Trans Impedance Amplifier for DAC Outputs Using LH4117 Single IC Chip

This is a circuit for trans-impedance amplifier that using to DAC output. This circuit is based on LF4117 that is an excellent match to amplify the output of DACs like the DAC0800. The fast settling time of 9 ns to 0.02% does not degrade the performance of the DAC. On the other hand, the DAC0800 provides complimentary current outputs, which are current sinks and do not need a fixed voltage to work accurately. This is the figure of the circuit.

The DAC0800 is fed a reference current of IREF e 2 mA into pin 14. This is achieved by the LH0070 voltage reference with 10V output. A resistance of 5 kX (R1 a R2) is connected to pin 14, which is a virtual ground, thus providing the reference current of 2 mA. The grounded pin 15 provides the reference voltage for pin 14. The DAC has eight current sinks, each set for half the current of the previous one. Through switches, controlled by the input logic levels, their open collectors are connected to one of the two outputs. The sum of the output currents I1 and I2 equals the reference current of 2 mA. Because of the open collector configuration the outputs do not have to be tied to a fixed voltage level. The outputs of the DAC0800 are connected to the inputs of the LH4117 through 100X resistors (R4 and R5). This is to decouple the inputs of the amplifier from the output capacitance of the DAC, which is typically 23 pF to 30 pF. Especially the inverting input is sensitive to capacitance. [Schematic’s circuit source: National Semiconductor Notes].