Data Sheet 27126B* 3845 AM NOISE BLANKER RF IN RF BYPASS VCC 1 NC 2 DET 20 SUPPLY 19 NO CONNECT 18 RF GATE LOW RF BIAS 3 RF AGC 4 17 RF GATE HIGH AUDIO DELAY 5 16 GROUND AUDIO BLANK TIME (R) 6 15 RF BLANK TIME NO CONNECT 7 14 NO CONNECT AUDIO BLANK TIME (C) 8 13 NOISE DIFFERENTIATOR AUDIO OUT1 9 12 AUDIO OUT 2 10 11 AUDIO IN 2 AUDIO IN 1 NC NC Dwg. PS-003-1A This noise blanker integrated circuit contains all of the necessary circuitry for adding an extremely efficient (patented) noise-blanking technique to any type of AM tuner or receiver with RF input frequencies (or a first IF) to 30 MHz. The A3845ELW and A3845SLW feature dual audio channels and are intended for AM-stereo or independent sideband applications. T C U D O Y L R P ON A high input impedance, high-gain, broadband RF amplifier permits these devices to be directly connected to the RF stage of a tuner. Internal AGC circuitry ensures that the noise detection threshold remains constant with changes in input signal level. The RF gate response time is sufficiently fast to blank the noise pulse at the output of the mixer before the IF filter. Short blanking times effectively suppress most of the interfering noise. Residual audio noise is removed by an audio sample-and-hold gate. The RF blanking time, audio gate delay time, and audio gate blanking time can all be independently adjusted to suit the particular application. D E E C U N N RE I T E N F E O R C S OR I D F These AM noise blankers are packaged in plastic SOICs and are rated for operation over the a standard temperature range of -20°C to +85°C (suffix ‘SLW’) or an extended temperature range to -40°C (suffix ‘ELW’). FEATURES ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM RATINGS at TA = +25°C Supply Voltage, VCC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Package Power Dissipation, PD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . — 12 V 1.78 W Operating Temperature Range, TA Suffix ‘ELW’ . . . . . . . . -40°C to +85°C Suffix ‘SLW’ . . . . . . . . -20°C to +85°C Storage Temperature Range, TS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -55°C to +125°C RF Blanking to 30 MHz Single-Channel or Stereo Audio Blanking Adjustable RF and Audio Blanking Time Adjustable Audio Blanking Delay Sample-and-Hold MOS Audio Gates Internal Voltage Regulation Minimum External Components APPLICATIONS ■ ■ ■ ■ AM and AM-Stereo Automotive Radios CB Transmitter/Receivers Short-Wave Receivers Mobile Communications Equipment Always order by complete part number: Part Number Function A3845ELW A3845SLW Stereo Noise Blanker, Extended Temp. Range Stereo Noise Blanker, Standard Temp. Range 3845 AM NOISE BLANKER FUNCTIONAL BLOCK DIAGRAM MIXER OUT RF IN dV/dt DET 1 3 RF AGC 4 15 VCC 18 RF GATE LOW +4 V 16 100 kΩ 100 kΩ GROUND 13 IF IN 40 Ω RF BIAS 69 pF 2 RF BLANK TIME RF BYPASS 17 RF GATE HIGH PEAK DET NOISE DIFFERENTIATOR RF 10 AUDIO IN 1 REG SUPPLY 20 7 5 6 AUDIO BLANK TIME 14 NO CONNECTION 69 pF 19 AUDIO DELAY 1 kΩ 9 AUDIO OUT 1 8 11 AUDIO IN 2 1 kΩ 12 AUDIO OUT 2 Dwg. FS-004-1A TEST CIRCUIT 267 Ω SUPPLY 0.01 0.01 187 Ω 60.4 Ω 93.1 Ω RF 0.005 2 kΩ NOISE 1 VCC 20 2 NC 19 0.1 DET 18 RF BYPASS 4 17 MIXER OUT 5 16 6 15 3 10 µF 0.1 + R5 R6 R15 7 C8 0.1 AUDIO OUT1 AUDIO IN 1 0.1 NC NC 14 8 13 9 12 10 0.001 0.1 11 AUDIO OUT2 0.1 AUDIO IN 2 Dwg. ES-007-1A Note that the noise-pulse input is attenuated 20 dB by the test circuit. 115 Northeast Cutoff, Box 15036 Worcester, Massachusetts 01615-0036 (508) 853-5000 Copyright © 1988, 2000 Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. 3845 AM NOISE BLANKER ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS over operating temperature range, at VCC = 7.5 V to 11 V, frf = 1 MHz, Noise (fnoise) = 500 Hz Square Wave, faf = 1 kHz, Test Figure. Characteristic Test Leads Limits Test Conditions Min. Typ. Max. Units Supply Voltage Range 20 Operating 7.5 9.0 12 V Quiescent Supply Current 20 VRF = 0 — 15 22 mA Trigger Threshold 1 Noise Pulse Amplitude for VRF = 0 45 100 240 µV Modulation Threshold 1 Noise Pulse Modulation for VRF = 1 mV 35 75 220 % Detector Rise Time 13 C13 = 0 — 500 — ns RF INPUT AMPLIFIER: RF SWITCH: ON Resistance 17-18 — 30 100 Ω OFF Resistance 17-18 — 100 — kΩ Time Delay 1-17 — 1.5 5.0 µs 10-9, 11-12 55 80 _ dB Noise 9, 12 — 1.5 12 mVpp Crosstalk 9, 12 40 60 — dB 10-9, 11-12 -1.2 -0.3 0 dB — <0.1 1.0 % From Beginning of RF Pulse to Beginning of RF Blanking AUDIO SWITCHES: Attenuation Gain Total Harmonic Distortion 9, 12 Vaf =700 mV, Vnoise = 0 Input Impedance 10, 11 — 100 — kΩ Output Impedance 9, 12 — 1.0 — kΩ BLANKING TIMERS: RF Blanking 17 R15 = 350 kΩ 35 60 75 µs Audio Delay 9 R5 = 350 kΩ 30 55 67 µs Audio Blanking 9 R6 = 110 kΩ, C8 = 0.0012 µF 210 250 400 µs www.allegromicro.com 3845 AM NOISE BLANKER CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION Previous attempts at suppression of impulse noise in AM receivers have used a variety of approaches ranging from gating the signal OFF at the antenna to simply clipping (limiting) any signal that was larger than the average modulation. Unfortunately, the former can generate as much noise as it removes while the latter only reduces the level of noise impulses and does not remove them. A major problem in attempting to suppress impulse noise in an AM receiver can best be described by looking at the shape of a noise pulse as it passes through a typical tuner as shown in the Figure. Here, a typical 0.5 µs pulse is applied to the antenna input. The resulting waveforms are essentially the impulse response of the different selectivity sections as limited only by the dynamic range of the individual sections. Note that the signal remains quite narrow until the IF filter is reached. Because of the relatively narrow bandwidth of the IF filter, the limiting of the IF amplifier, and the filtering effect of the detector, the audio output resulting from the impulse is much wider than the original input pulse and is therefore much more objectionable. One blanking scheme currently in use senses the noise pulse in the IF amplifier and blanks the audio output. This results in a long blanking time and poor performance at the higher frequencies where a short blanking time is needed most. The A3845xLW takes a different approach to the noise suppression problem by sensing the noise pulse in the receiver’s RF section and blanking the pulse before it reaches the IF. This requires a noise amplifier with a minimum propagation delay and high-speed gating. Blanking the noise pulse in this way is very effective, but some of the interference can still reach the audio output due to the loss of carrier during the blanking interval. For this purpose, an additional delay, blanking interval, and audio gates are included to further suppress any residual signal. The result is almost 100% suppression of QUIESCENT DC VOLTAGES (for circuit design information only) Lead Number Function Typical DC Voltage 1 RF In 3.1 2 RF Bypass 3.1 3 RFBias 3.1 4 RF AGC 0.9 5 Audio Delay 4.8 6 Audio Blank Time (R) 4.8 7 No Connection 8 Audio BlankTime (C) 4.8 9 Audio Out1 4.75 10 11 Audio In1 Audio In2 4.0 4.75 12 Audio Out2 4.0 13 Noise Differentiator 4.9 14 No Connection 15 RF Blank Time 16 Ground 17 RF Gate High — 18 RF Gate Low — 19 No Connection 20 Supply 0 0 4.8 Reference 0 VCC impulse noise including that from ignition systems and from sources producing interference at a power line rate such as light dimmers and fluorescent lamps. Referring to the Functional Block Diagram, the RF input stage is a differential amplifier, so that the input impedance is high. The triggering threshold at the RF amplifier input is about 15 µV at 1 MHz. This means that a pulsed RF input signal of 15 µV will exceed the threshold and trigger the blanker. The external capacitor at the dV/dt detector circuit (C13) is selected so that audio signals do not cause triggering. At high input levels, the threshold is internally set so that an RF burst of 50% modulation triggers the blanker. A resistor in parallel with C15 will increase the detection threshold level. The RF-switching MOSFET (leads 17-18) is controlled by the RF oneshot whose gate time is determined by the value of R15. RF Gate Time (µs) = 171 x 10-12 x R15 115 Northeast Cutoff, Box 15036 Worcester, Massachusetts 01615-0036 (508) 853-5000 3845 AM NOISE BLANKER TYPICAL PULSE RESPONSE ANTENNA BW = "WIDE" RF 20 kHz IF 12 kHz MIXER AUDIO 5 kHz IF LIMITING 0.5 µs NOISE PULSE 50 µs 500 µs The products described here are manufactured under one or more U.S. patents or U.S. patents pending. Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. reserves the right to make, from time to time, such departures from the detail specifications as may be required to permit improvements in the performance, reliability, or manufacturability of its products. Before placing an order, the user is cautioned to verify that the information being relied upon is current. Allegro products are not authorized for use as critical components in life-support devices or systems without express written approval. The information included herein is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. assumes no responsibility for its use; nor for any infringement of patents or other rights of third parties which may result from its use. www.allegromicro.com 600 µs Dwg. OS-001A where R15 should be greater than 33 kΩ. Smaller values for C13 will reduce the sensitivity to RF input pulses. The MOSFET turns ON within approximately 1.5 µs (shunting the RF signal to ground) after a noise pulse is detected and then turns OFF over a 15 µs period after the end of the RF gate time. The ON resistance of the MOSFET is about 30 Ω. The slow turn-OFF prevents any additional transients from being introduced into the receiver by the RF gate. The internal gate circuit also includes charge-balancing circuits so that switching transients are canceled and do not appear at the output. These features ensure transient-free switching even when the RF gate is connected to the low-level input stages of a receiver. Note that the RF gate must be connected to a supply to obtain the minimum ON-resistance of the MOSFET gate. This makes it convenient to connect the RF gate in parallel with the receiver mixer output transformer primary. Blanking in the RF or mixer sections of the receiver removes most of the noise pulse but a small amount still remains due to the hole punched in the carrier. This residual noise is theoretically somewhere between the peak audio and 100% negative modulation but is significantly smaller and narrower than that which the impulse would normally produce without blanking. An audio delay, one-shot, and audio gates are included to eliminate this residual signal. 3845 AM NOISE BLANKER TYPICAL APPLICATION The audio delay is determined by the value of R5: Audio Gate Delay (µs) = 157 x 10-12 x R5 where R5 should be greater than 33 kΩ. The amount of delay required will depend on the IF filtering characteristics of the particular receiver design. After the audio delay time, the audio oneshot is triggered. The audio switching MOSFETs (leads 9-10 and leads11-12) are controlled by the audio one-shot whose gate time is determined by the values of R6 and C8: Audio Gate Time (µs) = 1.9 x R6 x C8 The MOSFET audio gates also include charge-balancing circuits to eliminate switching transients. A typical application uses the A3845xLW in a C-QUAM® AM stereo car-radio tuner with its input from between the RF tuned circuits and the mixer input. Although there is a 1.5 µs delay from the beginning of the noise pulse to the start of blanking, this is small compared with the impulse response time of the receiver. It takes almost 10 µs for the RF noise burst to reach 70% amplitude at the mixer input. The blanker RF input could be connected to the collector of the discrete RF amplifier, but the bandwidth is much wider there and false triggering from strong adjacent channel signals could occur. The A3845xLW noise blanker can also be used in dual-conversion AM tuners. The blanker RF input would then be connected at the first IF amplifier input and the blanker RF gate connected at the second mixer output. Because the first IF band-width is usually relatively wide, the noise pulses are narrower, and the RF blanking time will be correspondingly less. In this case, it may be necessary to reduce the value of capacitor C13 so that the noise separator does not extend the RF blanking time. COIL INFORMATION FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE ETR AM STEREO RECEIVER WITH NOISE BLANKING Symbol Antenna RF TYPICAL RF FREQUENCY RESPONSE RELATIVE SENSITIVITY IN dB 0 Q T1 N1:N2 N1:N3 1:1.6 7HN-60064CY T2 , T 3 120 10:1 RWOS-6A7894AO, L = 178 µH Local Osc. T4 120 5:1 7TRS-A5609AO Mixer T5 8.9:1 7LC-502112N4, CT = 180 pF Detector L2 2:1 100 -5 ® Registered trademark of MOTOROLA, INC. -10 -15 0.1 1.0 Toko Part Number 10 RF INPUT FREQUENCY IN MHz Dwg. GS-006 115 Northeast Cutoff, Box 15036 Worcester, Massachusetts 01615-0036 (508) 853-5000 A7BRS-T1041Z, CT = 1000 pF ETR AM-STEREO RECEIVER WITH NOISE BLANKING 3845 AM NOISE BLANKER www.allegromicro.com 3845 AM NOISE BLANKER Dimensions in Inches (for reference only) 20 11 0.0125 0.0091 0.419 0.394 0.2992 0.2914 0.050 0.016 0.020 0.013 1 2 0.050 3 0.5118 0.4961 0° TO 8° BSC 0.0926 0.1043 Dwg. MA-008-20 in 0.0040 MIN. Dimensions in Millimeters (controlling dimensions) 20 11 0.32 0.23 10.65 10.00 7.60 7.40 1.27 0.40 0.51 0.33 1 2 1.27 3 13.00 12.60 BSC 0° TO 8° 2.65 2.35 0.10 MIN. Dwg. MA-008-20 mm NOTES: 1. Exact body and lead configuration at vendor’s option within limits shown. 2. Lead spacing tolerance is non-cumulative. 3. Supplied in standard sticks/tubes of 37 devices or add “TR” to part number for tape and reel. 115 Northeast Cutoff, Box 15036 Worcester, Massachusetts 01615-0036 (508) 853-5000