[time-nuts] Advice on 10 MHz isolation/distribution (Clay)

Bruce Griffiths bruce.griffiths at xtra.co.nz
Sat Feb 13 01:46:34 UTC 2010


The series RC to ground keeps the high frequency impedance seen by Q1 
and Q7 low so that the base current noise which increases significantly 
as the frequency approaches the ft of these transistors.
However such a series RC network does little to suppress the the rise 
due to gain peaking.
A shunt capacitor from the output stage collectors to the output stage 
bases is much more effective for the 2x gain stage.

Such a capacitor increases the noise for the 1x gain White emitter follower.
Using an input transistor with higher bandwidth is more effective in 
this case.

Bruce

Bob Camp wrote:
> Hi
>
> I suspect your noise spike can be cured by a series R-C to ground from the junction of Q1 base, Q7 base and all the other stuff. Something is going to have to set a high frequency roll off. With no coils some combo of R and C is going to have to do it.
>
> You might also try returning all of the upper emitter resistor bypasses to ground rather than B+. Another alternative would be emitter to emitter bypass as shown on the JPL schematic. I'm guessing both would improve isolation in a real world circuit.
>
> Bob
>
>
> On Feb 11, 2010, at 8:34 PM, Bruce Griffiths wrote:
>
>    
>> life speed wrote:
>>      
>>> Message: 2
>>> Date: Fri, 12 Feb 2010 12:12:29 +1300
>>> From: Bruce Griffiths<bruce.griffiths at xtra.co.nz>
>>> The output (collectors of Q5, Q6 emitter of Q4) of the input amplifier
>>> sets the dc voltage at the inputs ( Q1 base, Q7 base respectively) of
>>> the output amplifiers.
>>>
>>> The circuit consists of a unity gain input amplifier (Q4, Q5, Q6) that
>>> drives a pair of output amplifiers (Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q7, Q8, Q9
>>> respectively) each with a gain of 2x (6dB).
>>> The input amplifier is essentially a white emitter follower with a
>>> complementary symmetry output stage (shown in transistor electronics
>>> books from the 1960's) where an input CE transistor drives a
>>> complementary pair of CE transistors with feedback from the common
>>> collectors of the 2 output transistors to the input transistor emitter.
>>> In effect its merely a very simple unity gain opamp. Its usually best to
>>> ensure that the CE output stage pair provide the dominant open loop
>>> pole. Using a higher ft (2 to 3x)  input transistor than the output pair
>>> is the usual way of ensuring this.
>>>
>>> Well, it is so obvious now that you explained it.  I had forgot about the need for one of the stages to set the dominant pole.
>>>
>>> Thanks Bruce and Bob for sharing your obsession with frequency controls.  I'll simulate this further, and have a prototype PCB built within the next few weeks.  I did notice the resistor at the base of Q2,5,8 is responsible for significant noise.  I'll have to be careful with the bias circuit.
>>>
>>> Have to get busy for now, but I will report back with results.
>>>
>>> Best regards,
>>>
>>> Clay
>>>
>>>
>>>        
>> Clay
>>
>> One can always use a smaller resistor in series with an RF choke that has no resonances in the region of interest.
>>
>> The attached circuit schematic illustrates one method of biasing for which the emitter current of the input transistor can be largely sourced via a resistor rather than from the collector current of the npn output transistor.
>>
>> My simulations indicate if that one uses 2N3904's as the input device rather than the 2N5179's shown that there is an enormous peak in the output noise spectrum at around 150-200MHz or so.
>> When the 2N5179 is used this noise peak is much smaller and broader.
>>
>> Use the same bias divider bypassing techniques that NIST used including the use of electrolytic caps (they used tantalum caps) to reduce the low frequency noise from the power supply. The ceramic bypass caps ensure sufficient isolation between stages.
>> Simulating the reverse isolation with realistic component parasitics is always informative/useful.
>>
>> Bruce
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>
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