Introduction

Frequently, voltage reference stability and noise define measurement limits in instrumentation systems. In particular, reference noise often sets stable resolution limits. Reference voltages have decreased with the continuing drop in system power supply voltages, making reference noise increasingly important. The compressed signal processing range mandates a commensurate reduction in reference noise to maintain resolution. Noise ultimately translates into quantization uncertainty in A to D converters, introducing jitter in applications such as scales, inertial navigation systems, infrared thermography, DVMs and medical imaging apparatus. A new low voltage reference, the LTC6655, has only 0.3ppm (775nV) noise at 2.5V_OUT. Figure 1 lists salient specifications in tabular form. Accuracy and temperature coefficient are characteristic of high grade, low voltage references. 0.1Hz to 10Hz noise, particularly noteworthy, is unequalled by any low voltage electronic reference.

Noise Measurement

Special techniques are required to verify the LTC6655’s extremely low noise. Figure 2’s approach appears innocently straightforward but practical implementation represents a high order difficulty measurement. This 0.1Hz to 10Hz noise testing scheme includes a low noise pre-amplifier, filters and a peak-to-peak noise detector. The pre-amplifiers 160nV noise floor, enabling accurate measurement, requires special design and layout techniques. A forward gain of 10⁶ permits readout by conventional instruments.

Figure 3’s detailed schematic reveals some considerations required to achieve the 160nV noise floor. The references DC potential is stripped by the 1300μF, 1.2k resistor combination; AC content is fed to Q1. Q1-Q2, extraordinarily low noise J-FET’s, are DC stabilized by A1, with A2 providing a single-ended output. Resistive feedback from A2 stabilizes the configuration at a gain of 10,000. A2’s output is routed to amplifier-filter A3-A4 which provides 0.1Hz to 10Hz response at a gain of 100. A5-A8 comprise a peak-to-peak noise detector read out by a DVM at a scale factor of 1 volt/microvolt. The peak-to-peak noise detector provides high accuracy measurement, eliminating tedious interpretation of an oscilloscope display. Instantaneous noise value is supplied by the indicated output to a monitoring oscilloscope. The 74C221 one-shot, triggered by the oscilloscope sweep gate, resets the peak-to-peak noise detector at the end of each oscilloscope 10-second sweep.

Numerous details contribute to the circuit’s performance. The 1300μF capacitor, a highly specialized type, is selected for leakage in accordance with the procedure given in Appendix B. Further, it, and its associated low noise 1.2k resistor, are fully shielded against pick-up. FETs Q1 and Q2 differentially feed A2, forming a simple low noise op amp. Feedback, provided by the 100k - 10Ω pair, sets closed loop gain at 10,000. Although Q1 and Q2 have extraordinarily low noise characteristics, their offset and drift are uncontrolled. A1 corrects these deficiencies by adjusting Q1’s channel current via Q3 to minimize the Q1-Q2 input difference. Q1’s skewed drain values ensure that A1 is able to capture the offset. A1 and Q3 supply whatever current is required into Q1’s channel to force offset within about 30μV. The FETs’ V_GS can vary over a 4:1 range. Because of this, they must be selected for 10% V_GS matching. This matching allows A1 to capture the offset without introducing significant noise. Q1 and Q2 are thermally mated and lagged in epoxy at a time constant much greater than A1’s DC stabilizing loop roll-off, preventing offset instability and hunting. The entire A1-Q1-Q2-A2 assembly and the reference under test are completely enclosed within a shielded can.¹ The reference is powered by a 9V battery to minimize noise and insure freedom from ground loops.

Peak-to-peak detector design considerations include J-FET’s used as peak trapping diodes to obtain lower leakage than afforded by conventional diodes. Diodes at the FET gates clamp reverse voltage, further minimizing leakage.² The peak storage capacitors highly asymmetric charge-discharge profile necessitates the low dielectric absorption polypropelene capacitors specified.³ Oscilloscope connections via galvanically isolated links prevent ground loop induced corruption. The oscilloscope input signal is supplied by an isolated probe; the sweep gate output is interfaced with an isolation pulse transformer. Details appear in Appendix C.

Noise Measurement Circuit Performance

Circuit performance must be characterized prior to measuring LTC6655 noise. The pre-amplifier stage is verified for >10Hz bandwidth by applying a 1μV step at its input (reference disconnected) and monitoring A2’s output. Figure 4’s 10ms risetime indicates 35Hz response, insuring the entire 0.1Hz to 10Hz noise spectrum is supplied to the succeeding filter stage.

Figure 5 describes peak-to-peak noise detector operation. Waveforms include A3’s input noise signal (Trace A), A7 (Trace B) positive/A8 (Trace C) negative peak detector outputs and DVM differential input (Trace D). Trace E’s oscilloscope supplied reset pulse has been lengthened for photographic clarity.

Circuit noise floor is measured by replacing the LTC6655 with a 3V battery stack. Dielectric absorption effects in the large input capacitor require a 24-hour settling period before measurement. Figure 6, taken at the circuit’s oscilloscope output, shows 160nV 0.1Hz to 10Hz noise in a 10 second sample window. Because noise adds in root-sum-square fashion, this represents about a 2% error in the LTC6655’s expected 775nV noise figure. This term is accounted for by placing Figure 3’s “root-sum-square correction” switch in the appropriate position during reference testing. The resultant 2% gain attenuation first order corrects LTC6655 output noise reading for the circuit’s 160nV noise floor contribution. Figure 7, a strip-chart recording of the peak-to-peak noise detector output over 6 minutes, shows less than 160nV test circuit noise.⁴ Resets occur every 10 seconds. A 3V battery biases the input capacitor, replacing the LTC6655 for this test.

Figure 8 is LTC6655 noise after the indicated 24-hour dielectric absorption soak time. Noise is within 775nV peak-to-peak in this 10 second sample window with the root-sum-square correction enabled. The verified, extremely low circuit noise floor makes it highly likely this data is valid. In closing, it is worth mention that the approach taken is applicable to measuring any 0.1Hz to 10Hz noise source, although the root-sum-square error correction coefficient should be reestablished for any given noise level.

Note:

¹ The pre-amplifier structure must be carefully prepared. See Appendix A, “Mechanical and Layout Considerations”, for detail on pre-amplifier construction.

² Diode connected J-FET’s superior leakage derives from their extremely small area gate-channel junction. In general, J-FET’s leak a few picoamperes (25°C) while common signal diodes (e.g. 1N4148) are about 1,000X worse (units of nanoamperes at 25°C).

³ Teflon and polystyrene dielectrics are even better but the Real World intrudes. Teflon is expensive and excessively large at 1μF. Analog types mourn the imminent passing of the polystyrene era as the sole manufacturer of polystyrene film has ceased production.

⁴ That’s right, a strip-chart recording. Stubborn, locally based aberrants persist in their use of such archaic devices, forsaking more modern alternatives. Technical advantage could account for this choice, although deeply seated cultural bias may be indicated.

APPENDIX A

Mechanical and Layout Considerations

The low noise X10,000 pre-amplifier, crucial to the noise measurement, must be quite carefully prepared. Figure A1 shows board layout. The board is enclosed within a shielded can, visible in A1A. Additional shielding is provided to the input capacitor and resistor (A1A left); the resistor’s wirewound construction has low noise but is particularly susceptible to stray fields. A1A also shows the socketed LTC6655 reference under test (below the large input capacitor shield) and the JFET input amplifier associated components. Q3 (A1A upper right), a heat source, is located away from the JFET printed circuit lands, preventing convection currents from introducing noise. Additionally, the JFET’s are contained within an epoxy filled plastic cup (Figure A1B center), promoting thermal mating and lag.¹ This thermal management of the FETs prevents offset instability and hunting in A1’s stabilizing loop from masquerading as low frequency noise. ±15V power enters the enclosure via banana jacks; the reference is supplied by a 9V battery (both visible in A1A). The A = 100 filter and peak-peak detector circuitry occupies a separate board outside the shielded can. No special commentary applies to this section although board leakage to the peak detecting capacitors should be minimized with guard rings or flying lead/Teflon stand-off construction.

Note:

¹ The plastic cup, supplied by Martinelli and Company, also includes, at no charge, 10 ounces of apple juice.

APPENDIX B

Input Capacitor Selection Procedure

The input capacitor, a highly specialized type, must be selected for leakage. If this is not done, resultant errors can saturate the input pre-amplifier or introduce noise. The highest grade wet slug 200°C rated tantalum capacitors are utilized. The capacitor operates at a small fraction of its rated voltage at room temperature, resulting in much lower leakage than its specification indicates. The capacitor’s dielectric absorption requires a 24-hour charge time to insure meaningful measurement. Capacitor leakage is determined by following the 5-step procedure given in the figure. Yield to required 5-nanoampere leakage exceeds 90%.¹

Note:

¹ This high yield is most welcome because the specified capacitors are spectacularly priced at almost $400.00. There may be a more palatable alternative. Selected commercial grade aluminum electrolytics can approach the required DC leakage although their aperiodic noise bursts (mechanism not understood; reader comments invited) are a concern.

APPENDIX C

Power, Grounding and Shielding Considerations

Figure 3’s circuit requires great care in power distribution, grounding and shielding to achieve the reported results. Figure C1 depicts an appropriate scheme. A low shunt capacitance line isolation transformer powers an instrument grade ±15V supply, furnishing clean, low noise power. The pre-amplifier’s shielded can is tied to the 110V AC ground terminal, directing pick-up to earth ground. Filter/peak-to-peak detector oscilloscope connections are made via an isolated probe and a pulse isolation transformer, precluding error inducing ground loops.¹ The indicated loop, included to verify no current fl ow between circuit common and earth ground, is monitored with a current probe. Figures C2 and C3, both optional, show battery powered supplies which replace the line isolation transformer and instrumentation grade power supplies. C2 uses linear regulators to furnish low noise ±15V. Because the batteries float, positive regulators suffice for both positive and negative rails. In C3, a single battery stack supplies an extremely low noise DC-DC converter to furnish positive and negative rails via low noise discrete linear regulators.² Both of these battery supplied approaches are economical compared to the AC line powered version but require battery maintenance.

The indicated commercial products accompanying Figure C1’s blocks represent typical applicable units which have been found to satisfy requirements. Other types may be employed but should be verified for necessary performance.

Note:

¹ An acceptable alternative to the isolated probe is monitoring Figure 3’s A4 output current into a grounded 1k resistor with a DC stabilized current probe (e.g. Tektronix P6042, AM503). The resultant isolated 1V/μV oscilloscope presentation requires 10Hz lowpass filtering (see Appendix D) due to inherent current probe noise.

² References 6 and 8 detail the specialized DC-DC converter used.

APPENDIX D

High Sensitivity, Low Noise Amplifiers

Figure D1 lists some useful low level amplifiers for setting up and troubleshooting the texts’ circuit. The table lists both oscilloscope plug-in amplifiers and stand-alone types. Two major restrictions apply. The filters in these units are single-pole types resulting in somewhat pessimistic bandwidth cut-offs. Additionally, the amplifiers listed do not include 10Hz lowpass frequency filters, although they are easily modified to provide this capability. Figure D2 lists four amplifiers with the necessary modification information.