Opamp layout rules

Onvinyl · 27th March 2006, 09:10 AM

Hi,
I have a few questions concerning proper (or maybe optimum

) physical layout of an opamp circuit with not-so-easy to tame chips and tiny input signals.
1) What to do with internally-not-connected-pins? Should they be grounded or left floating?
2) If I use a groundplane, is it wise to have the area under the chip grounded, or better leave it out? (I've seen both)
3) The datasheet of opa627 says to use a guard ring around the inverting input. Is that guard referenced to ground?
thanks,
Rüdiger

peranders · 27th March 2006, 10:15 AM

1 Leave them be, safest also in the future if you want to use some other type. Notice that in some case like TPA6120 you should connect them in order to get better cooling but as always, read the datasheet carefully.

2 It's normally not a problem. One square centimeter = 3 pF only. This is valid for to areas of the same shape. In real life you are dealing with a fraction of a pF. In some cases it is important but not in normal audio circuits.

3 This is only important for high impedance signal sources, >> 1MOhms forget it in audio circuits, but no harm to use it either.

pinkmouse · 27th March 2006, 10:20 AM

The main issue with these fast chips is to get power rail decoupling caps as as close to the pins as possible. Surface mount components are good if you can get them.

peranders · 27th March 2006, 10:23 AM

Indeed, groundplane and tight placed decoupling is good.

Check C6 and C13. Notice that the pcb has now the groundplane connected on both sides.

http://home5.swipnet.se/~w-50674/hif...r0_TPA6120.jpg

Onvinyl · 27th March 2006, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by peranders
Indeed, groundplane and tight placed decoupling is good.

Check C6 and C13. Notice that the pcb has now the groundplane connected on both sides.

http://home5.swipnet.se/~w-50674/hif...r0_TPA6120.jpg

P-A, interesting detail. Do C6, C13 connect directly to the groundplane on the underside or did you establish a star-wired route?
Rüdiger

AndrewT · 27th March 2006, 10:27 AM

Hi,
the guard ring should be connected to a source of equal voltage.
This is to minimise the leakage current from your input.
You can often find examples of guard rings in the data sheets.

peranders · 27th March 2006, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Onvinyl

P-A, interesting detail. Do C6, C13 connect directly to the groundplane on the underside or did you establish a star-wired route?
Rüdiger

Now I have "crosses" on both sides. The first batch had this error.
http://home5.swipnet.se/~w-50674/hif...v07pcbcomp.jpg
http://home5.swipnet.se/~w-50674/hif...v07pcbsold.jpg

Khron · 27th March 2006, 10:32 AM

Decoupling question:

In an active crossover, would i have to use two 0.1uf MKP decoupling caps for each opamp?

peranders · 27th March 2006, 10:35 AM

Yes, it's a good rule, no need to save parts. If you happen to use fast opamps, then it's even more important.

Onvinyl · 27th March 2006, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AndrewT
Hi,
the guard ring should be connected to a source of equal voltage.

Hi Andrew,
equal to what? Vcc? Vin? (It's DC, I guess)?
If I use an opamp in inverted mode (and thus the signal feeds in the inverted input), is it wise to reference the shield of the signal cable with that voltage (rather then ground)?
Rüdiger

27th March 2006, 09:10 AM	#1
Onvinyl diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Germany	Opamp layout rules Hi, I have a few questions concerning proper (or maybe optimum ) physical layout of an opamp circuit with not-so-easy to tame chips and tiny input signals. 1) What to do with internally-not-connected-pins? Should they be grounded or left floating? 2) If I use a groundplane, is it wise to have the area under the chip grounded, or better leave it out? (I've seen both) 3) The datasheet of opa627 says to use a guard ring around the inverting input. Is that guard referenced to ground? thanks, Rüdiger

27th March 2006, 10:15 AM	#2
peranders Electrons are yellow and more is better! diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Göteborg, Sweden Blog Entries: 4	1 Leave them be, safest also in the future if you want to use some other type. Notice that in some case like TPA6120 you should connect them in order to get better cooling but as always, read the datasheet carefully. 2 It's normally not a problem. One square centimeter = 3 pF only. This is valid for to areas of the same shape. In real life you are dealing with a fraction of a pF. In some cases it is important but not in normal audio circuits. 3 This is only important for high impedance signal sources, >> 1MOhms forget it in audio circuits, but no harm to use it either. __________________ /Per-Anders (my first name) or P-A as my friends call me Tube Buffered Gainclone in work \|Thread

27th March 2006, 10:20 AM	#3
pinkmouse diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Chatham, England	The main issue with these fast chips is to get power rail decoupling caps as as close to the pins as possible. Surface mount components are good if you can get them. __________________ Al I conceive of nothing, in religion, science or philosophy, that is more than the proper thing to wear, for a while. Charles Fort

27th March 2006, 10:23 AM	#4
peranders Electrons are yellow and more is better! diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Göteborg, Sweden Blog Entries: 4	Indeed, groundplane and tight placed decoupling is good. Check C6 and C13. Notice that the pcb has now the groundplane connected on both sides. http://home5.swipnet.se/~w-50674/hif...r0_TPA6120.jpg __________________ /Per-Anders (my first name) or P-A as my friends call me Tube Buffered Gainclone in work \|Thread

27th March 2006, 10:35 AM	#9
peranders Electrons are yellow and more is better! diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Göteborg, Sweden Blog Entries: 4	Yes, it's a good rule, no need to save parts. If you happen to use fast opamps, then it's even more important. __________________ /Per-Anders (my first name) or P-A as my friends call me Tube Buffered Gainclone in work \|Thread


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27th March 2006, 10:27 AM	#6
AndrewT diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Scottish Borders	Hi, the guard ring should be connected to a source of equal voltage. This is to minimise the leakage current from your input. You can often find examples of guard rings in the data sheets.

27th March 2006, 10:32 AM	#8
Khron diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Finland	Decoupling question: In an active crossover, would i have to use two 0.1uf MKP decoupling caps for each opamp?

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