ZARLINK SL523

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RECOMMENDED FOR NEW DESIGNS
ADVANCE INFORMATION
DS3607 - 2.0
SL523
100MHz DUAL WIDEBAND LOG AMPLIFIER
The SL523B and C are wideband amplifiers for use in
successive detection logarithmic IF strips operating at centre
frequencies between 10 and 100MHz They are pin
compatible with the SL521 series of logarithmic amplifiers and
comprise two amplifiers internally connected in cascade
Small signal voltage gain is 24dB and an internal detector with
an accurate logarithmic characteristic over a 20dB range
produces a maximum Output of 2.1 mA. A strip of SL523s can
be directly coupled and decoupling is provided on each
amplifier RF limiting occurs at an input voltage of 25mV RMS
but the device will withstand input voltages up to 1 8V RMS
without damage
The device is also available as the 5962-89803 which has
guaranteed operation over the full Military Temperature
Range and is screened to MIL-STD-883 Class B. Data is
available separately.
CM8
Fig.1 Pin connections (view from beneath)
FEATURES
QUICK REFERENCE DATA
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■
■
■
■
■
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Small Size/Weight
Low Power Consumption
Readily Cascadable
Accurate Logarithmic Detector Characteristic
ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM RATINGS
(Non-simultaneous)
Storage temperature range
Operating temperature range
Thermal resistance
Chip-to-ambient
Chip-to-case
Maximum instantaneous voltage
at video output
Supply voltage
-65°C to +150°C
-55°C to +125°C
200°C/W
52°C/W
Small Signal Voltage Gain: 24dB
Detector Output Current: 21mA
Noise Figure: 4dB
Frequency Range: 10-100MHz
Supply Voltage +6V
Supply Current 30mA
ORDERING INFORMATION
SL523 B CM
SL523 C CM
SL523 CB CM
5962-89803 (SMD)
+12V
+9V
Fig.2 Circuit diagram (one amplifier)
SL523
ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS
These characteristics are guaranteed over the following condltions (unless otherwise stated)
Ambient temperature = 22°C ± 2°C; Source impedance = 10Ω; Supply voltage = +6V; Load impedance = 8pF;
Frequency = 60MHz; DC connection between Pin 6 and 7
Characteristic
Small signal voltage gain
Small signal voltage gain
Gain variation (set of 8)
Upper cut-off frequency
Lower cut-off frequency
Propagation delay
Maximum rectified video
output current
Maximum input signal before
overload
Noise figure
Supply current
Maximum RF output voltage
Circuits
Value
Min.
Typ.
Max.
B
C
B
C
22.6
22
22
21.4
25.4
26
26
26.6
0.75
B, C
B, C
B, C
B
C
B, C
120
24
24
24
24
0.5
150
10
4
2.1
2.1
1.9
B
C
B, C
25
23
4
30
30
1.2
5.25
36
38
1.9
1.8
1.8
15
2.3
2.4
Units
dB
dB
dB
dB
dB
MHz
MHz
ns
mA
mA
V RMS
dB
mA
mA
V p-p
Conditions
Frequency = 30MHz
Frequency = 60MHz
Frequency = 60MHz
See note below
Source impedance 450Ω
Note:- Overload occurs when the input signal reaches a level sufficient to forward bias the base-collector junction to the input
transistor on peaks
OPERATING NOTES
The amplifier is designed to be directly coupled (seeFig.5)
The fourth stage in an untuned cascade will give full output
on the broad band noise generated by the first stage.
Noise may be reduced by inserting a single tuned circuit in
the chain As there is a large mismatch between stages a
simple shunt or series circuit cannot be used The network
chosen must give unity voltage gain at resonance to avoid
distorting the log law The typical value for input impedance is
500Ω in parallel with 5pF and the output impedance is typically
30Ω.
Although a 1nF supply line decoupling capacitor is
included in the can an extra capacitor is required when the
amplifiers are cascaded Minimum values for this capacitor
are: 2 stages - 3nF, 3 or more stages 30nF
In cascades of 3 or more stages care must be taken to
avoid oscillations caused either by inductance common to the
input and output earths of the strip or by feedback along the
common video line The use of a continuous earth plane will
avoid earth inductance problems and a common base
amplifier in the video line isolating the first two stages as
shown in Fig 6 will eliminate feedback on the video line
Fig.3 Rectified output current v. input signal (typical)
Fig.4 Voltage gain v. frequency (typical)
SL523
Fig.5 Simple log. IF strip
Fig.6 Wide dynamic range log. IF strip
Fig.7 Wideband logarithmic amplifier
SL523
TYPICAL PERFORMANCE
Table 1 Stage gains of SL523 used in performance tests
The input v output characteristic (Fig.8a) is calibrated at
10dB/cm in the X axis and 1V/cm in the Y axis 80dB of dynamic
range was attained
The error characteristic (Fig 8b) is calibrated at 10dB/cm
in the X axis and 1dB/cm in the Y axis; this shows the error
between the log input v. output characterisitc and a mean
straight line and shows that a dynamic range of 80dB was
obtained with an accuracy of ±0.5dB
As a comparison, the log amplifier of Fig 7 was constructed
with randomly selected SL521 Bs (two SL521 Bs replacing
each SL523B). Again, a dynamic response of 80dB was
obtained (Fig 9a) with an accuracy of 1 0 75dB (Fig.9b)
Bandwidth curves are shown in Figs.8c and 9c, where the
amplitude scale is 2dB/cm, with frequency markers at 10MHz
intervals from 20 to 100MHz Using SL523Bs (Fig.8c), the
frequency response at 90MHz is 4dB down on maximum and
there is a fall-off in response after 50MHz Fig 9c shows that the
frequency response of the amplifier falls off more gradually
after 40MHz but again the response at 90MHz is 4dB down on
maximum
These tests show that the SL523 is a very successful dual
stage log amplifier element and, since it is pin-compatible with
the SL521 enables retrofit to be carried out in existing log
amplifiers It will be of greatest benefit however, in the design
of new log amplifiers, enabling very compact units to be
realised with a much shorter summation line
Fig.8a Input/output
Fig.9a Input/output
Fig.8b Error curve
Fig.9b Error curve
Fig.8c Frequency response, detected output
Fig.9c Frequency response, detected output
Fig.8 Characteristics of circuit shown in Fig 7 using SL523Bs
Fig.9 Characteristics of circuit shown in Fig 7 using SL523Bs
Unselected SL523B devices were tested in a wideband
logarithmic amplifier. described in RSRE Memo No 3027 and
shown in Fig 7
The amplifier consists of six logarithmic stages and two ‘lift’
stages, giving an overall dynamic range of greater than 80dB
The response and error curves were plotted on an RHG Log
Test Set and bandwidth measurements were made with a
Telonic Sweeper and Tektronix oscilloscope
Fig 8 shows the dynamic range error curve and f requency
response obtained. The stage gains of the SL523 devices
used were as shown in Table 1
Stages
fo (MHz)
Gain (dB)
1
2
3
Lift
60
60
60
60
24.1 23
24.089
23.888
24.086
Max.
Deviation
(dB)
0.235
SL523
SL523
HEADQUARTERS OPERATIONS
GEC PLESSEY SEMICONDUCTORS
Cheney Manor, Swindon,
Wiltshire SN2 2QW, United Kingdom.
Tel: (0793) 518000
Fax: (0793) 518411
GEC PLESSEY SEMICONDUCTORS
P.O. Box 660017
1500 Green Hills Road,
Scotts Valley, California 95067-0017,
United States of America.
Tel: (408) 438 2900
Fax: (408) 438 5576
CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTRES
• FRANCE & BENELUX Les Ulis Cedex Tel: (1) 64 46 23 45 Fax : (1) 64 46 06 07
• GERMANY Munich Tel: (089) 3609 06-0 Fax : (089) 3609 06-55
• ITALY Milan Tel: (02) 66040867 Fax: (02) 66040993
• JAPAN Tokyo Tel: (03) 5276-5501 Fax: (03) 5276-5510
• NORTH AMERICA Scotts Valley, USA Tel (408) 438 2900 Fax: (408) 438 7023.
• SOUTH EAST ASIA Singapore Tel: (65) 3827708 Fax: (65) 3828872
• SWEDEN Stockholm, Tel: 46 8 702 97 70 Fax: 46 8 640 47 36
• UK, EIRE, DENMARK, FINLAND & NORWAY
Swindon Tel: (0793) 518510 Fax : (0793) 518582
These are supported by Agents and Distributors in major countries world-wide.
 GEC Plessey Semiconductors 1994
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reserves the right to alter without prior knowledge the specification, design or price of any product or service. Information concerning possible methods of use is provided as a guide only and does not constitute
any guarantee that such methods of use will be satisfactory in a specific piece of equipment. It is the user's responsibility to fully determine the performance and suitability of any equipment using such information
and to ensure that any publication or data used is up to date and has not been superseded. These products are not suitable for use in any medical products whose failure to perform may result in significant injury
or death to the user. All products and materials are sold and services provided subject to the Company's conditions of sale, which are available on request.
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information appearing in this publication are subject to change by Zarlink without notice. No warranty or guarantee express or implied is made regarding the
capability, performance or suitability of any product or service. Information concerning possible methods of use is provided as a guide only and does not constitute
any guarantee that such methods of use will be satisfactory in a specific piece of equipment. It is the user’s responsibility to fully determine the performance and
suitability of any equipment using such information and to ensure that any publication or data used is up to date and has not been superseded. Manufacturing does
not necessarily include testing of all functions or parameters. These products are not suitable for use in any medical products whose failure to perform may result in
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