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July 2009
775 Nanovolt Noise Measurement for A Low Noise
Voltage Reference
Quantifying Silence
Jim Williams
Introduction
Frequently, voltage reference stability and noise dene
measurement limits in instrumentation systems. In particular, reference noise often sets stable resolution limits.
Reference voltages have decreased with the continuing
drop in system power supply voltages, making reference
noise increasingly important. The compressed signal
processing range mandates a commensurate reduction
in reference noise to maintain resolution. Noise ultimately
translates into quantization uncertainty in A to D converters,
introducing jitter in applications such as scales, inertial
navigation systems, infrared thermography, DVMs and
medical imaging apparatus. A new low voltage reference,
the LTC6655, has only 0.3ppm (775nV) noise at 2.5VOUT.
Figure 1 lists salient specications in tabular form. Accuracy and temperature coefcient are characteristic of
high grade, low voltage references. 0.1Hz to 10Hz noise,
particularly noteworthy, is unequalled by any low voltage
electronic reference.
Noise Measurement
Special techniques are required to verify the LTC6655s extremely low noise. Figure 2s approach appears innocently
straightforward but practical implementation represents a
high order difculty measurement. This 0.1Hz to 10Hz noise
LIMITS
Output Voltages
Initial Accuracy
0.025%, 0.05%
Temperature Coefcient
2ppm/C, 5ppm/C
0.775V at VOUT = 2.500V, Peak-to-Peak Noise is within this Figure in 90% of 1000 Ten Second Measurement Intervals
Additional Characteristics
5ppm/Volt Line Regulation, 500mV Dropout, Shutdown Pin, ISUPPLY = 5mA, VIN = VO + 0.5V to 13.2VMAX,
IOUT(SINK/SOURCE) = 5mA, ISHORT Circuit = 15mA.
Figure 1. LTC6655 Accuracy and Temperature Coefcient Are Characteristic of High Grade, Low Voltage References.
0.1Hz to 10Hz Noise, Particularly Noteworthy, Is Unequalled by Any Low Voltage Electronic Reference
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AN124-1
LTC6655
2.5V REFERENCE
LOW NOISE
AC PRE-AMP
EN, 0.1Hz TO 10Hz = 160nV
A = 10,000
700nV
NOISE
0.1Hz TO 10Hz
RESET
DC OUT
0V TO 1V = 0VP-P TO
1VP-P AT INPUT
OSCILLOSCOPE
SWEEP
GATE OUT
VERTICAL
INPUT
AN124 F02
Figure 2. Conceptual 0.1Hz to 10Hz Noise Testing Scheme Includes Low Noise Pre-Amplier, Filter and Peak to Peak Noise
Detector. Pre-Ampliers 160nV Noise Floor, Enabling Accurate Measurement, Requires Special Design and Layout Techniques
AN124-2
10k
10k
1F
1F
1F
1300F
100k
100k
**1.2k
0.005F
15V
4.7k
4.7k
A1
LT1012
100k
0.005F
A6
1/4 LT1058
A5
1/4 LT1058
SHIELD
100k
LOW NOISE
PRE-AMP
A = 104
1F
PEAK
+ PEAK
0.1F
A8
1/4 LT1058
A7
1/4 LT1058
Q1
15V
Q2
1k
DVM
1k
A2
LT1097
0.022F
= 1/4 LTC202
= 2N4393
= 1N4148
1F
2k
RST = Q2
10k*
1M*
RC2
+V
10k
B2
+15
BAT-85
BAT-85
RESET PULSE
GENERATOR
+15
= POLYPROPELENE
10k
330F
16V
330F
16V
AN124 F03
= TANTALUM,WET SLUG
ILEAK < 5nA
SEE TEXT/APPENDIX B
FROM OSCILLOSCOPE
SWEEP GATE OUTPUT
VIA ISOLATION
PULSE TRANSFORMER
10k
A4
LT1012
ROOT-SUM-SQUARE
CORRECTION
SEE TEXT
A2
0.1F
124k*
0.1F
100*
OUT
124k*
74C221
C2
CLR2
+15
0.22F
330F
16V
330F
16V
IN
330*
+15
A3
LT1012
A = 100 AND
0.1Hz TO 10Hz FILTER
TO OSCILLOSCOPE INPUT
VIA ISOLATED PROBE,
1V/DIV = 1V/DIV,
REFERRED TO INPUT,
SWEEP = 1s/DIV
10*
100k*
* = 1% METAL FILM
** = 1% WIREWOUND, ULTRONIX105A
O TO 1V =
O TO 1V
SHIELDED CAN
INPUT
900*
15V
200*
750*
450*
1k*
PEAK TO PEAK
NOISE DETECTOR
AC LINE GROUND
1F
15V
Q3
2N2907
10k
0.1F
Figure 3. Detailed Noise Test Circuitry. Thermally Lagged Q1-Q2 Low Noise J-FET Pair Is DC Stabilized by A1-Q3; A2 Delivers A = 10,000 Pre-Amplier Output. A3-A4 form 0.1Hz to
10Hz ,A = 100, Bandpass Filter; Total Gain Referred to Pre-Amplier Input Is 106. Peak to Peak Noise Detector, Reset by Monitoring Oscilloscope Sweep Gate, Supplies DVM Output
15
RST
15
RST
LTC6655
2.5V
REFERENCE
UNDER TEST
SD
IN
9V
1N4697
10V
0.15F
15V
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AN124-3
2mV/DIV
10ms/DIV
AN124 F04
100nV/DIV
1s/DIV
AN124 F06
A = 5mV/DIV
B = 0.5V/DIV
C = 0.5V/DIV
D = 1V/DIV
E = 20V/DIV
1s/DIV
AN124 F05
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AN124-4
AMPLITUDE
100nV
500nV/DIV
0V
1 MIN
TIME
AN124 F07
REFERENCES
1. Morrison, Ralph, Grounding and Shielding Techniques
in Instrumentation, Wiley-Interscience, 1986.
2. Ott, Henry W., Noise Reduction Techniques in Electronic Systems, Wiley-Interscience, 1976.
3. LSK-389 Data Sheet, Linear Integrated Systems.
4. 2SK-369 Data Sheet, Toshiba.
5. LTC6655 Data Sheet, Linear Technology Corporation.
6. LT1533 Data Sheet, Linear Technology Corporation.
7. Williams, Jim, Practical Circuitry for Measurement
and Control Problems, Linear Technology Corporation, Application Note 61, August 1994.
8. Williams, Jim, A Monolithic Switching Regulator with
100V Output Noise, Linear Technology Corporation,
Application Note 70, October 1997.
9. Williams, Jim and Owen, Todd, Performance Verication of Low Noise, Low Dropout Regulators, Linear
Technology Corporation, Application Note 83, March
2000.
1s/DIV
AN124 F08
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AN124-5
Figure A1A.
Figure A1B.
Figure A1. Preamplier Board Top (Figure A1A) and Bottom (A1B) Views. Board Top Includes Shielded Input Capacitor (Upper Left)
and Input Resistor (Upper Center Left). Stabilized JFET Input Amplier Occupies Board Upper Center Right; Output Stage Adjoins
BNC Fitting. Reference Under Test Resides in Socket Below Input Capacitor. 15 Power Enters Shielded Enclosure Via Banana Jacks
(Extreme Right). 9V Battery (Lower) Supplies Reference Under Test. Board Bottoms Epoxy Filled Plastic Cup (A1B Center) Contains
JFETs, Provides Thermal Mating and Lag
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AN124-6
Note 1. This high yield is most welcome because the specied capacitors
are spectacularly priced at almost $400.00. There may be a more palatable
alternative. Selected commercial grade aluminum electrolytics can
approach the required DC leakage although their aperiodic noise bursts
(mechanism not understood; reader comments invited) are a concern.
VISHAY
XTV138M030P0A
WET SLUG TANTALUM
hp
+
+ 1300F/30V
1k
1.5V
3V
AA
CELLS
1.5V
AN124 FB01
TEST SEQUENCE
1. TURN OFF MICROVOLT METER
2. CONNECT 3V BATTERY STACK
3. WAIT 24 HOURS
4. TURN ON MICROVOLT METER
5. READ CAPACITOR LEAKAGE, 1nA = 1V
Figure B1. Pre-Amplier Input Capacitor Selected for <5nA Leakage to Minimize DC Error and Capacitor
Introduced Noise. Capacitor Dielectric Absorption Requires 24 Hour Charge Time to Insure Meaningful
Measurement. Highest Grade Wet Slug Tantalum Capacitors are Required to Pass This Test
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AN124-7
grade power supplies. C2 uses linear regulators to furnish low noise 15V. Because the batteries oat, positive
regulators sufce for both positive and negative rails. In
C3, a single battery stack supplies an extremely low noise
DC-DC converter to furnish positive and negative rails via
low noise discrete linear regulators.2 Both of these battery
supplied approaches are economical compared to the AC
line powered version but require battery maintenance.
VERTICAL
INPUT
TEKTRONIX A6909,
TEKTRONIX A6902B,
SIGNAL ACQUISITION
TECHNOLOGIES SL-10
SWEEP RESET
PULSE ISOLATION
TRANSFORMER/
COAXIAL CAPACITOR
ISOLATED
PROBE
PEAK TO PEAK
RESET
9V
BATTERY
REFERENCE
UNDER TEST
A = 100
FILTER AND
PEAK TO PEAK
DETECTOR
A = 10,000
PRE-AMP
+
DVM
SHIELDED CAN
RF
FEEDTHROUGHS
HEWLETT PACKARD,
6111A,
PHILBRICK RESEARCHES
6033, PR-300
+15
15
INSTRUMENT
GRADE 15V
POWER SUPPLY
CIRCUIT
COMMON
TOPAZ, 0111T35S
LOW SHUNT
CAPACITANCE ISOLATION
TRANSFORMER
(LOCATE 3 FEET
FROM SHIELDED CAN)
110VAC
LINE INPUT
= AC LINE GROUND
= CIRCUIT COMMON
CURRENT
MONITOR
LOOP
AN124 FC1
Figure C1. Power/Grounding/Shielding Scheme for Low Noise Measurement Minimizes AC Line Originated Interference
and Mixing of Circuit Return and AC Line Ground Current. No Current Should Flow in Current Monitor Loop
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AN124-8
SD
IN
B
LT1761
FB
10F
0.1F
OUT
13.7k*
+15
10F
1.21k*
12 Size D
ALKALINE
1.5V CELLS
EACH PACK
SD
IN
LT1761
FB
0.1F
OUT
13.7k*
10F
1.21k*
+
* = 1% METAL FILM RESISTOR
15
10F
AN124 FC2
Figure C2. LT1761 Regulators form 15V, Low Noise Power Supply. Isolated Battery Packs Permit Positive
Regulator to Supply Negative Output and Eliminate Possible AC Line Referred Ground Loops
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AN124-9
6V
6V BATTERY
4x 1.5V
ALKALINE
D CELL
10k*
1/2 LT1013
+
4.7F
14
13
VIN
RVSL
1F
15k
15k
12
6V
2
3
4
+
4.7F
GND FB
9
CT
5
3300pF
RT
PGND COL B
6
18k
16
L1
10k
43k
T1
IN
10
9
47F
15VOUT
19V UNREGULATED
OUT
COMMON
15
0.1F
100F
19V UNREGULATED
10k*
10k*
1/2 LT1013
L2
25H
15VOUT
47F
* = 1% METAL FILM
10V
100F
5V
L1: 22nH INDUCTOR. COILCRAFT B-07T TYPICAL,
PC TRACE, OR FERRITE BEAD
L2, L3: PULSE ENGINEERING. PE92100
T1: COILTRONICS CTX-02-13664-X1
: 1N4148
L1
25H
LT1021
OUT
12
LT1533
5k
LT1010
LT1010
+
AN124 FC3
0.1F
Figure C3. A Low Noise, Bipolar, Floating Output Converter. Grounding LT1533 DUTY Pin and Biasing FB Puts Regulator into 50%
Duty Cycle Mode. LT1533s Controlled Transition Times Permit <100V Broadband Output Noise; Discrete Linear Regulators Maintain
Low Noise, Provide Regulation
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AN124-10
INSTRUMENT
TYPE
MANUFACTURER
MODEL
NUMBER
3dB
BANDWIDTH
MAXIMUM
SENSITIVITY/GAIN AVAILABILITY
Differential Amplier
Tektronix
1A7/1A7A
1MHz
10V/DIV
Secondary Market
Differential Amplier
Tektronix
7A22
1MHz
10V/DIV
Secondary Market
Differential Amplier
Tektronix
5A22
1MHz
10V/DIV
Secondary Market
Differential Amplier
Tektronix
ADA-400A
1MHz
10V/DIV
Differential Amplier
Preamble
1822
10MHz
Gain = 1000
Differential Amplier
Stanford
Research
Systems
SR-560
1MHz
Gain = 50000
Differential Amplier
Tektronix
AM-502
1MHz
Gain = 100000
Secondary Market
COMMENTS
Figure D1. Some Useful High Sensitivity, Low Noise Ampliers. Trade-Offs Include Bandwidth, Sensitivity and Availability
MANUFACTURER
MODEL NUMBER
MODIFICATION
Tektronix
1A7
Tektronix
1A7A
Tektronix
7A22
Tektronix
AM502
an124f
AN124-11
500nV/DIV
1s/DIV
AN124 QT
an124f
AN124-12
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