HFA1150
Application Information
Relevant Application Notes
The following Application Notes pertain to the HFA1150:
• AN9787 - An Intuitive Approach to Understanding
Current Feedback Amplifiers
• AN9420 - Current Feedback Amplifier Theory and
Applications
• AN9663-Converting from Voltage Feedback to Current
Feedback Amplifiers
• AN9891-Operating the HFA1150 from 5V Single
Supply
These publications may be obtained from Intersil’s web site
(http://www.intersil.com).
Performance Differences Between Packages
The HFA1150 is a high frequency current feedback
amplifier. As such, it is sensitive to parasitic capacitances
which influence the amplifier’s operation. The different
parasitic capacitances of the SOIC and SOT-23 packages
yield performance differences (notably bandwidth and
bandwidth related parameters) between the two devices -
see Electrical Specification tables for details.
Because of these performance differences, designers
should evaluate and breadboard with the same package
style to be used in production.
Note that some “Typical Performance Curves” have
separate graphs for each package type. Graphs not labeled
with a specific package type are applicable to both
packages.
Optimum Feedback Resistor
The enclosed frequency response graphs detail the
performance of the HFA1150 in various gains. Although the
bandwidth dependency on ACL isn’t as severe as that of a
voltage feedback amplifier, there is an appreciable decrease
in bandwidth at higher gains. This decrease can be
minimized by taking advantage of the current feedback
amplifier’s unique relationship between bandwidth and RF.
All current feedback amplifiers require a feedback resistor,
even for unity gain applications, and the RF, in conjunction
with the internal compensation capacitor, sets the dominant
pole of the frequency response. Thus, the amplifier’s
bandwidth is inversely proportional to RF. The HFA1150 is
optimized for a RF = 576Ω/499Ω (SOIC/SOT-23), at a gain
of +2. Decreasing RF decreases stability, resulting in
excessive peaking and overshoot (Note: Capacitive
feedback causes the same problems due to the feedback
impedance decrease at higher frequencies). At higher gains
the amplifier is more stable, so RF can be decreased in a
trade-off of stability for bandwidth. The table below lists
recommended RF values for various gains, and the
expected bandwidth.
OPTIMUM FEEDBACK RESISTOR
RF (Ω)
BANDWIDTH (MHz)
ACL
SOIC/SOT-23
SOIC/SOT-23
-1
422/464
650/540
+1
383, (+RS = 226)/
600/500
549, (+RS = 100)
+2
576/499
700/540
+5
348/422
480/400
+10
178/348
5V Single Supply Operation
380/300
This amplifier operates at single supply voltages down to
4.5V. The dramatic supply current reduction at this operating
condition (refer also to Figure 25) makes this op amp an
even better choice for low power 5V systems. Refer to
Application Note AN9891 for further information.
Driving Capacitive Loads
Capacitive loads, such as an A/D input, or an improperly
terminated transmission line will degrade the amplifier’s
phase margin resulting in frequency response peaking and
possible oscillations. In most cases, the oscillation can be
avoided by placing a resistor (RS) in series with the output
prior to the capacitance.
Figure 1 details starting points for the selection of this
resistor. The points on the curve indicate the RS and CL
combinations for the optimum bandwidth, stability, and
settling time, but experimental fine tuning is recommended.
Picking a point above or to the right of the curve yields an
overdamped response, while points below or left of the curve
indicate areas of underdamped performance.
RS and CL form a low pass network at the output, thus
limiting system bandwidth well below the amplifier bandwidth
of 700MHz/540MHz (SOIC/SOT-23, AV = +2). By
decreasing RS as CL increases (as illustrated by the curves),
the maximum bandwidth is obtained without sacrificing
stability. In spite of this, bandwidth still decreases as the load
capacitance increases. For example, at AV = +2, RS = 20Ω,
CL = 22pF, the SOIC bandwidth is 410MHz, but the
bandwidth drops to 110MHz at AV = +2, RS = 5Ω,
CL = 390pF.
4