Author: Michael Koltai

Time to Voltage Converter circuit

Applications such as rangefinders and ballistic chronographs require a high resolution measurement of time. This can be a time period of a few hundred nanoseconds to a few milliseconds. This is an analog circuit that can convert a time period to a voltage with high linearity and high resolution. In principle, a current source is used to charge a capacitor for the time interval and then the voltage across that capacitor is measured. A REF200 precision current source is used to furnish 200uA to a fast SPDT analog switch, represented by SW1 & SW2. This switch steers the current into ground or into a 100pF capacitor C2.

U1 is simply a high- precision buffer amplifier for the voltage on C2.

SW3 is a reset that zeros the voltage on C2. Initially, SW3 is open and SW2 steers the 200uA to ground until a START command is received; SW2 then opens and SW1 closes, steering the current into C2. The capacitor charges until a STOP command is received;  SW1 then opens and SW2 closes. The voltage on C2 is proportional to the time between START and STOP; scale time range is determined by the value of C2 so this capacitor should be high quality. A polystyrene or NPO (COG) ceramic is recommended for C2. A small DMOS SD211 can be used for SW3.  (Circuit is created by  Neil P. Albaugh, TI-Tucson)

Time to Voltage Converter circuit:

Online Simulation of a Time to Voltage Converter circuit:

The great feature of the TINA circuit simulator that you can analyze this circuit immediately with TINACloud the online version of TINA. Of course you can also run this circuit in the off-line version of TINA.

Click here to invoke TINACloud  and analyze the circuit yourself or watch our tutorial video!

You can send this link to any TINACloud customers and they can immediatelly load it by a single click and then run using TINACloud.

Michael Koltai
www.tina.com

Load Cancellation Circuit

Amplifier output loading can be reduced or even eliminated by use of a load cancellation circuit such as that of U2. Without load cancellation, the inverting unity- gain op amp U1 output current is a function of its input voltage Vin and its 1k load resistance RL. At Vin = 1V, both AM1 (U1 output) and AMload (load current) = -1mA.

With compensation adjusted for 100%, the load current is furnished entirely by the compensation circuit. Thus the output of U1 essentially sees an “open circuit”. Rc controls the degree of load current compensation. Bypass capacitors are not shown. (Circuit is created by Neil P. Albaugh,  TI-Tucson)

Load Cancellation Circuit:

Online Simulation of a Load Cancellation Circuit:

The great feature of the TINA circuit simulator that you can analyze this circuit immediately with TINACloud the online version of TINA. Of course you can also run this circuit in the off-line version of TINA.

Click here to invoke TINACloud  and analyze the circuit yourself or watch our tutorial video!

You can send this link to any TINACloud customers and they can immediatelly load it by a single click and then run using TINACloud.

Michael Koltai
www.tina.com

Two OPA569 Current Sources in Parallel

This circuit provides voltage- controlled constant- current biasing of a grounded- cathode laser diode. As shown, the OPA569 op amp provides an output current of 500mA per volt input. The OPA569’s output is current- limited to 2A by R3 & R4. Bypass capacitors are not shown. This circuit takes advantage of the unique topology of the OPA569; it does not require a shunt resistor to measure its output current. This amplifier provides an output monitor current from pin 19  that is 1/475 th of its output current. The voltage developed across R1 & R2 are used as negative feedback to the amplifier’s inverting input (pin 5).

A constant- current output is derived by this feedback.

Since no shunt resistor is required to measure output current, there is no reduction in output  voltage compliance due to shunt resistor voltage drop, this circuit can swing its output voltage very close to its supply rail. This increases efficiency and reduces heat sinking requirements. In fact, supply voltage can be reduced to only a few hundred mV above the load voltage.
The OPA569 features both a Current Limit (pin 4) and a Thermal Overtemp (pin 7) flag. These flags can be used to protect the amplifier and the Enable (pin 8) can be used to digitally control its status. (Circuit is created by  Neil P. Albaugh,  TI-Tucson)

Two OPA569 Current Sources in Parallel Circuit:

Online Simulation of the “Two OPA569 Current Sources in Parallel” Circuit:

The great feature of the TINA circuit simulator that you can analyze this circuit immediately with TINACloud the online version of TINA. Of course you can also run this circuit in the off-line version of TINA.

Click here to invoke TINACloud and analyze the circuit yourself or watch our tutorial video!

You can send this link to any TINACloud customers and they can immediatelly load it by a single click and then run using TINACloud.

Michael Koltai
www.tina.com

Shunt Amplifier with Offset Output

By reducing the +12V common- mode voltage, an INA122 can sense the voltage drop across a shunt resistor while being powered by the same +12V power supply.  Rg controls the voltage gain of U1. This circuit is scaled for a 2.5V output range centered around +1.25V; thus this amplifier can measure bidirectional shunt current. An INA122 does not feature a R-R output so the sinking current is limited to about -0.3A. This can be useful where battery current must be monitored while it is being charged or discharged. Bypass capacitors are not shown. (Circuit is created by Tucson)

Shunt Amplifier with Offset Output circuit:

Online Simulation of a Shunt Amplifier with Offset Output Circuit:

The great feature of the TINA circuit simulator that you can analyze this circuit immediately with TINACloud the online version of TINA. Of course you can also run this circuit in the off-line version of TINA.

Click here to invoke TINACloud and analyze the circuit yourself or watch our tutorial video!

You can send this link to any TINACloud customers and they can immediatelly load it by a single click and then run using TINACloud.

Michael Koltai
www.tina.com

Single-Ended Input Differential Output Amplifier

A DRV134 converts a single- ended input signal to a differential output. Differential output is used to drive the inputs of some A/D converters and to drive tristed- pair or Twinax transmission lines in a high- noise environment.

An INA137 or INA137 can be used as a differential line receiver to convert the differential voltage back to single- ended.

In AC- only applications such as audio, capacitors can be inserted between the outputs and their respective sense pins to reduce the DRV134 output DC offset. See the data sheet for details. Bypass capacitors have been omitted in this schematic but their use is recommended. (Circuit is created by Neil P. Albaugh, TI- Tucson )

Single-Ended Input Differential Output Amplifier  Circuit:

Online Simulation of a Single-Ended Input Differential Output Amplifier  Circuit

The great feature of the TINA circuit simulator that you can analyze this circuit immediately with TINACloud the online version of TINA. Of course you can also run this circuit in the off-line version of TINA.

Click here to invoke TINACloud and analyze the circuit yourself or watch our tutorial video!

You can send this link to any TINACloud customers and they can immediatelly load it by a single click and then run using TINACloud.

Michael Koltai
www.tina.com