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Common Mode Question (AD8138 part, single supply)

Good afternoon,

I am working with the AD8138 part and am having some issue with the common mode reference in my simulations.  Due to constraints on the board, we are only able to use a single supply to operate from, the AD8138 has been a relatively good part in the past for me, although I've never used it without a dual supply. 

I might be missing something obvious here, or perhaps the model that I have doesn't support a single supply applications very well.  Thinking I was setting this up wrong, I copied the schematic from Figure 42 from the datasheet.  The problem I am seeing is that the output voltage levels are ~ 2.1V above the common mode set point.  (i.e., set the common mode to 2.5V, the Vpos and Vneg are sitting at 4.65V.  For an input I am applying a 100kHz sine wave with a DC offset of 0.5V, and a peak-peak amplitude of 0.5V. 

I also ran DC sweeps on the same circuit to see where the outputs were in relation to the common mode reference point.  They are always ~ 2V greater than the common mode set point.  This is not a complicated circuit, I don't think I'm doing anything wrong with the setup.  What made me start suspecting the model is if I set the common mode down to around 500mV, the AD8138 current draw sky rockets up to 350MA (not milli, but MEGA).  If I run the same sweep with a -5V rail, it performs as expected.

Has anyone else reported any strange issues with the common mode at the outputs when using a single supply?

As always, thanks for your time,

Dave

Dave,

  I didn't look at the mmodel, but a couple of thoughts:

--  Some models only work correct at the highest supply voltage, e.g., if an op amp runs on ground and 5,

and also +/-15V, it only works with 30V across it.

--  Fig 42 is not much help w/o knowing voltages.   Watch out for the valid input voltage ranges on the

inputs, and what kind of swing you can get on the output.

--  If you cap couple into fig 42, it won't work;  no place for the bias current to go.

Harry

  • Harry,

    I have the AD8138 in hardware in the lab, the good news is I can supply a single 5V supply and the outputs follow the common mode input.  The bad news is the simulation model doesn't seem to work.  I'm going to attach my schematic and the DC level simulation results I have. 

    There is another issue with the model that I found a while ago, when streaming in the model the outputs are switched.  The physical part has the out + and - on pins 4 and 5 respectively.  The model has these on 5 and 4 respectively.  I sent this in when I discovered it and the advice was just to keep track of it when designing with this model.  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯



    The outputs follow the same ramp as the common mode, they are just at the wrong levels.  I will need to run worst case simulations using this device eventually, would very much like to understand why the model doesn't seem to be working. 

    Again, thanks for your time, I really appreciate it.

    Dave

  • Harry,

    Found a reference online to someone else having some issues with the AD8138 simulation model.  They swapped out for the AD8139 model as a work around.  I just tried the same, and it works fine. 

    Dave

  • Thanks, I'll report it.

    Harry

  • This question has been assumed as answered either offline via email or with a multi-part answer. This question has now been closed out. If you have an inquiry related to this topic please post a new question in the applicable product forum.

    Thank you,
    EZ Admin
  • This question was never answered.  Has anyone looked into why the common mode voltage doesn't follow the output while using a single supply?  Is this a real behavior of the AD8138? 

    As I stated above, the AD8139 was a work around for someone else, but is that really a work around?  The AD8139 is a different part, and if your intention is to use the AD8138 this might not be good. 

    Dave