SBVS263B July 2017 – June 2025 TPS7A39
PRODUCTION DATA
In this design, the ADS8900B is used as the ADC. This ADC features a differential input, so from a 5V reference the ADC is able to encode values between ±5V. In many applications, single-supply op amps are powered with rails from 0V to 5V, which causes the input signal to become distorted when the full range signal is applied. The FFT of a 10VPP (peak-to-peak) sine wave using a single 5V rail to bias the amplifiers is illustrated in Figure 7-15. In this test the SNR was calculated to be 54.89dB and the THD was calculated to be –40.68dB.
There is a simple solution to improve the SNR and THD of the ADC: bias the amplifiers in the analog front end with a 5.2V rail and a –0.2V rail. Using these rails allows the amplifier to operate in the linear region in the 0V to 5V range needed by the ADC. The FFT of a 10VPP sine wave using a 5.2V rail and a –0.2V rail is illustrated in Figure 7-16. In this test the SNR was calculated to be 102.535dB and the THD was calculated to be –121.66dB. Using –0.2V and 5.2V rail voltages still allows for common 5V (5.5V max) op amps to be used in the design.