THAT Corporation Design Note 112

LED Bar-Graph
Compression Indicator

The circuit within this application note features THAT4301 to provide the essential
function of an RMS level detector (RMS). Since writing this note, THAT has introduced
several Analog Engines®, which combine a VCA and an RMS with optional opamps in one
part.. With minor modifications, these newer ICs are generally applicable to the design
shown herein, and may offer advantages in performance, cost, power consumption, etc.,
depending on the design requirements. We encourage readers to consider the following
alternatives in addition to the 4301:

• Low supply voltage and power consumption: 4320

• Low cost, supply voltage, and power consumption: 4315

• Low cost and power consumption: 4305

• Standalone RMS detector: 2252

For more information about making these substitutions, please contact

THAT Corporation's technical support group at apps_support@thatcorp.com.

45 Sumner St, Milford, MA 01757-1656 USA; www.thatcorp.com; info@thatcorp.com

Copyright © 2001 - 2009 by THAT Corporation; All rights reserved.

Document 600153 Revision 01
 THAT Corporation Design Note 112 LED Bar-Graph
Compression Indicator

The following circuit is a simple schematic for indicating dynamic range

compression with an LED bar-graph. It also illustrates the basics of using
bar-graph indicators.
The bottom half of the schematic shows a simplified version of the typical
side-chain processing often used with the THAT 4301, with a slight change to
the gain scaling. The signal that will drive the LED bar-graph is picked off the
tap of the Compression Ratio potentiometer. R1 is chosen so that, in parallel
with R16, the loading on the potentiometer gives about a 4:1 compression ratio
in the center of the pot's adjustment range.
With the gain scaling shown, the gain control constant at the output of the
4558 op amp is 52mV/dB, and the output of U4A will be approximately 1V at
20dB of compression. The output of U4A is connected to the positive inputs
of U1A-D, and U5A-C, which are quad comparators manufactured by National
Semiconductor. The negative inputs of these devices are connected to the
individual taps of the resistor chain composed of R3, R5, R7, R8, R10, R11, and
R20, resulting in comparator trip points of 1dB, 2dB, 3dB,6dB, 9dB, 12dB, and
20dB of compression.
The bar-graph elements are essentially connected in series, with individual
taps which can consecutively short out elements of the bar-graph as the level
of compression increases. Power for the LEDs is provided by a simple current
source formed by Q1, R4, R21, and R26, which is not temperature compensated.
Note that the comparators have no hysteresis. This may result in their
oscillating at transitions, a situation which can be ignored, or remedied by
adding a small capacitor across the inputs of each comparator. If the problem
is ignored, be sure to add plenty of de-coupling (which you would do anyway)
and watch your layout so that the currents associated with this "chatter" do
not affect the rest of the circuit. You may also need to add some series resis-
tance in the power supplies to effectively isolate this circuit.

Copyright © 2000-2009 Design Note 112

by THAT Corporation Page 2 of 3
All rights reserved. 45 Sumner St, Milford, MA 01757 USA; www.thatcorp.com Doc. 600153 Rev. 01
 LEDBAR7 R21 V+
RED RED GRN GRN GRN GRN GRN
100R
D1 R26
Q1 1k6 R4

All rights reserved.

15 14 13 12 11 98 76 5 4 3 2 1

by THAT Corporation
2N2907A 27k

Copyright © 2000-2009
V-
20dB Comp. 1dB Comp. V-
12dB Comp.
9dB Comp. 2dB Comp.
V+ 6dB Comp. 3dB Comp.
R3 1040mV R5 624mV R6 468mV R7 312mV R8 156mV R10 104mV R11 52mV R20

27k 820 300 300 300 100 100 100

4 6 8 10 4 6 8
2 1 14 13 2 1 14
5 7 9 11 5 7 9

U1A U1B U1C U1D U5A U5B U5C

THAT Corporation Design Note 112

LM339B LM339B LM339B LM339B LM339 LM339B LM339

R9 52mV/dB
V+ 40k2 C1 C8
Threshold 10n
R24 R22 R14
2 100n MY
10k 392k 20k0 1
R25 3 R17
cw C17 CR2
1N4148 1k43 U4A 5k1
Increase 4558

45 Sumner St, Milford, MA 01757 USA; www.thatcorp.com

R23 CR1 cw R1 3300ppm to VCA
22p 20k0
1M65 R15 R16 6 control port
10k 7
RMS input R2 U2B V- 1N4148 Increase 20k0 8 OA2
1 4 R13 19 V+
IN OUT 18 U2C
28k8 2 5 5k1 20 OA1 Gain cw
IT CT Comp 4301P
LED Bar-Graph

3300 U2D R18

4301P ppm Ratio R19
R12 RMS 4301P 10k 590k
Compression Indicator

2M00 Increase
C7
10u10% V-
V-

Page 3 of 3
Design Note 112

Doc. 600153 Rev. 01