Circuit Note

CN-0272
Devices Connected/Referenced
AD8065 High Performance, 145 MHz FASTFET™ Op Amp

Circuits from the Lab™ reference circuits are engineered and Precision, Selectable Gain, Fully Differential
tested for quick and easy system integration to help solve today’s AD8475 Funnel Amp
analog, mixed-signal, and RF design challenges. For more
information and/or support, visit www.analog.com/CN0272. AD9629-20 12-Bit, 20 MSPS, 1.8 V ADC

Ultralow Noise, LDO XFET® 2.5 V Voltage

ADR441
Reference with Current Sink and Source

2 MHz Bandwidth PIN Photodiode Preamp with Dark Current Compensation

EVALUATION AND DESIGN SUPPORT Other suitable applications for this circuit are as an analog opto-
Circuit Evaluation Boards isolator. It can also be adapted to applications that require larger
CN-0272 Circuit Evaluation Board (EVAL-CN0272-SDPZ) bandwidth and less resolution such as adaptive speed control
System Demonstration Platform (EVAL-SDP-CB1Z) systems.
Design and Integration Files This circuit note discusses the design steps needed to optimize the
Schematics, Layout Files, Bill of Materials circuit shown in Figure 1 for a specific bandwidth including
stability calculations, noise analysis, and component selection
CIRCUIT FUNCTION AND BENEFITS
considerations.
The circuit shown in Figure 1 is a high speed photodiode signal
conditioning circuit with dark current compensation. The system
converts current from a high speed silicon PIN photodiode and
drives the inputs of a 20 MSPS analog-to-digital converter (ADC).
This combination of parts offers spectral sensitivity from 400 nm to
1050 nm with 49 nA of photocurrent sensitivity, a dynamic range
of 91 dB, and a bandwidth of 2 MHz. The signal conditioning
circuitry of the system consumes only 40 mA of current from
the ±5 V supplies making this configuration suitable for portable
high speed, high resolution light intensity applications, such as
pulse oximetry.
+5V
+5V ADR441
VIN VOUT +2.5V
CF 3.3pF GND
RF 24.9kΩ 1kΩ +1.8V

+5V TP1 TP3

INP 2.5kΩ –OUT 33Ω AVDD
AD8065 VIN–
VOCM
RF AD8475 22pF AD9629-20
–5V 2.5kΩ
SFH 2701 0.1µF 24.9kΩ +2.5V VIN+
0.1µF INN +OUT 33Ω GND VCM
VBIAS TP2
–5V
1kΩ

+0.9V
10599-001

–5V

Figure 1. Photodiode Preamp System with Dark Current Compensation (Simplified Schematic: All Connections and Decoupling Not Shown)

Rev. B
Circuits from the Lab™ circuits from Analog Devices have been designed and built by Analog Devices
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suitability and applicability for your use and application. Accordingly, in no event shall Analog Devices One Technology Way, P.O. Box 9106, Norwood, MA 02062-9106, U.S.A.
be liable for direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages due to any cause Tel: 781.329.4700 www.analog.com
whatsoever connected to the use of any Circuits from the Lab circuits. (Continued on last page) Fax: 781.461.3113 ©2012–2013 Analog Devices, Inc. All rights reserved.
CN-0272 Circuit Note
CF

RF

CIN = CS + CD + CM

IPHOTO RSH = 1011Ω CM

CS
CD
CM VO

VB

10599-002
0.1µF RF

Figure 2. Wideband Photodiode Preamp Equivalent Circuit for AC and Noise Analysis

CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION Where IPHOTO is the output current of the photodiode, and the
Component Selection parallel combination of RF and CF sets the signal bandwidth. Ideally,
all of the output current from the photodiode passes through RF,
Photodiodes are high impedance sensors used to detect the
but all op amps have input bias currents that introduce errors on
intensity of light. Photodiodes do not have internal gain but can
the output. Op amps with picoamps of input bias current and low
operate at much higher light levels than other light detectors.
input offset voltages are preferred to minimize the error. The
Photodiodes operate either with zero bias (photovoltaic mode) AD8065 has only 2 pA of input bias current and only 400 µV of
or with a reverse bias (photoconductive mode). The most precise input offset voltage.
linear operation is obtained in the photovoltaic mode, while
The circuit is designed to have a full scale output of 5 V with a
higher switching speeds are realizable when the diode is operated
maximum photodiode current of 200 µA. This determines the
in the photoconductive mode at the expense of linearity. Under
value of the feedback resistor to be
these reverse bias conditions, a small amount of current called
dark current flows even when there is no illumination. The dark RF = 5 V/200 µA = 24.9 kΩ
current error can be cancelled using a second photodiode of the The stable bandwidth attainable with this preamp is a function of
same type in the noninverting input of the op amp as is shown RF, the gain bandwidth product of the amplifier (65 MHz), and the
in Figure 1. total capacitance at the amplifier’s summing junction, CIN. For
Three factors influence the response time of a photodiode this circuit, the SFH 2701 diode (OSRAM Opto Semiconductors
GmbH) has a maximum capacitance of CD = 5 pF. The AD8065
• The charge collection time of the carriers in the depleted common-mode input capacitance is CM = 2.1 pF, and the
region of the photodiode differential-mode input capacitance is CD = 4.5 pF. Therefore,
• The charge collection time of the carriers in the undepleted the total input capacitance is CIN = 11.6 pF.
region of the photodiode
It can be shown that the signal bandwidth resulting in a 45°
• The RC time constant of the diode circuit combination
phase margin, f(45), is defined by
Because the junction capacitance is dependent on the diffused area f CR 65 MHz
of the photodiode and the applied reverse bias, faster rise times are f (45) = =
2π × RF × C IN 2π × 24.9 kΩ × 11.6 pF
obtained with smaller diffused area photodiodes and larger applied
reverse biases. The junction capacitance for the SFH 2701 PIN = 5.7 MHz
photodiode used in the CN-0272 circuit note is 3 pF typical, 5 pF Because the maximum attainable bandwidth is larger than the
maximum for 0 V bias. The typical capacitance is 2 pF for 1 V intended bandwidth, the AD8065 is a good candidate for the
reverse bias and 1.7 pF for 5 V reverse bias. Measurements in application, which is largely due to its large ratio of fCR to CIN.
the circuit were all taken with a reverse bias of 5 V.
Figure 2 shows an I/V converter with an electrical model of a
photodiode. The basic transfer function is
I PHOTO × RF
VOUT =
1 + sC F RF

Rev. B | Page 2 of 8
Circuit Note CN-0272
RF and CIN produce a pole in the loop transfer function of the The resistor noise is calculated using the Johnson noise formula.
amplifier that can result in peaking and instability (see Figure 3).
VRF RTO = 4kTRF × 1.57 f 2 = 36 μV rms
Adding CF creates a zero in the loop transfer function that
compensates for the effect of the pole and reduces the signal where:
bandwidth. k is Boltzmann’s constant (1.38 × 10-23J/K).
1 * *IF (CIN) >> CF,
T is the absolute temperature in Kelvin.
f1 =
2πRF(CF + CIN) THEN CF CAN BE OMITTED The factor of 1.57 converts the approximate single-pole bandwidth
f2 = 2πR C
1
into the equivalent noise bandwidth.
F F

CF =
CIN Note that the 0.1 µF capacitor on the positive input of the preamp
2πR FfCR eliminates the high frequency noise produced by the second RF
resistor used to cancel the effects of bias current.
OPEN LOOP GAIN
The primary source of output noise is due to the input voltage noise
GAIN

and the high frequency noise gain peaking that occurs between
UNCOMPENSATED f1 and fCR. If it is assumed that the output noise is constant over
f2 the entire range of frequencies and the maximum value for the
COMPENSATED ac noise gain is used, then
NOISE DUE
TO AMPLIFIER
 C 
VNRTO = VN 1 + IN  1.57 f 2 = 56 μV rms

f1  CF 
fCR
VEN where VN is the input voltage noise of the amplifier (7 nV/√Hz).
10599-003

1
FREQUENCY (Hz)
The total rms noise referred to the output is then the RSS value
Figure 3. Compensation for Input Capacitance of the two components
The value of CF that produces 2 MHz of bandwidth with the
selected value of RF is Total RTO Noise = (36)2 + (56)2 = 67 μV rms

1 1 The total output dynamic range of the preamp can be calculated

CF = = = 3.3 pF by dividing the full scale output signal (5 V) by the total output
2πRF f 2 2π × 24.9 kΩ × 2 MHz
rms noise (67 µV rms) and converting it to decibels, yielding
To determine if 3.3 pF is enough capacitance to stabilize the system, approximately 97 dB.
calculate the amount of capacitance needed to obtain 45° of phase
Dynamic Range = 20 log(5 V/67 µV)) = 97 dB
margin. The value of CF that produces f(45) can be shown as
ADC Selection
C IN 11.6 pF
CF = = Because the amount of noise output by the amplifier is known
2π × RF × f CR 2π × 24.9 kΩ × 65 MHz
the maximum number of bits that can be resolved can now be
= 1.1 pF calculated by dividing the full scale output by the rms noise.
Because the intended value of 3.3 pF is larger than the minimum Total RMS LSBs = 5 V/67 µV = 74,627
value of 1.1 pF, the system is stable because increasing the The number of rms LSBs can be converted into effective
capacitance increases the amount of phase margin. resolution.
Noise Analysis Effective Resolution = log2(74,627) = 16.19 Bits
Now that the components are selected, how much resolution is Noise-free code resolution can be obtained by subtracting
needed to convert the signal must be determined. As in most 2.7 bits from effective resolution.
noise analyses, only the key contributors need to be identified.
Noise sources combine in an RSS manner; therefore, any single Noise-Free Code Resolution = Effective Resolution – 2.7 Bits
noise source that is at least three-to-four times larger than any = 16.19 Bits – 2.7 Bits
of the others dominates. = 13.49 Bits
In the case of the photodiode preamp, the dominant sources of Depending on the end application, 13 bits may be more resolution
output noise are the input voltage noise of the op amp and the than is actually needed. Because the intended application does
feedback resistor noise. The input current noise of the FET-input not require this amount of resolution, it has been confirmed
op amp is negligible. The shot noise of the photodiode (caused that the system meets the design requirements with 12 bits.
by reverse bias) is negligible because of the filtering effect of the
shunt capacitance.

Rev. B | Page 3 of 8
CN-0272 Circuit Note
If the LSB size (in current) is smaller than the amount of dark The output noise due to the AD8475 is calculated by multiplying
current, as mentioned earlier, the dark current can be canceled the output noise density (10nV/√Hz) by the square root of the
using a second photodiode of the same type in the noninverting bandwidth set by the output filter.
input of the op amp. For example, if 16 bits of resolution is 1 1
needed, the amount of photocurrent detected is Output Filter BW = = = 110 MHz
2πRC 2π × 66 Ω × 22pF
I PHOTO 200 μA
ILSB = = = 3 nA Noise at AD8475 Output After Filter =
2N 216
Since the maximum amount of dark current that flows in the 10 nV/√Hz × (1.57 × 110 MHz) = 131 μV rms
SFH 2701 is specified at 5 nA, dark current compensation is The total noise at the output of the AD8475 after the filter is
needed in a 16-bit design. calculated by taking the RSS value of the two components is
This application uses a 12-bit ADC; therefore, the LSB size is
Total Noise = (27)2 + (131)2 = 134 μV rms
49 nA, and it does not require dark current compensation.
If the bandwidth is 2 MHz, a reasonable guideline is to select an With the noise contribution of the AD8475 incorporated into
ADC with a sampling rate 10 times greater or more. This means the calculations, the number of bits that can be resolved can be
the ideal ADC must sample at a rate of 20 MSPS with 12 bits of confirmed, and the total dynamic range can be calculated.
resolution. Total RMS LSBs = 5 V/134 µV = 37,313
The AD9629-20 is a good candidate because it is a 20 MSPS ADC Effective Resolution = log2(37,313) = 15.19 Bits
with 12 bits of resolution. However, it requires differential inputs, Noise-Free Code Resolution = Effective Resolution – 2.7 Bits
and the 5 V p-p single-ended signal must be converted to a
2 V p-p differential signal. This is easily accomplished by using = 15.19 Bits – 2.7 Bits
the AD8475 differential funnel amplifier, which simplifies the = 12.49 Bits
single-ended-to-differential conversion, and provides common- Dynamic Range = 20 log(5 V/134 µV)) = 91 dB
mode level shifting and precision attenuation.
Test Results
The AD8475 has only a 500 µV maximum output offset, a
10 nV/√Hz differential output noise, and −112 dB total A laser diode was used to drive the D1 photodiode and generate
harmonic distortion plus noise (THD + N). a current. Photodiode D2 is used for dark current compensation
and is covered with an optically opaque epoxy (EPO-TEK® 320)
The AD8475 can support a maximum output voltage of 2 V p-p up to prevent output current from D2 when D1 is excited.
to 10 MHz, which is well within the design requirement of 2 MHz.
By forcing the photodiode to drive a larger than expected current,
The gain of the AD8475 was determined by the analog input span the approximate maximum rise and fall time of the AD8065 was
of the AD9629-20 (2 V p-p) and the full scale output of the 72 ns (see Figure 4).
AD8065 (5 V p-p).
Gain = 2 V p-p/5 V p-p = 0.4
An on-chip, common-mode voltage of 0.9 V is included in the 5V
AD9629-20 and is available from the VCM pin. This pin drives
the VOCM pin of the AD8475 with the common-mode voltage
of 0.9 V.
It is important to include the noise contribution of the AD8475
in this system. This is calculated by first multiplying the output
noise of the AD8065 (67 µV rms) by the gain of the AD8475 to
get the contribution due to the AD8065.
0V
10599-004

Noise at AD8475 Output due to Noise of AD8065 =

0.4 × 67 µV rms = 27 µV rms CH4 1.00V M200ns A CH4 4.73V
T 2.470µs

Figure 4. Pulse Response by Overdriving the Photodiode

Rev. B | Page 4 of 8
Circuit Note CN-0272
A more realistic rise and fall time of the system can be measured by
moving the position of the laser diode so that it does not overdrive
the photodiode current beyond 200 µA. Figure 5 shows the
measured rise and fall time of the AD8065 to be 282 ns and 290 ns,
respectively. It is important to note that there is no ringing after
the laser diode has turned off in both test cases because there is
sufficient phase margin.

5V

10599-007
0V Figure 7. Screenshot of CN0272 Evaluation Software Digitizing a 2 MHz
10599-005

Varying Light Source

CH4 1.00V M200ns A CH4 4.70V A complete design support package for this circuit note can be
T 98.00ns
found at http://www.analog.com/CN0272-DesignSupport.
Figure 5. Pulse Response of Laser Diode
Applications in Pulse Oximetry
Now that the response of the system to a pulse of bright light has
A pulse oximeter is a medical device used for continuously
been tested, how the system responds to high speed changes in
measuring the percentage of hemoglobin (Hgb) saturated with
light intensity can be tested. An Agilent 33250A function generator
oxygen and the pulse rate of a patient. Hemoglobin carrying
was used to drive a laser diode with a 2 MHz sine wave. Figure 6
oxygen (oxyhemoglobin) absorbs light in the infrared region
shows that the output of the AD8065 was able to successfully
(940 nm) of the spectrum; hemoglobin that is not carrying
detect the small changes in light intensity, and Figure 7 shows
oxygen (deoxyhemoglobin) absorbs visible red light (650 nm).
a screenshot of the CN0272 Evaluation Software successfully
The percentage of oxygen in the body is determined by calculating
receiving conversion data from the AD9629-20 ADC and
the ratio between these two intensities of light.
plotting the data in a chart.
In a pulse oximeter, two LEDs (one emitting red light and the
other emitting infrared light) are rapidly and sequentially excited
3V
by two current sources and a photodiode is used to detect the
intensity of the light from the LEDs. The circuit shown in Figure 1
can be synchronized with an LED current sink circuit, such as
the CN-0125, to capture the light from each LED as it transmits
through the tissue

0V
10599-006

CH2 500mV M200ns A CH2 1.65V

T 0.0s

Figure 6. Output of AD8065 Using a Varying Light Source

Rev. B | Page 5 of 8
CN-0272 Circuit Note
COMMON VARIATIONS
The components selected were optimized for noise and cost; Functional Block Diagram
however, other combinations can be substituted. See Figure 1 for the circuit block diagram and the EVAL-CN0272-
Other suitable dual supply amplifiers are the ADA4817-1 and SDPZ-PADSSchematic-RevC.pdf file for the complete circuit
ADA4637-1. If single supply operation is required, the AD8605 or schematic. This file is contained in the CN-0272 Design
the AD8615 are suggested. These amplifiers all have less than 2 pA Support Package.
of input bias current, less than 400 µV of input offset, and more
than 10 MHz of unity-gain bandwidth products.
EVAL-CFTL-6V-PWRZ PC
For applications requiring 100 MHz of bandwidth or greater, 6V WALL WART
such as adaptive speed control, the combination of the ADA4817-1
FastFET amplifier, the ADA4932-1 low power differential ADC
driver, and the 12-bit, 210 MSPS AD9634-210 ADC are suggested.
The ADA4817-1 has a high gain bandwidth product of 400 MHz J3
USB
TP1
and extremely small input capacitance of 1.4 pF. This makes the 120
PINS
D1 D2
amplifier ideal for wideband transimpedance applications. GND J4 CON A

The ADA4932-1 driver can maintain 2 V p-p outputs up to

360 MHz, which is sufficient for the AD9634-210 ADC. EVAL-CN0272-SDPZ
EVAL-SDP-CB1Z

10599-008
SDP-B Board
BOARD
CIRCUIT EVALUATION AND TEST
Figure 8. Test Setup Block Diagram
This circuit uses the EVAL-CN0272-SDPZ circuit board and
the EVAL-SDP-CB1Z SDP-B System Demonstration Platform Setup
controller board. The two boards have 120-pin mating connectors, Connect the 120-pin connector on the EVAL-CN0272-SDPZ
allowing for the quick setup and evaluation of the performance circuit board to the CON A connector on the EVAL-SDP-CB1Z
of the circuit. The EVAL-CN0272-SDPZ board contains the circuit controller board (SDP-B). Use nylon hardware to firmly secure
to be evaluated, as described in this note, and the SDP-B controller the two boards, using the holes provided at the ends of the 120-pin
board is used with the CN0272 Evaluation Software to capture connectors. With power to the supply off, connect a 6 V power
the data from the EVAL-CN0272-SDPZ circuit board. supply to the +6 V and GND pins on the board. If available, a 6 V
Equipment Needed wall wart can be connected to the barrel connector on the board
and used in place of the 6 V power supply. Connect the USB cable
The following equipment is needed:
supplied with the SDP-B board to the USB port on the PC. Do not
• A PC with a USB port and Windows® XP (32 bit), connect the USB cable to the Mini-USB connector on the SDP-B
Windows Vista®, or Windows® 7 board at this time.
• The EVAL-CN0272-SDPZ circuit board
Test
• The EVAL-SDP-CB1Z SDP-B controller board
Apply power to the 6 V supply (or wall wart) connected to the
• The CN-0272 SDP Evaluation Software
EVAL-CN0272-SDPZ circuit board. Launch the evaluation
• The EVAL-CFTL-6V-PWRZ dc power supply or equivalent
software and connect the USB cable from the PC to the Mini-USB
6 V/1 A bench supply
connector on the SDP-B board.
• A light source between 400 nm to 1050 nm
Once USB communications are established, the SDP-B board
Getting Started can be used to send, receive, and capture parallel data from the
Load the evaluation software by placing the CN0272 evaluation EVAL-CN0272-SDPZ board.
software into the CD drive of the PC. Using My Computer, locate Figure 9 shows a photo of the EVAL-CN0272-SDPZ evaluation
the drive that contains the evaluation software. board connected to the SDP board. Information regarding the
SDP-B board can be found in the SDP-B User Guide.
Note that photodiode D2 is used for dark current compensation
and is covered with an optically opaque epoxy (EPO-TEK 320)
to prevent output current from D2 when D1 is excited.
Information and details regarding test setup and calibration, and
how to use the evaluation software for data capture can be found in
the CN-0272 Software User Guide.

Rev. B | Page 6 of 8
Circuit Note CN-0272

10599-009
Figure 9. EVAL-CN0272-SDPZ Evaluation Board Connected to the EVAL-SDP-CB1Z SDP-B Board

Connectivity for Prototype Development

The EVAL-CN0272-SDPZ evaluation board is designed to use the
EVAL-SDP-CB1Z SDP-B board; however, any microprocessor can
be used to interface to the parallel peripheral interface (PPI) of
the AD9629-20. In order for another controller to be used with
the EVAL-CN0272-SDPZ evaluation board, software must be
developed by a third party.
There are existing interposer boards that can be used to interface to
the Altera and Xilinx field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).
The BeMicro SDK board from Altera can be used with the
BeMicro SDK/SDP interposer using Nios Drivers. Any Xilinx
evaluation board that features the FMC connector can be used
with the FMC-SDP Interposer board.

Rev. B | Page 7 of 8
CN-0272 Circuit Note
LEARN MORE Data Sheets and Evaluation Boards
CN-0272 Design Support Package: CN-0272 Circuit Evaluation Board (EVAL-CN0272-SDPZ)
http://www. analog. com/CN0272-DesignSupport System Demonstration Platform (EVAL-SDP-CB1Z)
SDP-B User Guide AD8065 Datasheet
Ardizzoni, John. A Practical Guide to High-Speed Printed-Circuit- AD8475 Datasheet
Board Layout, Analog Dialogue 39-09, September 2005. ADR441 Datasheet
Kester, Walt, Wurcer, Scott, Kitchin, Chuck. High Impedance AD9629-20 Datasheet
Sensors, Practical Design Techniques for Sensor Signal
Conditioning, Section 5, 1999. REVISION HISTORY
11/13—Rev. A to Rev. B
MT-004 Tutorial, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Aspects of
Changes to Figure 3 ...........................................................................3
ADC Input Noise—Is No Noise Good Noise? Analog Devices.
Changes to Figure 7 ...........................................................................5
MT-031 Tutorial, Grounding Data Converters and Solving the 12/12—Rev. 0 to Rev. A
Mystery of “AGND” and “DGND”, Analog Devices. Changes to Test Section ....................................................................6
MT-035, Op Amp Inputs, Outputs, Single-Supply, and Rail-to-
11/12—Revision 0: Initial Version
Rail Issues, Analog Devices.
MT-036 Tutorial, Op Amp Output Phase-Reversal and Input
Over-Voltage Protection, Analog Devices.
MT-068 Tutorial, Difference and Current Sense Amplifiers,
Analog Devices.
MT-101 Tutorial, Decoupling Techniques, Analog Devices.
CN-0125, High Precision, Low Power, Low Cost Pulse Oximeter
Infrared and Red Current Sinks Using the ADA4505-2 10 μA
Zero Input Crossover Distortion Op Amp, ADR1581 Precision
Shunt Voltage Reference, and ADG1636 Dual SPDT Switches,
Analog Devices.
DiffAmpCalc™: Differential Amplifier Calculator
Analog Photodiode Wizard
Analog Devices Pulse Oximetry Products
SFH-2701 PIN Photodiode, OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH
Photodiode Characteristics and Applications, Application Note, OSI
Optoelectronics, 12525 Chadron Ave, Hawthorne, CA 90250

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CN10599-0-11/13(B)

Rev. B | Page 8 of 8