Electronic – Working with current feedback opamps [CFA]

feedbackgainoperational-amplifierphotodiode

Before entering in to problem:

My application is a laser pulse detection. In this process, when a laser pulse falls on a photo diode, it generates current. Later stages include a I-V conversion, gain, difference amplifier and comparator.

My current problem with I-V conversion can be seen here.

My pulse characteristics:

pulse width min: 10 ns max: 150 ns rise/fall time: 2 ns – 5 ns pulse to pulse width:22 µS

How I selected the opamp for gain and difference amplifier stages

Key parameters: BW – bandwidth and SR – Slew Rate

From this literature I found my BW can be calculated by the formula:

BW = 0.35/(rise time) = 0.35/5 ns = 70 MHz

Now the slew rate is to be calculated:

SR = 2 * 3.14 * BW * Vp = 2 * 3.14 * 175 MHz * 4 V = 2198 V/µs

So matching both these parameters is a CFA AD8003 from Analog. When I go for high slew rates and high BW almost all opamps avaliable are CFA's!

What is worrying me?

Without any notion when I used CFA for my difference amplifier stage, with unity gain using a 500 ohm resistor for Rf and Rb, the results seemed stable, but it is this statement from Texas Instrument technical literature, clearly saying:

the first difference between voltage feedback and current feedback—the
input impedance of current feedback op-amp inputs is very different.
Because the inverting input has low impedance, current feedback
amplifiers are not good for balanced systems such as differential
amplifiers

CFA as difference amplifier

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So my results are like this for a difference amplifier followed by a comparator. The pulse here is 10 ns width and 1 ns rise and fall times and repeating at a 150 ns rate.

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Why is the pulse quite expanded? Which capacitor stage has done it I didn't understand.

CFA as amplifier with gain

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The results for the above circuit are also not as desired (I just see 0 V output), why so?

Best Answer

There is nothing is wrong with your circuit. The wide pulse width is because you're feeding your diff_amp_out to a comparator.

It can only supply you with a pulse of full voltage if the input (in this case) is even slightly above zero volts. I like how your scope shows the tiny delays from stage to stage.

You could adjust the 'trip' level of the comparator, but the output will always be +5 V.

If you just want to amplify diff_amp_out, add another AD8003 op-amp and set your gain to fit your needs. At least you keep your true signal pulse width. Admittedly, working with these nS pulses is tough.

CFA amps are designed for current feed back, which lowers the input impedance, but greatly increases its bandwidth and high frequency response compared to VFA.

All video and RF amplifiers are the CFA type. The VFAs are best for audio and precision DC measurements.