
APPLICATION NOTES
CURRENT LIMIT
Current limit resistor value can be calculated as follows:
RCL=3/ILIM
It is recommended that the user set up the value of current limit
as close as possible to the maximum expected output current to
protect the amplifier. The minimum value of current limit resistance
is 33 ohms. The maximum practical value is 500 ohms. Current
limit will vary with case temperature. Refer to the typical perfor-
mance graphs as a guide. Since load current passes through the
current limit resistor, a loss in output voltage swing will occur. The
following formula approximates output voltage swing reduction:
VR=IO * RCL
When the device is in current limit, there will be spurious oscil-
lations present on the negative half cycle. The frequency of the
oscillation is application dependant and can not be predicted. Oscil-
lation will cease when the device comes out of current limit. If
current limit is not required simply short pin 3 and pin 4.
INPUT PROTECTION
Input protection circuitry within the MSK 158/159 will clip dif-
ferential input voltages greater than 16 volts. The inputs are also
protected against common mode voltages up to the supply rails as
well as static discharge. There are 300 ohm current limiting resis-
tors in series with each input. These resistors may become dam-
aged in the event the input overload is capable of driving currents
above 1mA. If severe overload conditions are expected, external
input current limiting resistors are recommended.
OUTPUT SNUBBER NETWORK
A 100 ohm resistor and a 330pF capacitor connected in series
from the output of the amplifier to the negative rail is recommended
for applications where load capacitance is less than 330pF. For
larger values of load capacitance, the output snubber network may
be omitted. If loop stability becomes a problem due to excessively
high load capacitance, a 100 ohm resistor may be added between
the output of the amplifier (the junction of RCL and pin 4) and the
load. A small tradeoff with bandwidth must be made in this configu-
ration. The graph below illustrates the effect of capacitive load on
open loop gain. Note that the compensation capacitor must have a
voltage rating greater than or equal to the total rail to rail power
supply voltage.
Rev. D 6/053
SAFE OPERATING AREA (SOA)
The MOSFET output stage of this power operational amplifier
has two distinct limitations:
1. The current handling capability of the die metallization.
2. The junction temperature of the output MOSFET's.
NOTE: The output stage is protected against transient flyback.
However, for protection against sustained, high energy flyback, ex-
ternal fast-recovery reverse biased diodes should be connected from
the output to ground.
STABILITY
The MSK 158/159 has sufficient phase margin when compen-
sated for unity gain to be stable with capacitive loads of at least
10nF. However, it is recommended that the parallel sum of the
input and feedback resistor be 1000 ohms or less for closed loop
gains of ten or less to minimize phase shift caused by the R-C
network formed by the input resistor, feedback resistor and input
capacitance. The user can tailor the performance of the MSK 158/
159 to their application using the external compensation pins. The
graphs of small signal gain and phase as well as the graphs of slew
rate and power response demonstrate the effect of various forms of
compensation. The compensation capacitor must be rated at 350
volts working voltage if maximum power supply voltages are used.
The compensation resistor and capacitor lead lengths must be kept
as short as possible to minimize spurious oscillations. A high qual-
ity NPO capacitor is recommended for the compensation capacitor.
EXTERNAL COMPENSATION
External compensation is only necessary at gains of 30V/V or less.
For larger gains, the compensation resistor and capacitor may be
omitted. An effective method of checking amplifier stability is to
apply the worst case capacitive load to the output of the amplifier
and drive a small signal square wave across it. If overshoot is less
than 25%, the system will be stable.