LTC2224
APPLICATIO S I FOR ATIO
signal at its optimum DC level. Terminating on the trans-
former secondary is desirable, as this provides a common
mode path for charging glitches caused by the sample and
hold. Figure 3 shows a 1:1 turns ratio transformer. Other
turns ratios can be used if the source impedance seen by
the ADC does not exceed 100Ω for each ADC input. A
disadvantage of using a transformer is the loss of low
frequency response. Most small RF transformers have
poor performance at frequencies below 1MHz.
Figure 4 demonstrates the use of a differential amplifier to
convert a single ended input signal into a differential input
signal. The advantage of this method is that it provides low
frequency input response; however, the limited gain band-
width of most op amps will limit the SFDR at high input
frequencies.
Figure 5 shows a single-ended input circuit. The imped-
ance seen by the analog inputs should be matched. This
circuit is not recommended if low distortion is required.
The 25Ω resistors and 12pF capacitor on the analog inputs
serve two purposes: isolating the drive circuitry from the
sample-and-hold charging glitches and limiting the
wideband noise at the converter input. For input frequen-
cies higher than 100MHz, the capacitor may need to be
decreased to prevent excessive signal loss.
For input frequencies above 100MHz the input circuits of
Figure 6, 7 and 8 are recommended. The balun trans-
former gives better high frequency response than a flux
coupled center tapped transformer. The coupling capaci-
tors allow the analog inputs to be DC biased at 1.6V. In
Figure 8 the series inductors are impedance matching
elements that maximize the ADC bandwidth.
Reference Operation
Figure 9 shows the LTC2224 reference circuitry consisting
of a 1.6V bandgap reference, a difference amplifier and
switching and control circuit. The internal voltage refer-
ence can be configured for two pin selectable input ranges
of 2V (±1V differential) or 1V (±0.5V differential). Tying the
SENSE pin to VDD selects the 2V range; typing the SENSE
pin to VCM selects the 1V range.
The 1.6V bandgap reference serves two functions: its
output provides a DC bias point for setting the common
mode voltage of any external input circuitry; additionally,
the reference is used with a difference amplifier to gener-
ate the differential reference levels needed by the internal
ADC circuitry. An external bypass capacitor is required for
the 1.6V reference output, VCM. This provides a high
frequency low impedance path to ground for internal and
external circuitry.
HIGH SPEED
DIFFERENTIAL
AMPLIFIER 25Ω
ANALOG
INPUT
+ + 3pF
CM
–
–
25Ω
LTC6600-20
OR LT1993
VCM
2.2µF
AIN+
LTC2224
12pF
AIN–
3pF
2224 F04
Figure 4. Differential Drive with an Amplifier
1k 1k
0.1µF
ANALOG
25Ω
INPUT
VCM
2.2µF
AIN+ LTC2224
12pF
25Ω
0.1µF
AIN–
2224 F05
Figure 5. Single-Ended Drive
2224fa
15