SSM2160/SSM2161
DC Blocking and Frequency Response
All internal signal handling uses direct coupled circuitry.
Although the input and output dc offsets are small, dc blocking
is required when the signal ground references are different.
This will be the case if the source is from an op amp that uses
dual power supplies (i.e., ± 6 V), and the SSM2160 uses a single
supply. If the signal source has the capability of operating with
an externally supplied signal, connect the VREF (Pin 3) to the
source’s external ground input either directly or through a
buffer as shown in Figure 16.
The same consideration is applied to the load. If the load is
returned to AGND, no capacitor is required. When the
SSM2160 is operated from a single supply, there will be a dc
output level of +VS/2 at the output. This will require dc blocking
capacitors if driving a load referred to GND.
When dc blocking capacitors are used at the inputs and outputs,
they form a high pass filter with the input and load resistance
both of which are typically 10 kΩ. To calculate the lower –3 dB
frequency of the high-pass filter formed by the coupling capacitor
and the input resistance, use the following formulas:
fC = 1/(2 π RC), or
C = 1/(2 π R fC)
where R is the typically 10 kΩ input resistance of the SSM2160
or the load resistance. C is the value of the blocking capacitor
when fC is known.
If a cutoff frequency of 20 Hz were desired, solving for C gives
0.8 µF for the input or output capacitor. A higher load imped-
ance will allow smaller output capacitors to give the same 20 Hz
cutoff. Note that the overall low-pass filter will be the cascade
of the two, so the response will be –6 dB at 20 Hz. A practical
and economical choice would be 1 µF/15 V electrolytics.
Signal/Noise Considerations and Channel “Center” Gain
The SSM2160 should be placed in the signal flow where levels
are high enough to result in low distortion and good SNR, but
not so high to require unusually high power supplies. In a
typical application, input and output signal levels will be in the
300 mV ± 200 mV rms range. This level is typically available
from internal and external sources. As previously mentioned,
the +31 dB of gain available in the VCA is usually used for
balancing the various channels and is usually set to +15 dB or
+16 dB in its “center” position. Due to the nature of VCAs’
performance vs. gain, the minimum gain that will allow balanc-
ing the channels should be used. If no balance function is
required, the channel gain should be set to 0 dB. Use the
lowest value of “centered” gain when less than the full balance
range is needed. For example, if only ± 6 dB channel gain
variations were needed, the “center” could be set at +6 dB,
giving +6 dB ± 6 dB, rather than at +15 dB ± 6 dB. This
would result in improved S/N ratio and less distortion.
Digital Interface
Digital logic signals have fast rising and falling edges that can
easily be coupled into the signal and ground paths if care is not
taken with PC board trace routing, ground management, and
proper bypassing. In addition, limiting the high state logic
signal levels to 3.5 V will minimize noise coupling.
Load Considerations
The output of each SSM2160 channel must be loaded with a
minimum of 10 kΩ. Connecting a load of less than 10 kΩ will
result in increased distortion and may cause excessive internal
heating with possible damage to the device. Capacitive loading
should be kept to less than 50 pF. Excessive capacitive loading
may increase the distortion level and may cause instability in the
output amplifiers. If your application requires driving a lower
impedance or more capacitive load, use a buffer as shown in
Figure 24.
VOUT 1
SSM2160
VOUT 6
1/2 SSM2135
CH1 OUT
1/2 SSM2135
CH6 OUT
Figure 24. Output Buffers to Drive Capacitive Loads
Windows Software
Windows software is available to customers from Analog
Devices to interface the serial port of a PC (running Windows
3.1) with the SSM2160. Contact your sales representative for
details on obtaining the software. For more details, see the
Evaluation Board section.
RC*
V+
+
10µF
0.1µF
OUT
CH 1
IN
OUT
CH 3
IN
OUT
CH 5
IN
WRITE
LD
V–
10µF+
**
0.1µF
1
24
2
23
3
22
4
21
5
20
SSM2160
6
19
7
18
8
17
9
16
10
15
11
14
12
13
+
10µF
RM*
OUT
IN
CH 2
OUT
IN
CH 4
OUT
IN
CH 6
DATA
CLK
**OPTIONAL SEE “STEP SIZE”
**TYPICAL 1–10µF: SEE “D.C. BLOCKING”
Figure 25. Typical Application Circuit (Dual Supply)
–12–
REV. 0