SA5212AFE PHILIPS [NXP Semiconductors], SA5212AFE Datasheet - Page 11

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SA5212AFE

Manufacturer Part Number
SA5212AFE
Description
Transimpedance amplifier 140MHz
Manufacturer
PHILIPS [NXP Semiconductors]
Datasheet
Philips Semiconductors
THEORY OF OPERATION
Transimpedance amplifiers have been widely used as the
preamplifier in fiber-optic receivers. The SA5212A is a wide
bandwidth (typically 140MHz) transimpedance amplifier designed
primarily for input currents requiring a large dynamic range, such as
those produced by a laser diode. The maximum input current before
output stage clipping occurs at typically 240 A. The SA5212A is a
bipolar transimpedance amplifier which is current driven at the input
and generates a differential voltage signal at the outputs. The
forward transfer function is therefore a ratio of the differential output
voltage to a given input current with the dimensions of ohms. The
main feature of this amplifier is a wideband, low-noise input stage
which is desensitized to photodiode capacitance variations. When
connected to a photodiode of a few picoFarads, the frequency
response will not be degraded significantly. Except for the input
stage, the entire signal path is differential to provide improved
power-supply rejection and ease of interface to ECL type circuitry. A
block diagram of the circuit is shown in Figure 10. The input stage
(A1) employs shunt-series feedback to stabilize the current gain of
the amplifier. The transresistance of the amplifier from the current
source to the emitter of Q
feedback resistor, R
and emitter followers (A3 and A4) is about two. Therefore, the
differential transresistance of the entire amplifier, R
The single-ended transresistance of the amplifier is typically 7.2k .
The simplified schematic in Figure 11 shows how an input current is
converted to a differential output voltage. The amplifier has a single
input for current which is referenced to Ground 1. An input current
from a laser diode, for example, will be converted into a voltage by
the feedback resistor R
open loop gain of the circuit, A
minimizes loading on Q
provide level shifting and interface with the Q
pair of the second stage which is biased with an internal reference,
V
Q
Q
the feedback to the input stage. The output impedance is about 17
single-ended. For ease of performance evaluation, a 33 resistor is
used in series with each output to match to a 50 test system.
BANDWIDTH CALCULATIONS
The input stage, shown in Figure 12, employs shunt-series feedback
to stabilize the current gain of the amplifier. A simplified analysis can
determine the performance of the amplifier. The equivalent input
capacitance, C
7.5pF, assuming that C
capacitance.
Since the input is driven by a current source the input must have a
low input resistance. The input resistance, R
incremental input voltage, V
and can be calculated as:
1998 Oct 07
R
B2
12
11
T
Transimpedance amplifier (140MHz)
. The differential outputs are derived from emitter followers Q
+
– Q
which are biased by constant current sources. The collectors of
V
12
OUT
are bonded to an external pin, V
I
IN
(diff)
IN
, in parallel with the source, I
+ 2R
F
=7k . The gain from the second stage (A2)
S
F
1
. The transistor Q1 provides most of the
=0 where C
. The transistor Q
F
3
is approximately the value of the
+ 2(7.2K) + 14.4kW
IN
, to the corresponding input current, I
VOL
70. The emitter follower Q
S
is the external source
4
CC2
, resistor R
IN
15
S
, is the ratio of the
, in order to reduce
, is approximately
– Q
T
16
is
7
differential
, and V
2
B1
11
IN
11
More exact calculations would yield a higher value of 110 .
Thus C
Assuming typical values for R
The operating point of Q1, Figure 2, has been optimized for the
lowest current noise without introducing a second dominant pole in
the pass-band. All poles associated with subsequent stages have
been kept at sufficiently high enough frequencies to yield an overall
single pole response. Although wider bandwidths have been
achieved by using a cascade input stage configuration, the present
solution has the advantage of a very uniform, highly desensitized
frequency response because the Miller effect dominates over the
external photodiode and stray capacitances. For example, assuming
a source capacitance of 1pF, input stage voltage gain of 70, R
60 then the total input capacitance, C
lead to only a 12% bandwidth reduction.
NOISE
Most of the currently installed fiber-optic systems use non-coherent
transmission and detect incident optical power. Therefore, receiver
noise performance becomes very important. The input stage
achieves a low input referred noise current (spectral density) of
3.5pA/ Hz. The transresistance configuration assures that the
external high value bias resistors often required for photodiode
biasing will not contribute to the total noise system noise. The
equivalent input
quiescent current of Q
bandwidth; however, it is not dependent upon the internal
Miller-capacitance. The measured wideband noise was 52nA RMS
in a 200MHz bandwidth.
R
f
IN
*3dB
INPUT
+
IN
V
and R
+
I
IN
IN
f
*3dB
2p (110) 10 @ 10
Figure 10. SA5212A – Block Diagram
A1
+
IN
R
RMS
F
1 ) A
will form the dominant pole of the entire amplifier;
+
noise current is strongly determined by the
R
2p R
1
1
, the feedback resistor R
F
VOL
1
IN
F
C
+ 7.2K
*12
= 7.2k , R
IN
A2
70
+ 145MHz
IN
+ 103W
= (1+7.5) pF which will
IN
= 110 , C
F
Product specification
, and the
SA5212A
A3
A4
IN
OUTPUT –
= 10pF
OUTPUT +
SD00327
IN
=

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