VCA820 - Simulation does not match real world results

e2e would not let me attach the TINA file, please contact me if you need it.

Here is the TINA file, zipped

8686.IRIGB_2.zip

Download the VCA820 TINA-TI Reference Circuit  and verify that it is working correctly. Then modify the circuit to your schematic and see if it gives you a correct answer.

I haven't tried this so I can't guarantee that it will work but I think this is your best bet.

I don't understand your advice, I already have a TINA simulation file for my VCA820 circuit (see previous post), am I missing something? Is it just to verify the VCA820 SPICE model is correct?

That's the idea.

We got the SPICE model from the VCA820 product page, why would it be different (or incorrect) from the one in the reference design?

I have no idea.

We are just trying to find out where the problem is. If the VCA820 model works in the TINA-TI reference circuit but the SPICE model is not working in the circuit that you drew in another circuit simulation software product, it will help identify where your problem lies.

Neil,

Thank you for your help but I am still confused. We are not using another circuit simulation tool, we've only used TINA-TI. The circuit (based on the datasheet application circuit) was drawn and simulated in TINA-TI (using the TI VCA820 model). The circuit was then implemented on the board, the issue is that what we are seeing in the lab does not match what we see in TINA-TI.

I provided a zipped file with OUR TINA-TI VCA820 circuit, we used to implement.

Kind Regards

Asicman 78;

The TINA "reference circuits" were originally created to show that the device model actually does work. So if someone has a problem, they can copy a working circuit and then modify it to their configuration. If that circuit does not work then they know that the problem is not with the device model.

Xavier;

Thanks for solving the problem

Xavier,

Thanks!!!!!!

Xavier,

I have a few follow-on questions

• So was the circuit shown Fig 83 (page 22) datasheet incorrect or incomplete? It's what we based our circuit on and my manager was wondering why it differed so much from the circuit you gave us?
• Our input signal in AM modulated signal @ 1KHz and one of the other engineers on the team is saying that the circuit you provided would respond too fast for the modulation. Do you have any input on this? 

I am not an Analog guy so I appreciate any additional help you can provide us.

Asicman,

The main error in the circuit from the datasheet is that the input bias current of the OPA820 will drive the integrator to the rail, so the circuit will never work as an AGC circuit.

The new circuit I suggested corrects the functionality.  Now the VCA820 gain is always reduced from a maximum gain, so once the maximum gain is set in the forward path, the only possible action is to reduce it.  This circuit is very quick at reducing the gain as this is set by the integrator circuit.  It is possible to slow this down by increasing the feedback capacitor.

 I ran a simulation with 3 different cap value and from that it seems that you want a fast intergrator to control the AGC loop.  For 100kHz BW integrator (1.6nF cap), you do see some significant glitch when gain adjustement is needed.  Those tend to dissapear as the integrator BW is increase to 1MHz  (160pF) or 10MHz (16pF).  I ran a longer simulation and saw the same behavior as in the shorter one.

Note that the integrator charges a capacitor through a diode.  Only when the signal is greater than the reference voltage does the integrator reduces its output voltage.  If the voltage at the output of the integrator is lower than the voltage present on the capacitor C1 then C1 will get lower.  If it is higher then a slow recharge, set by R1 and R2, will start.

The integrator is fairly fast, but the control voltage controlling the VCA820 is very slow.  Modifying C1, R1, R2 and R12 should be enough to control both discharge and recharge of the AGC circuit.

If you have your modulated signal available, you insert it in a piecewise linear source to simulate with the modulation to see how the circuit behaves.  If you need help with the simulation, let me know.

Xavier,

May I ask why there was no errata or update issued for the datasheet? We based our design on the published circuit and now we are facing having to redesign the board in order to fix these issues.

Any idea why our initial simulations looked ok on TINA-TI? 

Do you think we can do anything (value changes, etc) with our current circuit design that might get it close to working or do we really need to spin the board (manager is not happy so I have to ask :-) )