®

Feedback Gives Peak Detector More Precision

Application Note May 8, 2007 AN1309.0

Tamara A. Papalias and Mike Wong

The standard method for measuring the peak of a signal EL8203_PEAK DETECTOR CIRCUIT
20
involves the use of a diode. If the diode is used alone, the FREQUENCY = 1KHz
VS = +5V
input voltage has to be significantly larger than the turn-on 15
FREQUENCY = 10KHz
FREQUENCY = 100KHz
voltage to obtain acceptable accuracy. The turn-on voltage FREQUENCY = 1MHz

ERROR (%)
ranges from 200mV in germanium diodes to 700mV in 10
silicon diodes. To achieve 10% error, the simple detector
5
requires an input voltage of 2V to 7V, respectively.
0
High-frequency op amps can utilize feedback to compensate
for the diode turn-on voltage. The circuit in Figure 1 shows -5
such a configuration. The diode labeled D6 is providing the
rectification, just like it would in a simple peak detector. -10
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0
Similarly, R23 and C1 provide the low-pass filtering to
VIN_MAX (V)
average the peak signal. One of the dual op amps buffers
this averaged output while the other provides a high- FIGURE 2. PEAK ERROR vs AMPLITUDE
impedance input and feedback node for the circuit. Figure 3 plots the error versus frequency for a 1VP-P input
The resistor network surrounding Q1 provides a clamping signal. Again, errors are small for frequencies below 1MHz.
circuit. When the input to the circuit is higher than the This plot also shows that errors are within 5% up to 3MHz
average, the output of the forward op amp is also higher and 10% up to about 15MHz. Recall that a 1VP-P signal into
than average. The diode (D6) conducts as in the simple a simple peak detector would exhibit 70% error.
EL8203_PEAK DETECTOR CIRCUIT
case, and Q1 is held off. However, when the input drops 40
below the average level, the diode does not conduct and Q1 35 VS = +5V VIN = 1 VP-P
VIN = 1 VP-P
allows a feedback path to be created around the forward op 30
amp. This switched feedback action forces the negative
ERROR (%)

25
input of the forward op amp to track the output voltage. This 20
tracking behavior is critical for recovery, especially at high 15
speeds. If this network was removed, the op amp could 10
saturate and would suffer in recovery time. 5
0
The quality of this peak detector implementation is
-5
demonstrated in Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 plots the error -10
versus input voltage swing for various frequencies. The large 0.01 0.10 1.00 10.00 100.00
bandwidth of the dual op amp package allows for errors FREQUENCY (MHz)

within a few percentage points for signals up to 1MHz. The FIGURE 3. PEAK ERROR vs FREQUENCY (USING ISL8116
GENERATOR WITH TRIANGLE SIGNALS)
"sweet spot" of operation extends from 700mV to about 4V
with a 5V supply. In summary, a high-speed dual op amp and a few
components can add resolution and accuracy to a simple
peak detector. The given circuit provides 2% error for signals
up to 1MHz, making it suitable for audio applications and
localized transmission, like infrared.
5V
V1 5V
V V2
U52 + -
7 U51 + -
3 V+ 0 D6 7
+ 6 3 V+ 0
2
- + 6
2
V- BAS16 -
V3 4 EL8202 R23 C1 V-
4
0 100k
R19
EL8202B V
3.3k R2 2N2222A/ZTX
Q1 0
0
R1 10k

1k
22p R2
C3 1k
FIGURE 1. EL8202 PEAK DETECTOR

1 CAUTION: These devices are sensitive to electrostatic discharge; follow proper IC Handling Procedures.
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 Application Note 1309

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2 AN1309.0
May 8, 2007