Low-Cost Sample/Hold Includes

Properly connected, a quad-SPDT analog switch and op amp (Figure 1 form a sample/hold circuit. The circuit economizes during operation by switching the op amp from input to output, thereby buffering the input (VIN) during sample mode and buffering the hold capacitor (CH) during hold mode.


Figure 1. This Quad analog switch and general-purpose op amp from a low-cost sample/hold suitable for moderate-speed aplications.

The two digital inputs are compatible with TTL and CMOS logic levels. Input command active-low S/H controls the operating mode (low is sample), and DISCH is an optional control input whose low state commands a rapid and complete discharge of CH. Figure 2 provides a simplified functional diagram of the circuit.


Figure 2. A simplified version of Figure 1 illustrates how the analog switches shift the op amp from the role of input buffer to that of an output hold-capacitor buffer.

A general-purpose op amp is suitable for IC1, provided the input bias current is acceptable (bias current usually dominates the hold-mode droop rate). CH can range from 100pF to 0.1µF. In driving such a capacitive load, most op amps will oscillate without an isolating resistor (R1) of 100 to 200Ω within the feedback loop. Using components as shown in Figure 1, the typical circuit performance includes: droop rate ≤ 100mV/sec, aperture time ≤ 100nsec, offset voltage ≤ 5mV, output charge injection ≤ 25pC, an acquisition time ≤ 1µsec (for ±10% accuracy) or ≤ 5µsec (for ±0.1% accuracy)

Performance is about the same for ±15V or ±12V supplies, and the system also work well on a unipolar supply of 10 to 30V. Whatever the supply configuration, the op amp's common-mode range restricts VIN to about 2V less than the supply rails. The control inputs' TTL/CMOS switching thresholds (0.8V max, 2.4V min) remain constant regardless of supply levels