AD606

REV. B

–7–

For operation above 10 MHz, it is not necessary to add the

ment in low frequency noise can be achieved by so doing (see

APPLICATIONS). Note that the offset control loop does not

materially affect the low-frequency cutoff at high input levels,

when the offset voltage is swamped by the signal.

Power-Up Interface

The AD606 features a power-saving mode, controlled by the

logic level at Pin 14 (PRUP). When powered down, the quies-

cent current is typically 65

µA, or about 325 µW. A CMOS

logical HIGH applied to PRUP activates both internal refer-

ences, and the system becomes fully functional within about

3.5

µs. When this input is a CMOS logical LOW, the system

shuts down to the quiescent level within about 5

µs.

The power-up time is somewhat dependent on the signal level

and can be degraded by mismatch of the input coupling capaci-

tors. The explanation is as follows. When the AD606 makes the

transition from powered-down to fully active, the dc bias voltage

at the input nodes INHI and INLO (about +2.5 V) inevitably

changes slightly, as base current in the input transistors flows in

the bias resistors. In fact, first-order correction for this is in-

cluded in the specially designed offset buffer amplifier, but even

a few millivolts of change at these inputs represents a significant

equivalent “dBm” level.

Now, if the coupling capacitors do not match exactly, some

fractional part of this residual voltage step becomes coupled into

the amplifier. For example, if there is a 10% capacitor mis-

match, and INHI and INLO jump 20 mV at power-up, there is

a 2 mV pulse input to the system, which may cause the offset

control loop to ring. Note that 2 mV is roughly 40 times greater

than the amplitude of a sinusoidal input at –75 dBm. As long as

the ringing persists, the AD606 will be “blind” to the actual

The solution to this problem is first, to ensure that the loop

filter does not ring, and second, to use well-matched capacitors

at the signal input. Use the component values suggested above

to minimize ringing.

APPLICATIONS

Note that the AD606 has more than 70 MHz of input band-

width and 90 dB of gain! Careful shielding is needed to realize

its full dynamic range, since nearly all application sites will be

pervaded by many kinds of interference, radio and TV stations,

etc., all of which the AD606 faithfully hears. In bench evalua-

tion, we recommend placing all of the components in a shielded

box and using feedthrough decoupling networks for the supply

voltage. In many applications, the AD606’s low power drain

allows the use of a 6 V battery inside the box.

Basic RSSI Application

Figure 6 shows the basic RSSI (Receiver Signal Strength Indica-

tor) application circuit, including the calibration adjustments,

either or both of which may be omitted in noncritical applica-

tions. This circuit may be used “as is” in such measurement

applications as the log/IF strip in a spectrum or network ana-

lyzer or, with the addition of an FM or QPSK demodulator fed

by the limiter outputs, as an IF strip in such communications

applications as a GSM digital mobile radio or FM receiver.

The slope adjustment works in this way: the buffer amplifier

(which forms part of a Sallen-Key two-pole filter, see Figure 2)

has a dc gain of plus two, and the resistance from BFIN (buffer

in) to OPCM (output common) is nominally 9.375 k

Ω. This

resistance is driven from the logarithmic detector sections with a

current scaled 2

µA/dB, generating 18.75 mV/dB at BFIN,

connected directly between BFIN and VLOG would form a

controlled positive-feedback network with the internal 9.375 k

Ω

resistor which would raise the gain, and thus increase the slope

voltage, while the same external resistor connected between

BFIN and ground would form a shunt across the internal resis-

tor and reduce the slope voltage. By connecting R4 to a potenti-

ometer R2 across the output, the slope may be adjusted either

way; the value for R4 shown in Figure 6 provides approximately

± 10% range, with essentially no effect on the slope at the

midposition.

The intercept may be adjusted by adding a small current into

BFIN via R1 and R3. The AD606 is designed to have the nomi-

nal intercept value of –88 dBm when R1 is centered using this

network, which provides a range of

±5 dB.

51.1

100pF

100pF

RF INPUT

NC

R5

200

LIMITER OUTPUT

LOGARITHMIC

OUTPUT

R3

412k

R4

174k

R1

200k

INTERCEPT

ADJUSTMENT

5dB

R2

50k

SLOPE

ADJUSTMENT

10%

+5V

+5V

AD606

NC

0.1 F

NC = NO CONNECT

Figure 6. Basic Application Circuit Showing Optional Slope and Intercept Adjustments