demandin
applications in which the source imped-
ance balance may be less than perfect, the 1200-
series ICs offer exceptional CMRR performance via a
patented method of increasing common-mode input
impedance.
Input Considerations
The 1250-series devices are internally protected
against input overload via an unusual arrangement of
diodes connecting the + and - Input pins to the
power supply pins. The circuit of Figure 3 shows the
arrangement used for the R3 / R4 side; a similar one
applies to the other side. The zener diodes prevent
the protection network from conducting until an
input pin is raised at least 50 V above VCC or below
VEE. Thus, the protection networks protect the
devices without constraining the allowable signal
swing at the input pins. The reference (and sense)
pins are protected via more conventional reverse-
biased diodes which will conduct if these pins are
raised above VCC or below VEE.
Because the 1250-series devices are input
stages, their input pins are of necessity connected to
the outside world. This is likely to expose the parts
to ESD when cables are connected and disconnected.
Our testing indicates that the 1250-series devices will
typically withstand application of up to 1,000 volts
under the human body ESD model.
To reduce risk of damage from ESD, and to
prevent RF from reaching the devices, THAT recom-
mends the circuit of Figure 4. C3 through C5 should
be located close to the point where the input signal
comes into the chassis, preferably directly on the
input connector. The unusual circuit design
minimizes the unbalancing impact of differences in
the values of C4 and C5 by forcing the capacitance
from each input to chassis ground to depend primar-
ily on the value of C3. The circuit shown is approxi-
mately ten times less sensitive to mismatches
between C4 and C5 than the more conventional
approach in which the junction of C4 and C5 is
grounded directly6.
Designers frequently seek to improve RF bypass-
ing through the addition of R-C networks at the
inputs (series resistor followed by a capacitor to
ground at each input). Generally, THAT recommends
keeping any such series resistances under 50W, so
as not to upset the intrinsic balance between the
1250’s internal R1/R2 and R3/R4 resistor ratios.
Because the internal resistor absolute values are not
well controlled, the external resistors can interact
with the internal ones in unexpected ways. As an
alternative to a resistor as additional build-out
impedance, THAT recommends the use of a ferrite
bead or balun instead.
If it is necessary to ac-couple the inputs of the
1250-series parts, the coupling capacitors should be
sized to present negligible impedance at any frequen-
cies of interest for common mode rejection. Regard-
less of the type of coupling capacitor chosen,
variations in the values of the two capacitors,
working against the 1250-series input impedance,
can unbalance common mode input signals, convert-
ing them to balanced signals which will not be
rejected by the CMRR of the devices. For this reason,
THAT recommends dc-couplin
the inputs of the
1250-series devices.
Input Voltage Limitations
When configured, respectively, for -3 dB and
-6 dB gain, the 1253 and 1256 devices are capable of
accepting input signals above the power supply rails.
This is because the internal opamp’s inputs connect
to the outside world only through the on-chip resis-
tors R1 through R4 at nodes a and b as shown in
Figure 2. Consider the following analysis.
Differential Input Signals
For differential signals (vIN(DIFF)), the limitation to
signal handling will be output clipping. The outputs
of all the devices typically clip at within 2V of the
supply rails. Therefore, maximum differential input
signal levels are directly related to the gain and
supply rails.
Common-mode Input Signals
For common-mode input signals, there is very
little output signal. The limitation on common-mode
handling is the point at which the inputs are
overloaded. So, we must consider the inputs of the
opamp.
For common-mode signals (VIN(CM)), the common-
mode input current splits to flow through both R1/R2
and through R3/R4. Because vb is constrained to
follow Va, we will consider only the voltage at node a.
The voltage at a can be calculated as:
.
va=vIN(CM)R4
R3+R4
Again, solving for VIN(CM),
.
vIN(CM)=vaR3+R4
R4
For the 1250, (R3 + R4) / R4 = 2. For the 1253,
(R3 + R4) / R4 = 2.4. For the 1256, (R3 + R4) / R4=3.
Furthermore, the same constraints apply to Va as in
the differential analysis.
Following the same reasoning as above, the
maximum common-mode input signal for the 1250 is
(2VCC - 4) V, and the minimum is (2VEE + 4) V. For
the 1253, these figures are (2.4VCC - 4.8) V, and
(2.4VEE + 4.8) V. For the 1256, these figures are
(3VCC - 6) V, and (3VEE + 6) V.
Therefore, for common-mode signals and ±15 V
rails, the 1250 will accept up to ~26 V in either
direction. As an ac signal, this is 52 V peak-peak,
18.4 V rms, or +27.5 dBu. With the same supply
rails, the 1253 will accept up to ~31 V in either
direction. As an ac signal, this is 62 V peak-peak,
21.9 V rms, or +29 dBu. With the same supply rails,
the 1256 will accept up to ~39 V in either direction.
As an ac signal, this is 78 V peak-peak, 27.6 V rms,
or +31 dBu.
Of course, in the real world, differential and
common-mode signals combine. The maximum
signal that can be accommodated will depend on the
Document 600068 Rev 02 Page 4 of 8 THAT 1250 Series
Low-cost Balanced Line Receiver ICs
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