PCG-380F

Palm-sized

Size : 5.32" L × 4.63" W × 1.35" H

Weight: 12.4 oz

PCG-380F is a high sensitivity current preamplifier suited to converting extremely small current signals to tangible voltage signals (transimpedance). PCG-380F features a full analog design without digital noise. Sensitivity and low pass filter bandwidth are selectable through the side-panel rotary switches. The sensitivity covers from 1 µA/V to 1 nA/V and the low pass filter has a 1.5 - 5 sequence from 5 Hz to 140 kHz with 6 dB/octave roll-off to fit closed feedback systems as well. PCG-380F can be operated with any linear regulated ±15 V (±100 mA) DC power supply.

PCG-380F can be placed close to signal source with its small size (5.32"L × 4.63"W× 1.35"H, 12.4 oz) to secure its high performance. PCG-380F should be the right choice for any application for fast, precise and low noise small current signal processing.

specifications

Specifications

Amplifier type: DC- coupled inverting transimpedance amplifier.

noise

Noise

Typical input-referred total current noise density as a function of frequency in selected sensitivity with 100 pF input shunt capacitance up to the -3 dB signal bandwidth.

PCG-380F's typical input voltage noise density. PCG-380F is designed to make stable operation in the presence of 10 nF input capacitance. In the case of the high input capacitance, the fluctuating current noise density due to the input voltage noise is given by 2πf x (input voltage noise in nV/ √Hz). PCG-380F is not only a palm-sized amplifier that can be located close to signal source to minimize the input capacitance of room temperature wires but has very low input voltage noise to minimize the effect of inevitable capacitance from wires and capacitors implementing thermal anchoring or low pass filter at cryogenic temperatures.

Typical input-referred total current noise density as a function of frequency in the presence of various input capacitance in the 1 nA/V sensitivity.

frequency response

Frequency response

Frequency response as a function of sensitivity. PCG-380F ensures 5 kHz signal bandwidth in 1 nA/V sensitivity and goes up to 140 kHz in 1 µA/V sensitivity. The more important factor is whether or not the frequency response can persist in the presence of the high input capacitance.

Step current response in each sensitivity with a full output voltage swing (shielded open input).

PCG-380F exhibits virtually ideal response for the full signal bandwidth in all sensitivity ranges.

1 nF input shunting capacitance is pretty heady load, but PCG-380F has no problem at all.

What about 2 nF?

Even 2.2 nF appears to lead no problem at all.

What is the limit?

This is what we call marginal stability which makes ~20% overshoot.

1 µA/V sensitivity can stand up to 4.3 nF, 10 µA/V sensitivity can do it with 5.6 nF, and the others can bear up to 10 nF input shunting capacitance. This is the reason PCG-380F should have low input voltage noise density.

input offset

Input

offset voltage

Typical input offset voltage drift curve for 24 hours in ~2 °C ambient temperature variation.

In ovenized room, a slow ambient temperature ramp of 2 °C for 1 hour demonstrates that the typical offset drift is very small.

Typical input offset voltage drift curve for 10 hours in ~0.5 °C ambient temperature variation.