Automatic Gain Control

The Automatic Gain Control (AGC) Circuit

Previous set of notes focused on the design of the Audio Amplifier and its feed back network Filters the signal and controls the gain Currently, the gain of the audio amp is constant. Independent of the signal level When incoming signals are fluctuating in magnitude, this will be detectable at the output. To avoid such fluctuations, the designer included an additional feed back network provides an variable gain control. The Automatic Gain Control (AGC) circuit Intention of the AGC If the signal begins to fade, the gain will increase to hold a steady output If the signal strength jumps, the gain will decrease to prevent a pop or jump in the output This is done automatically by a feed back circuit that varies the voltage across a voltage controlled resistor (VCR) The VCR is simply a JFET circuit We will first study this in detail

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Using a JFET as a Voltage Controlled Resistor

There are two JFET VCRs in the NORCAL40a Q2 and Q3 The JFET works as a VCR by noting that for small drain-source voltages, the relationship between vds and ids is linear. And, the slope of this linear relationship can be varied by the gate-source voltage. Observe an n-type JFET device:

Negative Vgs increases the depletion region, limiting the current. Largest current is when Vgs = 0. Smallest current at pinchoff Vgs = VC . I ds depends on the channel resistance rds . The channel resistance is a function of Vgs EE521 pg. 2

Automatic Gain Control

For small vds there is roughly a linear relationship between vds and ids . The slope ids / vds = 1/ rds The slope decreases as Vgs becomes increasingly negative. This increases rds As vds increases, the amount of current that can pass through the channel will plateau, and the current will remain constant.

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As vds increases, it begins to narrow the channel near the drain. Once vds , the channel will actually pinch off. Since it is only near the drain, charges will still tunnel through. However, the further increasing vds will not allow any additional current through. ids remains ~constant.

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In the linear region (also called the triode, or VCR region), the current is approximated as: 2I Vds V V I d Vds dss C 2 gs V 2 C The resistance is computed as: dV V rds = ds ds dI d I ds V , small
ds

2 I dss 1 rds 2 (Vgs VC ) = G VC

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Automatic Gain Control

JFET as a VCR in the NORCAL40A

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Automatic Gain Control

The Q2 circuit:

C20 charges to Vs through Q2 and the 50 k resistor at the input of U3 (LM386). Since Vds is small, Q2 is in the VCR region rds is controlled by Vgs

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Automatic Gain Control

AF2 has a DC bias VAF 2 6.65 V-DC Control voltage is established by the voltage division of 8V by R6 D5 and D6 are Schottky diodes (V f 0.2 V).

Max voltage at control point (Multimeter) should be VAF 2 with D5/D6 open Due to current leakage through the Schottky diodes, and the fact that a small current through R5 leads to a large voltage. Thus, max control voltage ~7.2 V pg. 8

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Automatic Gain Control

Gate voltage: (VAF 2 + Vcontrol ) / 2 Source Voltage: VAF 2 Vgs = (Vcontrol VAF 2 ) / 2 Operation: As the control voltage drops (turning R6 CCW), Vgs becomes increasingly negative As Vgs becomes more negative, rds increases Once control voltage drops such that Vgs VC , rds reaches maximum, leading to maximum attenuation. Trend: Large control voltage, small rds Small control voltage, large rds Effective Circuit:

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Automatic Gain Control

In Prob. 32A, you will measure an output audio voltage as a function of the DC control voltage Control voltage varied by varying R6

What is the control voltage at pinch-off? If VAF 2 = 6.65 V-DC, what is VC ? About a 104:1 ratio in the max to min signal level. Note that the shape of the curve and the voltage at which the audio voltage begins to drop is dependent on your J309.

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Automatic Gain Control

Automatic Gain Control

The automatic gain control unit automatically controls the level of the output by varying the control voltage. This controls rdc This is accomplished through two capacitors: C29 and C30 C30 couples the output back to the AGC C29 is the AGC capacitor Attack of the AGC: Assume a large increase in the output C29 will charge during the period while the output audio voltage is negative. D5 will be forward biased, D6 is reverse biased Current flows D5 and C30 while C29 charges. During the positive swing, D5 is reverse biased, and due to the large time constant of C29 R5, C29 holds its charge during the half cycle. This lowers the control voltage. Recovery of the AGC When the level of the signal drops, C29 discharges through R5, which has a large time constant. As it recovers, the control voltage will increase.

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Predicting the Recovery Time

In Problem 33B, you will predict the recover time. This is simplified by measuring the DC voltage of C29 before and after the recovery with a DMM. C29 discharges through R5 4.4 M || 4.4 M = 2.2 M = 22 s Measure VC 29 with the function generator set at 0.1 Vrms, and again at 3 Vrms. Example: 1 VC 29 = 5.18 V (fn generator = 0.1 Vrms) VC229 = 5.8 V (fn generator = 3 Vrms) 1 2 t / VC 29 = VC 29 e 1 VC 5.18 29 t = ln 2 = 22 ln = 2.5s 5.8 V C 29

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