OPA620 Datasheet, PDF (12/15 Pages) Burr-Brown (TI) – Wideband Precision OPERATIONAL AMPLIFIER

COMPENSATION
The OPA620 is internally compensated and is stable in unity
gain with a phase margin of approximately 60°. However,
the unity gain buffer is the most demanding circuit configu-
ration for loop stability and oscillations are most likely to
occur in this gain. If possible, use the device in a noise gain
of two or greater to improve phase margin and reduce the
susceptibility to oscillation. (Note that, from a stability
standpoint, an inverting gain of –1V/V is equivalent to a
noise gain of 2.) Gain and phase response for other gains are
shown in the Typical Performance Curves.
The high-frequency response of the OPA620 in a good
layout is very flat with frequency. However, some circuit
configurations such as those where large feedback
resistances are used, can produce high-frequency gain peak-
ing. This peaking can be minimized by connecting a small
capacitor in parallel with the feedback resistor. This capaci-
tor compensates for the closed-loop, high frequency, transfer
function zero that results from the time constant formed by
the input capacitance of the amplifier (typically 2pF after PC
board mounting), and the input and feedback resistors. The
selected compensation capacitor may be a trimmer, a fixed
capacitor, or a planned PC board capacitance. The capaci-
tance value is strongly dependent on circuit layout and
closed-loop gain. Using small resistor values will preserve
the phase margin and avoid peaking by keeping the break
frequency of this zero sufficiently high. When high closed-
loop gains are required, a three-resistor attenuator (tee
network) is recommended to avoid using large value
resistors with large time constants.
SETTLING TIME
Settling time is defined as the total time required, from the
input signal step, for the output to settle to within the
specified error band around the final value. This error band
is expressed as a percentage of the value of the output
transition, a 2V step. Thus, settling time to 0.01% requires
an error band of ±200µV centered around the final value
of 2V.
Settling time, specified in an inverting gain of one, occurs in
only 25ns to 0.01% for a 2V step, making the OPA620 one
of the fastest settling monolithic amplifiers commercially
available. Settling time increases with closed-loop gain and
output voltage change as described in the Typical Perform-
ance Curves. Preserving settling time requires critical
attention to the details as mentioned under “Wiring Precau-
tions.” The amplifier also recovers quickly from input
overloads. Overload recovery time to linear operation from
a 50% overload is typically only 30ns.
In practice, settling time measurements on the OPA620
prove to be very difficult to perform. Accurate measurement
is next to impossible in all but the very best equipped labs.
Among other things, a fast flat-top generator and high speed
oscilloscope are needed. Unfortunately, fast flat-top genera-
tors, which settle to 0.01% in sufficient time, are scarce and
expensive. Fast oscilloscopes, however, are more commonly
available. For best results, a sampling oscilloscope is recom-
mended. Sampling scopes typically have bandwidths that
are greater than 1GHz and very low capacitance inputs.
They also exhibit faster settling times in response to signals
that would tend to overload a real-time oscilloscope.
Figure 7 shows the test circuit used to measure settling time
for the OPA620. This approach uses a 16-bit sampling
oscilloscope to monitor the input and output pulses. These
waveforms are captured by the sampling scope, averaged,
and then subtracted from each other in software to produce
the error signal. This technique eliminates the need for the
traditional “false-summing junction,” which adds extra para-
sitic capacitance. Note that instead of an additional flat-top
generator, this technique uses the scope’s built-in calibration
source as the input signal.
0 to +2V, f = 1.25MHz
100 Ω
V_IN
2pF to 5pF (Adjust for Optimum Settling)
100 Ω
+5VDC
0 to –2V
OPA620
V_OUT
–5VDC
To Active Probe
(Channel 2)
on sampling scope.
NOTE: Test fixture built using all surface-mount components. Ground
plane used on component side and entire fixture enclosed in metal case.
Both power supplies bypassed with 10µF Tantalum || 0.01µF ceramic
capacitors. It is directly connected (without cable) to TIME CAL trigger
source on Sampling Scope (Data Precision's Data 6100 with Model
640-1 plug-in). Input monitored with Active Probe (Channel 1).
FIGURE 7. Settling Time Test Circuit.
DIFFERENTIAL GAIN AND PHASE
Differential Gain (DG) and Differential Phase (DP) are
among the more important specifications for video applica-
tions. DG is defined as the percent change in closed-loop
gain over a specified change in output voltage level. DP is
defined as the change in degrees of the closed-loop phase
over the same output voltage change. Both DG and DP are
specified at the NTSC sub-carrier frequency of 3.58MHz.
DG and DP increase with closed-loop gain and output
voltage transition as shown in the Typical Performance
Curves. All measurements were performed using a Tektronix
model VM700 Video Measurement Set.
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OPA620
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