Application Report

SNOA575B – April 1991 – Revised April 2013

AN-311 Theory and Applications of Logarithmic Amplifiers

.....................................................................................................................................................

ABSTRACT
A number of instrumentation applications can benefit from the use of logarithmic or exponential signal
processing techniques. The design and use of logarithmic/exponential circuits are often associated with
involved temperature compensation requirements and difficult to stabilize feedback loops. For these
considerations and others, designers tend to avoid these circuits. Hybrid and modular
logarithmic/exponential devices are available commercially, but are quite expensive and earn very high
profits for their manufacturers.

Contents
1 Theory and Applications of Logarithmic Amplifiers ..................................................................... 2
2 References ................................................................................................................... 9

List of Figures
1 Logarithmic Amplifier ....................................................................................................... 2
2 Exponentiator Driven by Biasing a Voltage Output Amplifier ......................................................... 3
3 Exponentiator, Composed of Q1 and A1A, is Driven From Input Amplifier A1D ................................... 4
4 Output Traces ............................................................................................................... 5
5 Exponentiator With More Accurate V-F Converter ..................................................................... 6
6 Exponentiator Circuit Used in a Non-Invasive, High Reliability Gas Gauge ........................................ 7
7 Output Traces ............................................................................................................... 8
8 Optically Split Light Source ................................................................................................ 9

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1 Theory and Applications of Logarithmic Amplifiers

The theory and construction of these circuits are actually readily understood. Figure 1 shows an amplifier
that provides a logarithmic output for a linear input current or voltage. For input currents, the circuit will
maintain 1% logarithmic conformity over almost six decades of operation. This circuit is based, as are
most logarithmic circuits, on the inherent logarithmic relationship between collector current and VBE in
bipolar transistors. Q1A functions as the logging transistor in this circuit and is enclosed within A1A's
feedback loop, which includes the 15.7 kΩ-1 kΩ divider. The circuit's input will force A1A's output to
achieve whatever value is required to maintain its summing junction at zero potential. Because Q1A's
response is dictated by the logarithmic relationship between collector current and VBE, the output of A1A
will be the logarithm of the circuit input. A1B and Q1B provide compensation for Q1A's VBE temperature
dependence. A1B servos Q1B's collector current to equal the 10 μA current established by the LM329
reference diode and the 700 kΩ resistor. Since Q1B's collector current cannot vary, its VBE is also fixed.
Under these conditions only Q1A's VBE will be affected by the circuit's input. The circuit's output is a
function of:

(1)
For Q1A and Q1B operating at different collector currents, the VBE difference is:

(2)
where — K=Boltzmann's constant
— T=temperature °K
— q=charge of an electron.
If both equations are combined, the circuit output for a voltage input is:

(3)
where — 6.9V=VZ of LM329
— 100k=input resistor
— EIN≥0.
This confirms that the circuit output voltage is logarithmically related to the circuit's input. Without some
form of compensation, the scale factor will change with temperature. The simplest way to avoid this is to
have the 1 kΩ value vary with temperature. For the device shown, compensation is within 1% over −25°C
to +100°C. The circuit's gain is set by the 15.7 kΩ-1 kΩ divider to a factor of 1V/decade.

*1% film resistor

†
1 kΩ (±1%) at 25°C, +3500 ppm/°C.
Available from Vishay Ultronix,
Grand Junction, CO, Q81 Series.
A1A, A1B = LF412 dual
Q1A, Q1B = LM394 dual
Figure 1. Logarithmic Amplifier

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This circuit can be easily turned around to generate exponentials. In Figure 2, Q1A is driven from the input
via the 15.7 kΩ divider. Q1B's collector current varies exponentially with its VBE, and A1B provides a
voltage output representation of this action.
These circuits are easy to construct and use if a few considerations are kept in mind. Because of the VBE
and scale factor temperature dependences, it is important that Q1A, Q1B and the 1 kΩ resistor be kept at
the same temperature. Since Q1 is a dual monolithic device, both halves will track. The resistor should be
mounted as closely as possible to Q1, and these components should be kept away from air currents or
drafts. The KT/q factor for which the resistor compensates varies at about 0.3%/°C, so a few degrees
difference between Q1 and the resistor will introduce significant error.
Once the theory and construction techniques are understood, the circuits can be applied. Figure 3 shows
a way to achieve very precise control of a rotary pump, used to feed a biochemical fermentation process.
In this example, the exponentiator, composed of Q1 and A1A, is driven from input amplifier A1D. Q1B's
collector current, instead of biasing a voltage output amplifier as in Figure 2, pulls current from the A1B
integrator that ramps up (trace A, Figure 4) until it is reset by level triggered A1C (A1C output is trace B,
Figure 4). The 100 pF capacitor provides AC positive feedback to A3C's “+” input (trace C, Figure 4). The
magnitude of the current that Q1B's collector pulls from A1B's summing junction will set the frequency of
operation of this oscillator. Note that the operation of the exponentiator is similar to the basic circuit in
Figure 3 because A1B's summing junction is always at virtual ground. A1C's output drives the MM74C76
flip-flop to bias the output transistors with 4-phase drive for a stepper motor that runs the pump head. In
practice, the exponentiator allows very fine and predictable control for very slow pump rates (for example,
0.1 rpm-10 rpm of the stepper motor), aiding tight feedback control of the fermentation process. When
high pump rates are required, such as during process start-up or when a wide feedback control error
exists, the exponentiator can be voltage directed to the top of its range. To calibrate the circuit, ground VIN
and adjust the 0.1 Hz trim until oscillation just ceases. Next, apply 7.5 V at VIN and adjust the 600 Hz trim
for 600 Hz output frequency. Figure 5 shows a circuit similar to Figure 3, except that a more accurate V-F
converter is used. This circuit is intended for laboratory and audio studio applications requiring an
oscillator whose frequency changes exponentially with an applied input sweep voltage. Applications
include swept distortion measurements (where this circuit's output is used to drive a sine coded ROM-
DAC combination or analog shaper) and music synthesizers. The V-F converter employed allows better
than 0.15% total conformity over a range of 10 Hz-30 kHz. The voltage reference used to drive A1A's
input resistor is derived from the LM331A's internal reference and is scaled by A1B, which also biases the
zero trim setting. The DM74C74 provides a square wave output for applications requiring a waveform with
substantial fundamental frequency content. The 0.15% conformity performance achieved by this circuit will
meet almost any synthesizer or swept distortion measurement and the scale factor may be easily varied.
To trim, apply OV to the input and adjust zero until oscillation (typically 2 Hz-3 Hz) just starts. Next, apply
−8 V and adjust the 5k unit for an output frequency of 30 kHz. For the values given, the K factor of the
exponentiator will yield a precise doubling in frequency for each volt of input (for example, 1 V in per
octave out).

Figure 2. Exponentiator Driven by Biasing a Voltage Output Amplifier

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Figure 3. Exponentiator, Composed of Q1 and A1A, is Driven From Input Amplifier A1D

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Figure 4. Output Traces

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*1% film resistor

†
1 kΩ (±1%) at 25°C, +3500 ppm/°C.
Available from Vishay Ultronix,
Grand Junction, CO, Q81 Series.
A1A, A1B = LF412 dual
Q1A, Q1B = LM394 dual
Figure 5. Exponentiator With More Accurate V-F Converter

Figure 6 shows a way to use the exponentiator circuit in a non-invasive, high-reliability gas gauge that was
designed for use in irrigation pump arrangements in remote locations. The application calls for a highly
reliable gas gauge to be retrofitted to large fuel tanks, which supply pump motors. It is desirable to run the
gas tanks down as closely to empty as possible to eliminate condensation build-up without running out of
fuel. This acoustically-based scheme operates by bouncing an ultrasonic pulse off the liquid level surface
and using the elapsed time to determine the fuel remaining. This time is converted to a voltage, which is
exponentiated to provide a readout with high resolution for nearly empty tanks. The 60Hz derived clock
pulse (trace A, Figure 7) drives the transistor pair to bias the ultrasonic transducer with a 100 V pulse.
Concurrently, the DM74C74 flip-flop is set high (trace C, Figure 7) and the DM74C221 one-shot (trace D,
Figure 7) is used to disable the output of the receiver amplifier. The acoustic pulse bounces off the
gasoline's surface and returns to the transducer. By this time, the disable pulse has gone low and the
A1A, A1B, A1C and C1 receiver responds (trace B, Figure 7) to the transducer's output. C1's output resets
the flip-flop low via the DM74C04 inverter. The width of the 60 Hz flip-flop output pulse represents the
transit time and the fuel remaining. This width is voltage clamped and integrated at A1D, whose output
drives the exponentiator. The 1V/decade scale factor of the exponentiator means that the last 20% of the
meter scale corresponds to a tank with only 2% fuel remaining. The first 10% of the meter indicates 80%
of the tank's capacity.

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Figure 6. Exponentiator Circuit Used in a Non-Invasive, High Reliability Gas Gauge

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Figure 7. Output Traces

The last application determines density by using photometry. In this arrangement, a light source is
optically split (Figure 8) and the resultant two beams drive light through a sample and an optical density
reference. In this case, the optical sample is a grape, and the photometric set-up is used to correlate the
optical density of the grape with its ripeness. Two photomultiplier tubes detect the light passed by the
sample and the reference. The ratio of the photomultiplier outputs, which can vary over a wide range, is
dependent upon the optical density difference of the sample and the reference. The tubes' output feed a
log ratio amplifier. This configuration dispenses with the fixed current reference normally employed, and
substitutes the output of the reference channel photomultiplier. In this fashion, the log amplifier's output
represents the ratio between the densities of the sample and reference channels over a wide dynamic
range. Variations in the light source intensity have no effect. Strictly speaking, the LF356 inputs are not at
virtual ground, and an imperfect current-to-voltage conversion should result. In fact, the output impedance
of the photomultipliers is so high that errors are minimal. The most significant log conformance error
source in this simple log circuit is the fact that the transistor's collectors are at slightly different potentials.
For the application shown, this uncertainty is not significant.

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www.ti.com References

*1% film resistor†1 kΩ (±1%) at 25°C, +3500 ppm/°C.

Available from Vishay Ultronix,
Grand Junction, CO, Q81 Series.
**≈ 10 μA nominal but may vary from
10−4A to 10−9A
Figure 8. Optically Split Light Source

2 References
• Non-Linear Circuits Handbook, Analog Devices, Inc.
• Logarithmic Converters, Application Note AN-30

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