RMS Converter Has Excellent CMR

May 30, 1994
Designs for rms converters are common, particularly the single-chip monolithic solutions. This circuit (see the figure), however, differs from the others because of its versatile instrumentation-amplifier-type differential inputs that feature

Designs for rms converters are common, particularly the single-chip monolithic solutions. This circuit (see the figure), however, differs from the others because of its versatile instrumentation-amplifier-type differential inputs that feature excellent common-mode rejection (CMR). In addition, the circuit is built with inexpensive, generic components.

The first step in input-signal processing is the differential-input absolute-value circuit (ELECTRONIC DESIGN, April 16, 1992, p. 93). It consists of A1, A2, Q1, Q2, and input-scaling resistor R1. The zero-adjustment trimmer pot provided for A1 permits accurate calibration for low-level inputs. The absolute-value circuit displays a common-mode voltage range of ±10 V, a CMR equal to that of A1 and A2, and an input impedance of ≈1012. It produces a current-mode output at the collectors of Q1 and Q2 with a magnitude of V1/R1.

This current is applied to diode-connected Q3, which produces a voltage that's logarithmically related to abs (V1/R1) as the first stage of signal processing in the rms computing circuit. The rms computation is performed by a variation of the so-called "implicit" method. The log signal produced by Q3 is doubled by A3 and then applied to antilog transistor Q4. Because antilog (2 log(x)) = X2, the collector current of Q4 (IQ4) is proportional to the instantaneous square of Q3's collector current. I is averaged and converted to output voltage V0 by A4.

Amplifier A5 and transistor Q5 produce a signal related to log(V0), which is applied to the emitters of Q3 and Q5. This effectively subtracts it from the VBE of Q3 and adds it to the VBE applied to Q4. Due to the relationship of addition and subtraction of logarithms to multiplication and division, the net result of this log(V0) feedback is that IQ4 is proportional to V12/V0. Because V0 = avg(IQ4R0), V0 = avg(kV12/V0), V02 = k avg(V12), and V0 = K rms (V1). K and ak are appropriate constants.

The scale factor of the rms conversion, K, is given by (RFR0)1/2/R1. In the example circuit, the scale factor equals 10. Thus, a differential input signal of 1 Vrms produces a V0 of 10 V.

Circuit frequency response includes both dc and those ac components with frequencies both well above the R0Cavg output time constant (<< 10 Hz in the example), and below the slew rate and gain-bandwidth limitations of amplifiers A1 and A2 (>300 kHz for —3 dB in the example).

Within this range, circuit linearity is better than 1%. "Crest factor" capability is good due to the lack of voltage compliance limitations in the rms computation loop.

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