M
2.5GHz 45dB RF-Detecting Controllers
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Detailed Description
The MAX4000/MAX4001/MAX4002 family of logarithmic
amplifiers (log amps) is comprised of four main amplifi-
er/limiter stages each with a small-signal gain of 10dB.
The output stage of each amplifier is applied to a full-
wave rectifier (detector). A detector stage also pre-
cedes the first gain stage. In total, five detectors each
separated by 10dB, comprise the log amp strip. Figure
1 shows the functional diagram of the log amps.
A portion of the PA output power is coupled to RFIN of
the log amp controller, and is applied to the log amp
strip. Each detector cell outputs a rectified current and
all cell currents are summed and form a logarithmic
output. The detected output is applied to a high-gain
g
m
stage, which is buffered and then applied to OUT.
OUT is applied to the gain-control pin of the PA to close
the control loop. The voltage applied to SET determines
the output power of the PA in the control loop. The volt-
age applied to SET relates to an input power level
determined by the log amp detector characteristics.
Extrapolating a straight-line fit of the graph of SET vs.
RFIN provides the logarithmic intercept. Logarithmic
RF input, is generally independent of waveform or ter-
mination impedance. The MAX4000/MAX4001/
MAX4002 slope at low frequencies is about 25mV/dB.
Variance in temperature and supply voltage does not
alter the slope significantly as shown in the
Typical
Operating Characteristics
.
The MAX4000/MAX4001/MAX4002 are specifically des-
igned for use in PA control applications. In a control
loop, the output starts at approximately 2.9V (with sup-
ply voltage of 3V) for the minimum input signal and falls
to a value close to ground at the maximum input. With a
portion of the PA output power coupled to RFIN, apply
a voltage to SET and connect OUT to the gain-control
pin of the PA to control its output power. An external
capacitor from the CLPF pin to ground sets the band-
width of the PA control loop.
Transfer Function
Logarithmic slope and intercept determine the transfer
function of the MAX4000/MAX4001/MAX4002 family of
log amps. The change in SET voltage per dB change in
RF input defines the logarithmic slope. Therefore, a
10dB change in RF input results in a 250mV change at
SET. The Log-Conformance plots (see
Typical Oper-
ating Characteristics
) show the dynamic range of the
log amp family. Dynamic range is the range for which
the error remains within a band of ±1dB.
The intercept is defined as the point where the linear
response, when extrapolated, intersects the y-axis of
the Log-Conformance plot. Using these parameters,
the input power can be calculated at any SET voltage
level within the specified input range with the following
equation:
SET
SLOPE
where SET is the set-point voltage, SLOPE is the loga-
rithmic slope (V/dB), RFIN is in either dBm or dBV and
IP is the logarithmic intercept point utilizing the same
units as RFIN.
Applications Information
Controller Mode
Figure 2 provides a circuit example of the MAX4000/
MAX4001/MAX4002 configured as a controller. The
MAX4000/MAX4001/MAX4002 require a 2.7V to 5.5V
supply voltage. Place a 0.1μF low-ESR, surface-mount
ceramic capacitor close to V
CC
to decouple the supply.
Electrically isolate the RF input from other pins (espe-
cially SET) to maximize performance at high frequencies
(especially at the high-power levels of the MAX4002).
The MAX4000 has an internal input-coupling capacitor
RFIN
IP
=
+
Figure 1. Functional Diagram
V
CC
OUT
N.C.
GND
CLPF
SET
RFIN
MAX4000
SHDN
DAC
RF INPUT
V
CC
V
CC
XX
POWER AMPLIFIER
ANTENNA
50
C
F
0.1
μ
F
Figure 2. Controller Mode Application Circuit Block
10dB
DET
10dB
10dB
10dB
DET
DET
DET
DET
OFFSET
COMP
LOW-
BNOISE
OUTPUT
DELAY
GND
(PADDLE)
gm
+
-
X1
V-I
RFIN
V
CC
SHDN
OUT
CLPF
SET
MAX4000