Temperature coefficient in AD538

Two more questions about the AD538 data sheet.

1. Can the absolute value section (as shown in figure 17) also be used for the Ix Vx and Iy Vy inputs in figure 13? I mean that three absolute value sections are used for all three inputs x, y and z. Can in this case the diode at pin 11 be omitted? Or with other words: Please explain what's the purpose of the diode in figure 13. Why is the diode required at the Iy input, while it seems the Ix and Iz inputs don't require a diode?

2. In figure 15 the antilog section is mostly unused. If I understood it correctly, only the output amplifier is used. Is it also possible to use only the antilog section, without using the log section? I think in this case we need a temperature compensation at the input of the antilog section. Do you have a sample circuit for this temperature compensation?

Hello Mkoch,

I think your formula is incomplete. Please help check the derivation below for the complete formula

If we assume that the temperature coefficient for the 90.9ohm metal-film resistor is around 50ppm/C to 100ppm/C (which is what I am seeing for most 90.9ohm resistors available online)

alpha = [(1000 * 3500) + (90.9 * 100)] / 1000 + 90.9

alpha = 3216 ppm/C which is approximately close to 3300ppm/C which is stated on page 12 of the DS.

Maybe that's why the total resistance will become 1.09kohms with 3300ppm/C temp coefficient.

If we reverse the formula and make it the exact 3300ppm/C temp coefficient, temp coefficient for the 90.9ohm metal film resistor will turn out to be 1100ppm/C(but not sure regarding this since DS did not state the actual temp coefficient for the metal film resistor. 

I will check this further and let you know how did the DS come up with a 90.9ohm resistor. But for now, let's just correct the formula you used on calculating the temp coefficient for resistors in series.
Thanks for your understanding.

Best Regards,
Kenneth

Your formula is correct if both resistors have a temperature coefficient. I was assuming that the 90.9 Ohm resistor has zero temperature coefficient.

I think when a metal film resistor is specified as "50ppm", that does always mean plus or minus 50. Because we don't know where in the -50 to +50 range the temperature coefficient actually is, we should use the average value 0.

See for example here: www.mouser.de/.../Yageo_LR_MFR_1-1714151.pdf

Best Regards,

Michael

Hello Michael,

Plus or minus only denotes direction of change in resistance (if its increasing or decreasing with temp). During calculation we have to assume only one direction for both resistors. In this case, I assumed it to be positive since the resultant coefficient is also positive.

I used 100ppm for the 90.9ohm resistor since it is the extreme possible temp coefficient that a metal film resistor could have (since it was not indicated on the DS).

But that's only an assumption since it was not indicated on the DS. It is still recommended to follow what's written on the datasheet for correct operation.

Best Regards,
Kenneth

Hello Michael,

Plus or minus only denotes direction of change in resistance (if its increasing or decreasing with temp). During calculation we have to assume only one direction for both resistors. In this case, I assumed it to be positive since the resultant coefficient is also positive.

I used 100ppm for the 90.9ohm resistor since it is the extreme possible temp coefficient that a metal film resistor could have (since it was not indicated on the DS).

But that's only an assumption since it was not indicated on the DS. It is still recommended to follow what's written on the datasheet for correct operation.

Best Regards,
Kenneth