Interface Circuits: Hooking Up To The Outside World

Prof. Greg Kovacs Department of Electrical Engineering Stanford University

Design Note: The Design Process

Definition of function - what you want. Block diagram - translate into circuit functions. First Design Review. Circuit design - the details of how functions are accomplished.
Component selection Schematic Simulation Prototyping of critical sections

Second Design Review. Fabrication and Testing.

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 2

Interface Circuits
Interface circuits connect between conventional electronic circuits (op-amps, logic, etc.) to the outside world. They include circuits to buffer, amplify, and process sensor signals - INPUT of information. Also, they can include circuits to drive actuators, relays, etc. - OUTPUT of information. In general, they translate between the volts and milliamps of conventional circuits and their equivalents within several orders of magnitude.

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs

Power Driver Circuits

There are a variety of devices that one might want to drive that require more current or higher voltages than inexpensive op-amps can produce. Of course, one solution is to purchase specialty op-amps with high current or high voltage outputs. However, it is very useful to know how to extend the capabilities of op-amp (and logic circuit) outputs to avoid this, particularly when the more expensive approach is not warranted.

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Power Transistors/Heatsinks

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Unipolar Power Switches

For many output devices, one simply needs to switch a drive voltage on and off. In this case, one can use a bipolar power transistor with sufficient current gain (or a Darlington configuration) or a power MOSFET. Today, the most efficient choice is usually the MOSFET.

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Basic Switch
Can use BJT or MOSFET. If loads are inductive, need flyback protect diode. Can drive directly from TTL/CMOS logic instead (want logic-drive MOSFET or BJT). Use current-limit resistor for BJT.
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V2

V1

Flyback Protect Diode

VV+
Rg

Example Flyback Circuit

V+ 30 mH High voltage pulses out! 2N3440 1 k Pulse Source

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IRLZ-34 Logic-Level MOSFET

60V, 30A, 0.05 5V VGS

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Relay
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Pulse-Width Modulation
Pulse-width modulation, or PWM, offers a simple, DIGITAL output way of 10% modulating power. The idea is to vary the duty cycle of pulses from zero 50% to 100% and if the time constants of the device being driven are much 90% longer than the pulse times, a low-pass filtered equivalent power is obtained.
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Random PWM Ideas

Triangle Wave Generator

VV+

VOUT

VMOD

Source: National Semiconductor Linear 3 Databook

SG3525A/SG3527A LM3524 Dedicated PWM Chips

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DC Motors

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Bipolar Power Switches

V+

Drive

Load

Drive

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Modern Vacuum Tube Audio

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Power Inverters
Digital drive to transformer to generate higher or lower voltage. Can use to power fluorescent lights, AC appliances, or to generate higher DC voltages (need rectifier and filter). Can make negative supply rail.
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V+

MOSFET Power Driver

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HV Inverter

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Fashion Statement

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Power Voltage Sources

In some cases, a beefy and variable voltage source is needed (e.g., audio power amplifiers, signal generator outputs, power supplies, etc.) In this case, one can either purchase power opamps and use them in the standard configurations, or use power booster circuits with conventional, low-cost op-amps.

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THE COMPLEMENTARY EMITTER FOLLOWER AMPLIFIER ("PUSH-PULL")

A COMPLEMENTARY PAIR OF TRANSISTORS ARRANGED AS TWO EMITTER FOLLOWERS CAN PROVIDE LOTS OF POWER WITH INEXPENSIVE PARTS! VERY EFFICIENT (APPROXIMATELY 80%) CAN ALSO PROVIDE A DISTORTED SIGNAL DUE TO CROSSOVER DISTORTION CAN DO THE SAME WITH MOSFETS
V +V
CC

in

out

-VCC

THIS IS A "CLASS B" CIRCUIT

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CROSSOVER DISTORTION
+V
CC

in

out

-VCC

THERE IS A +/- 0.7 V "DEADBAND" WITHIN WHICH THE NEITHER TRANSISTOR IS CONDUCTING...

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A CLOSE LOOK AT THE DISTORTION

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OUTPUT SPECTRUM OF CLASS A AMPLIFIER WITH CROSSOVER DISTORTION

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REDUCING CROSSOVER DISTORTION WITH BIASING DIODES...

+V
CC

in

Vout

THIS IS A "CLASS AB" CIRCUIT

-VCC

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BETTER PERFORMANCE WITH FEEDBACK!

MAGIC SWITCH
+V
CC

R2

R1

V V
in

out

THE +/- 0.7V DEADBAND IS REDUCED TO

0.7 AVO

THE SLEW-RATE LIMITATIONS OF THE OP-AMP MEAN THAT THIS DEADBAND WILL STILL BE APPARENT AT HIGH FREQUENCIES....
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-VCC

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HAYES & HOROWITZ SAY....

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SEE ANY DISTORTION?

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OUTPUT SPECTRUM OF THE SAME PUSH-PULL AMPLIFIER WITH FEEDBACK

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Peltier Devices

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Beer Cooler #2

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The Bridge Configuration

Source: National Semiconductor LM12 Application Note.

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High Voltage Amplifiers

For high voltage opamp applications, recent price reductions in HV opamps make it possible to use standard configurations easily. www.apexmicrotech. com is a good source of chips and application notes.

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs

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Current Sources/Sinks/Pumps
Many transducers require current sources to drive them (e.g., electromagnetic coils in some settings, lasers, LEDs, etc.). There are several simple current driver circuits that use op-amps to provide closed-loop control, and the high output impedances required. The basic principle is to sense the sourced (or sunk) current and convert it into a signal for feedback purposes. If the desired currents exceed the capabilities of the op-amp, external pass transistors are used.
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Classic Op-Amp Current Sink

V+

VIN IL = RF

VIN

Load

IL

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Beer-Locked-Loop
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Types of Sensors
Electromagnetic Coils Strain Gauges Accelerometers Microphones Optical (covered elsewhere) Temperature Sensors

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Sensor Signal Processing

Typical sensor signal processing involves (pre)amplification, filtering and sometimes some downstream functions. Downstream functions may include a comparator (decision) or A/D converter, sometimes preceded by a sample-and-hold circuit. In some cases (not covered in EE122), the sensor signal (before or after digitization) is transmitted to another location using telemetry.

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LM334 Temperature Sensor

Source: Linear Technology LM334 Datasheet.

Note that current-output sensors allow quite long wire lengths, since they are pretty much insensitive to cable resistance.
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Transresistance Amplifiers
Transresistance amplifiers simply translate current from a sensor into an output voltage. They are just inverting amplifiers without the input resistor. The transresistance gain is given in OHMS.

V+
Rf

VV+
Vout

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Transresistance Frequency Response

Quite often, high DC gain is desired without much AC gain or controlled roll-off. These are two example approaches to achieve such characteristics. In practice the top circuit is most often used.
EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs
RF

1 AR = R f R f CS + 1

C1

Viin V+
RF

VOUT

RP

C1

Vi in V+ VOUT

R R CS + R f AR = P f CS R + R + 1 ( f P)

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New Concepts to Enhance Productivity

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More on Instrumentation Amplifiers

Buffered voltage divider to set ground.

AD620

LT1167

Source: Analog Devices and Linear Technology Datasheets.

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Nerve Impulse Amplifier

Source: Linear Technology Datasheet.

This circuit amplifies the low level nerve impulse signals received from a patient at Pins 2 and 3. RG and the parallel combination of R3 and R4 set a gain of ten. The potential on LT1112s Pin 1 creates a ground for the common mode signal. C1 was chosen to maintain thestabilityofthe patientground.TheLT1167s high CMRR ensures that the desired differential signal is amplified and unwanted common mode signals are attenuated. Since the DC portion of the signal is not important, R6 and C2 make up a 0.3Hz highpass filter. The AC signal at LT1112s Pin 5 is amplified by a gain of 101 set by (R7/R8) +1. The parallel combination of C3 and R7 form a lowpass filter that decreases this gain at frequencies above 1kHz. The ability to operate at 3V on 0.9mA of supply current makes the LT1167 ideal for battery-powered applications. Total supply current for this application is 1.7mA. Proper safeguards, such as isolation, must be added to this circuit to protect the patient from possible harm.

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs

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Switched Capacitor Filters

It is possible to build analog filters where instead of resistors to make RC time constants, analog switches and capacitors are used to simulate resistances. In some filter types (statevariable or biquad), built with integrators, the integrator gain controls the cutoff frequency therefore, you can sweep the cutoff frequency with the clock frequency!

Vout

1 = Vin dt R1 C1
C1 R1

VIN

VV+ VOUT

in

C2

C1

VIN

VV+ VOUT

Clock

Vout

C1 = f clock Vin dt C2
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LTC1064 Switched Capacitor Filter

Source: Linear Technology LTC1064 Datasheet.

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Analog Multipliers
These devices can be used for modulation (AM), basic multiplication, and a variety of other functions. The AD633 is a particularly easy to use chip.

Source: Analog Devices Datasheet.

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More AD633 Stuff

Squaring Circuit

Square Root Circuit (Note errors!)

Source: Analog Devices Datasheet.

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Squarer
AD 633 Vsupply = 15V Input f = 200 kHz Output f = 400 kHz

1 sin ( t ) = (1 cos(2 t )) 2
2
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Triangle Wave Input

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More AD633 Stuff

Amplitude Modulator

Source: Analog Devices Datasheet.

Divider Circuit
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Tremolo Box

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Multipliers in Filters

Divider Circuit Voltage Controlled Filter Circuits

Source: Analog Devices Datasheet.

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Example: Cheesy Accelerometer

Gluing a 6-32 nut onto an inexpensive piezoelectric buzzer yields a cheesy, but functional accelerometer.

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Cheesy Peak-Reading Accelerometer

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Voltage-to-Frequency Converters

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Source: National Semiconductor LM331 Datasheet.

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Voltage-to-Frequency Converters

Source: National Semiconductor LM331 Datasheet.

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Temperature-To-Frequency

Source: National Semiconductor LM331 Datasheet.

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Frequency-to-Voltage Converters

Source: National Semiconductor LM331 Datasheet.

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