maxim Integrated Products, Sunnyvale, CA
VIN ecent advances in D1 SMB R1 CMSH1-100 L1 operating efficiency 51 1 2 VCC have expanded the use C3 C1 C2 22 H LED1 0.1 F of LEDs from one of mere 3.3 F ELL6RH 0.47 F R2 Q1 1206 1206 1210 16k indicators to becoming IRLL110 100V 10V 100V GND SOT223 driving forces in electronic lighting. Increased reliabiliLED2 VIN ty and ruggedness (versus C4 10 11 GATE VIN other lighting technologies) 0.1 F R3 56k gives the LED a bright fu4 CA Q2 MMBT5551 ture indeed. Vendors in re5 CS SOT23 IC1 cent years have introduced 12 LED(N-1) R4 many ICs for driving LEDs, CS DACOUT 6 TO Q3 MMBT3906 10k 1 CONTROLLER SCLK SOT23 but the problem of driving FB 7 2 DIN R5 8 serial chains of LEDs has re510k COMP 3 9 LED(N) R6 ceived less attention. One CL GND 12k approach to that problem MAX1932 C5 R7 12QFN adapts a bias-supply IC 0.33 F 10k Figure 1 for APDs (avalanche photodiodes) to provide adjustable-current, soft- The APD driver, IC1, provides high-voltage LED modules with software-adjustable intensity control. ware shutdown, and logic indication of open-circuit faults (Figure sheet help you select components for the these conditions correspond to a full1). This design reconfigures the APD-bias step-up dc/dc converter. The current-ad- scale output of 39 mA and a resolution of 150 A. The three-wire serial interface IC, IC1, to allow its low-voltage DAC out- justment transfer function is: that controls IC1 allows you to shut down put to modulate the high-voltage, curIC1 by writing code 00hex to the DAC. rent-sense feedback via a high-voltageThe circuit also provides an output-voltoutput transconductance stage comage limit. If an LED fails open, the R5-R7 prising Q2 and Q3. These two complementary transistors provide first-order where VCL is the current-limit threshold divider limits the output voltage, in this temperature-compensation sufficient for (2V), CODE is the digital code to the case, to 50V. Simultaneously, the CL pin the application. DAC in decimal format, and IOUT is the goes high to indicate the open-fault conEquations from the MAX1932 data desired output current. For this circuit, dition.

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Improve roll-off of Sallen-Key filter

Doug Glenn, Teledyne, Lewisburg, TN
he well-documented Sallenmately one-third to one-fourth 10 Key active filter is a staple of the value of R1, and then adjust 0 BREADBOARD analog design. This Design Idea R4 as needed to allow use of 10 SIMULATED standard capacitor values. The shows a way to obtain better roll-off 20 THREE POLE graph in Figure 2 shows the imby adding just a few common pas30 SIMULATED provement in the cutoff rate of sive components. Figure 1a shows 40 the filter; the result is a quasi-ela typical implementation of a 50 liptic response. A breadboard of three-pole, lowpass version. In op60 100 1000 10,000 100,000 the circuit in Figure 1b uses 5% eration, you adjust the ratio of caparts. The measured results pacitors C1 and C2 to give a Figure 2 The improved cutoff rate of the filter results peaked response for the two show good agreement with the in a quasi-elliptical response. poles within the feedback loop. The Spice simulation. To take adpeaked response compensates for vantage of the faster roll-off, the initial roll-off in the third pole formed quency, F 1/(2 R4C4), is equal to ap- just scale the frequency and impedance by the R3-C3 section at the input. In Fig- proximately twice the desired cutoff fre- to your application. The highpass dual of ure 1b, a twin-tee notch filter replaces the quency. this circuit works as well as the lowpass R3-C3 section at the input. The notch freSelect a value for R4 thats approxi- version.

R3 10k

C1 0.1 F R1 10k

R4 3600

R5 3600 C6 0.02 F

R2 10k
+

C1 0.1 F R1 10k

R2 10k
+

C3 0.015 F (a)

C2 470 pF

C4 0.01 F (b)

C5 R6 1800 0.01 F

C2 470 pF

Figure 1

The addition of a twin-tee network (b) considerably improves the roll-off rate of the circuit (a).

AC-coupling instrumentation amplifier improves rejection range of differential dc input voltage

Francis Rodes, Olivier Chevalieras, and Eliane Garnier, ENSEIRB, Talence, France
he need for conditioning lowlevel ac signals in the presence of both common-mode noise and differential dc voltage prevails in many applications. In such situations, ac-coupling to instrumentation and difference amplifiers is mandatory to extract the ac signal and reject common-mode noise and differential dc voltage. This situation typically occurs in bioelectric-signal acquisition, in which metallic-electrode polarization produces a large random differential dc voltage, ranging from 0.15V, which adds to low-level biological signals. Input ac-coupling is one ap-

proach to removing the differential dc content. But this technique requires adding a pair of capacitors and resistors to ac-couple the inputs of the difference amplifier. The manufacturing tolerances of these components severely degrade the CMRR (common-mode-rejection ratio) of the amplifier. If cost is not an issue, you could perform an initial trim, but this operation is useless for biological applications plagued by wide variations in electrodes and tissue impedances. The differential topology in Figure 1 addresses these problems (Reference 1). The principle of this ac-coupled in-

strumentation amplifier is to maintain the mean output voltage at 0V. To do so, you insert an autozero feedback loop, comprising IC4, RFB, and CFB, in a classic three-op-amp instrumentation amplifier. This feedback loop produces a frequency-dependent transfer function:

Consequently, the ac-coupled instrumentation amplifier behaves as a highpass filter with a 3-dB cutoff frequen(continued on pg 92) www.edn.com

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VIN1
+

R R cy from the equation f 1/2 RFBCFB. At IC1 first glance, you might think that the out_ put-autozeroing behavior of the ac-couR2 pled instrumentation amplifier is per_ fect. Unfortunately, the output R1 autozeroing capability of this circuit is IC3 VOUT R2 + CFB strongly limited. You can determine this limitation by expressing the output voltRFB age as a function of the input signals and _ _ R R the integrators output voltage, VZ: IC4 IC2 VOUT (1 2R2/R1)(VIN1 VIN2) VZ AD VIN2 + + VZ (VIN1 VIN2) VZ, where VOUT is the output voltage. In this expression, AD Figure 1 1 2R2/R1 is the differential gain in the passband. At dc, the output voltage is This ac-coupled instrumentation amplifier accommodates only 5-mV maximum input. 0V as long as the integrators output does not reach its saturation voltage, VZ(MAX). as a function of the input signal and the Therefore, setting the output voltage at integrators output voltage, VZ, becomes: 0V in the above expression yields the maximum differential-input dc voltage that this circuit can handle:

Consider, for instance, the typical performance and constraints of a portable biotelemetry system: differential gain of 1000, 5V split power supplies, and op amps with rail-to-rail output-voltage swing. In this system, the application of the formula for VIN yields a maximum differential-input dc voltage of only 5 mV. This limited performance is unacceptable for biological applications, in which you encounter differential-input dc voltages of 0.15V. The ac-coupled instrumentation amplifier in Figure 2 overcomes this limitation, thanks to the addition of active feedback, which includes voltage divider R3-R4 and the associated buffer amplifier, IC5. With this arrangement, the following equations give the new transfer function and highpass cutoff frequency, respectively.

In this expression, AD (1 2R2/R1) (1 R4/R3) is the new differential gain in the passband. At dc, the output voltage remains 0V as long as the integrators output does not reach its saturation voltage, VZ(MAX). Therefore, setting the output voltage at 0V in the new expression for output voltage yields the new maximum differentialinput dc voltage and differential gain. They are, respectively:
1/2 LT1464 VIN1
+

In the above equations, the additional term, 1 R4/R3, is the gain of the activefeedback stage. The new expressions for VIN(MAX) and AD(MAX) clearly show the advantages of Figure 2s ac-coupled instrumentation amplifier with active feedback: For an identical differential gain, you can extend the polarization-voltage range, VIN(MAX), by a factor equal to the gain of the activefeedback stage. Conversely, for a given polarization-voltage range, VIN (MAX), you can increase the differential gain by the gain of the active-feedback stage.
R4 100k R3 1.5k

R 100k

IC1
_

R 1/2 LMC662 + 100k IC5

_

R2 3.3k R1 470
_

1/2 LMC662 IC3 VOUT RFB 4.7M

R2 3.3k

CMRR TRIM T

CFB 1 F
_

R 100k IC2

RF 95k IC4 10k VZ 1/2 LMC662

VIN2

1/2 LT1464

NOTE: R AND RF ARE

1%; OTHERS ARE

5%

Figure 2

The expression for the output voltage

range of

This instrumentation amplifier can accommodate a differential-input 0.34V. www.edn.com

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and it can handle a differential-input dcvoltage range of 0.34V. To obtain this performance, you set the active-feedback stage gain and the differential-amplifier gain, respectively, to 67.6 and 15. With these gain values, the noise performance of the ac-coupled instrumentation amplifier of Figure 2 is similar to that of a classic instrumentation amplifier. This situation occurs because the autozeroing and active-feedback stages, IC4 and IC5, are after the input differential stage, IC1 and IC2. Consequently, the gain of the differential stage roughly divides their respective noise contributions, which are therefore negligible. You can use several low-noise op-amps for IC1 and IC2. For portable biotelemetry applications, the LT1464 is a good compromise for input-noise density, noise-corner frequency, input-bias current and current drain. (Respectively: VNOISE 26 nV/ Hz, fC 9 Hz, IBIAS 0.4 pA, and ICC 230 A.) A theoretical analysis using the LT 1464s noise parameters shows that under worst-case conditions, the inputnoise voltage should not exceed 11 V rms. Tests on prototypes confirm this prediction; the tests effectively measure input-noise voltages of 3 to 6 V rms. To sum up, an ac-coupled instrumentation amplifier with active feedback is wellsuited for applications requiring high differential gain, a capability for handling large differential-input dc voltages, and low-noise performance. Reference 1. Stitt, Mark, AC-Coupled Instrumentation and Difference Amplifier, Burr-Brown, AB-008, May 1990.

The only drawback of this topology is apparent in the expression for fC, the highpass cutoff frequency.You multiply this frequency by the gain of the activefeedback stage. Therefore, to maintain a given cutoff frequency, you must multiply the time constant by a factor equal to the active-feedback stage gain. This factor can be an issue in processing signals whose spectrum includes low-frequency components. In such applications, RFB and CFB can reach prohibitive values. Consequently, you must make a trade-off between the time constant and the activefeedback stage gain. The component values in Figure 2 are a typical example of such a trade-off: The values are for an EEG (electroencephalogram) amplifier with 5V split power supplies. The amplifier has a differential gain of 1000 and a highpass cutoff frequency of 2.3 Hz,

Simplify computer-aided engineering with scientific-to-engineering conversion

Alexander Bell, Infosoft International, Rego Park, NY
he simple yet useful The formula is in VB; you formula in this Design could use it in any VB/VBAIdea enables converbacked software applications. sion from scientific format In this example, the function (for example, 2.2 9), which is in a code module of an MS is typical for CAE (comExcel file (Figure 1). You puter-aided-engineering), could also use it as an Excel double-precision output Add-In (.xla) or a pure-VB, values, into humancompiled-DLL component. friendly engineering forYou can download Listing 1 mat (for example, 2.2 nF). and the Excel file from the The engineering format is Web version of this Design more suitable for bills of Idea at www.edn.com. The material and other electriinput numerical value in this cal and electronic-engiformula has double-precineering documents sion accuracy, and its range The formula appears in the formula bar, taking the first Figure 1 and specifications. spans from approximately numeric parameter from the column to the left. The unit of The formula is rather electrical resistance, ohm, is a second parameter. 1.79308 to 1.79308, which is sufficient for any practical straightforward. It takes two parameters. The first is the numeri- cal-engineering practice. Listing 1, avail- engineering calculations. Note that the cal value, and the second one specifies the able at www.edn.com, shows details of the maximum value is even bigger than the unit of measurementohms, farads, or formula. The tricky part of the formula famous googol, which is represented by henries, for example. Alternatively, it is the conversion to a decimal type after 100 digits. could be of any random text, including an the formula calculates the ratio of two log empty string, . The formula calculates values (Reference 1). This step ensures the Reference 1. Bell, Alexander, Whats wrong with the mantissa/order of magnitude and re- correct order-of-magnitude calculations turns the text string, formatted in com- in cases in which the mantissa of the in- INT(LOG) in VBA? Access-VB-SQL Advisor, October 2002, pg 65. pliance with commonly accepted electri- put value is close or equal to one.

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1.5V battery powers white-LED driver

Steve Caldwell, Maxim Integrated Products, Chandler, AZ
L1 lthough white LEDs are common 10 H in a variety of lighting applications, their 3 to 4V forward-voltage drop + C1 makes low-voltage applications challeng1.5V R1 10 F 5 62 mA ing. Charge pumps and other ICs are 1 4 LX available for driving white LEDs, but they OUT 1 4 5 generally dont work with the low supply C2 BATT D2 RS+ RS voltage of 1.5V in single-cell-battery ap10 F 3 V IC1 D1 CC plications. The low-voltage circuit of FigMAX1722 IC2 3.9V ure 1 provides a current-regulated output 2 GND MAX4073T suitable for driving white LEDs. 1 3 OUT FB Figure 1 GND The boost converter, IC1, can sup2 ply load currents to 62 mA with input voltages as low as 1.2V, making it suitable for use with a 1.5V, single-cell battery. Be- Powered from a single-cell battery, this circuit provides a regulated output current suitable for cause a white LED draws negligible load driving a white LED. current until the output voltage rises above 3V, the boost converter can start across R1 with a gain of 20. This high gain provides overvoltage protection at the boosts efficiency by enabling use of a output. When the output voltage rises with input voltages as low as 0.8V. By deriving feedback from a high-side small-valued current-sensing resistor. above the sum of the zener voltage (VZ) current-sense amplifier, IC2, the circuit You can calculate the value of R1 from the and IC1s 1.235V feedback voltage (VFB), allows current regulation without sacri- desired output current: R1 1.235V/ the feedback voltage (Pin 3) rises and ficing efficiency. IC2s 1.8-MHz band- (20 IOUT). For 1.5V input and 62-mA causes IC1 to stop switching. Thus, for an width also eliminates instability in the output, the circuit efficiency of Figure 1 open-circuit output, the output voltage is feedback loop. IC2 amplifies the voltage is approximately 80%. Zener diode D1 regulated at VZ VFB.

Simple VCOM adjustment uses any logic-supply voltage

Peter Khairolomour and Alan Li, Analog Devices, San Jose, CA
ll TFT (thin-film-transistor) LCD panels require at least one appropriately tuned VCOM signal to provide a reference point for the panels backplane. The exact value of VCOM varies from panel to panel, so the manufacturer must program the voltage at the factory to match the characteristics of each screen. An appropriately tuned VCOM reduces flicker and other undesirable effects. Traditionally, the VCOM adjustment used mechanical potentiometers or trimmers in the voltage-divider mode. In recent years, however, panel makers have begun looking at alternative approaches because mechanical trimmers cant provide the necessary resolution for optimal image fidelity on large panels. They also require a physical adjustment that technicians on

TABLE 1OUTPUT-VOLTAGE RANGE

R2 tolerance (%), scale 30, zero 30 mid 30, full 30, zero 30, mid 30, full R2 (k ) 0 3.5 7 0 6.5 13 VCOM (V) 3.5 4.0 4.5 3.3 4.2 5.1 Step size (mV) 3.9

6.8

the assembly line usually perform. This adjustment is not only time-consuming, but also prone to field failures arising from human error or mechanical vibration. A simple alternative to achieving the increasing adjustment resolution for optimal panel-image fidelity is to replace the mechanical potentiometer with a digital potentiometer. Using digital potentiometers, panel makers can automate the

VCOM-adjustment process, resulting in lower manufacturing cost and higher product quality. Unfortunately, many panels operate at higher voltages, and the choice of available supply voltages is limited. The system implementation for a 5V supply is straightforward (Figure 1). Without a 5V supply, the circuit can become more complex. This Design Idea shows a simple way
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stores the desired potentiometer setting into the EEPROM. The AD5259 uses a 5V, submicron CMOS process for low power dissipation. It comes in a spacesaving 10-pin MSOP, an important feature in low-cost, space-constrained ap3.3V

that you can use any available logic supply to power the potentiometer providing the VCOM adjustment. The 6- or 8-bit AD5258/59 nonvolatile digital potentiometer demonstrates this approach. An I2C serial interface provides control and
VCC 3.3V 5V C1 1 F R6 10k R5 10k R1 70k AD5259 VDD VLOGIC CONTROLLER SCL SDA GND R3 25k R2 10k 14.4V

plications. For systems that have no 5V supply, many designers would be tempted to simply tap off the potentiometers series-resistor string at the 5V location. This approach is not viable, because, during programming (writing to the
14.4V R1 70k 5V AD5259

SUPPLIES POWER TO BOTH THE MICROCONTROLLER AND THE LOGIC SUPPLIES OF THE DIGITAL POTENTIOMETER

C1 1 F

_
IC1 AD8565

R6 10k

R5 10k

VDD VLOGIC

_
IC1 AD8565 R2 10k

3.5V<VCOM<4.5V

CONTROLLER

SCL SDA GND

3.5V<VCOM<4.5V

R3 25k

Figure 1
A digital potentiometer makes it easy to adjust VCOM to the desired value.

Figure 2
A separate VLOGIC pin makes it possible to derive the VDD supply from the potentiometers resistor string.

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VDD VLOGIC DGND RDAC EEPROM RDAC1 REGISTER RDAC1 A1 W1 B1 SCL SDA I2 C SERIAL INTERFACE DATA

EEPROM), the AD5259s VLOGIC pin typically draws 35 mA. It cannot draw this current level through R1 because the voltage drop would be too large. For this reason, the AD5259 has a separate VLOGIC pin that can connect to any available logic supply. In Figure 2, VLOGIC uses the supply voltage from the microcontroller that is controlling the digital potentiometer. Now, VLOGIC draws the 35-mA programming current, and VDD draws only microamps of supply current to bias the internal switches in the digital potentiometers internal resistor string. If the panel requires a higher VCOM voltage, you can add two resistors to place the op amp in a noninverting gain configuration. The digital potentiometer has 30% end-to-end resistance tolerance. Assuming that the tolerances of R1, R3, and VDD are negligible compared with those of the potentiometer, you can achieve the range of output values that Table 1 shows. Assume that the desired value of VCOM is

8 8

CONTROL

AD0 AD1 COMMAND-DECODE LOGIC POWERON RESET

ADDRESS-DECODE LOGIC

CONTROL LOGIC

Figure 3

This block diagram shows the digital potentiometers inner workings.

4V 0.5V, with a maximum step size of 10 mV. As Table 1 shows, the circuit in Figure 2 guarantees an output range of 3.5 to 5.4V with a step size within 10 mV. And, despite the 30% tolerance of R2, the midscale VCOM output meets the

target specification. Also, because the digital potentiometers logic supply matches the microcontrollers logic levels, the microcontroller can read data back if desired. Figure 3 shows a block diagram of the digital potentiometer.

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