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The traditional logarithmic amplifier circuit is described in National Appnote 311:

enter image description here

This circuit uses the difference of two transistor currents to generate the log of the input over a pretty wide range.

The well-matched transistor pair Q1a and Q1b are halves of the LM394 "supermatch" transistor pair. But National discontinued this part last year with no clear replacement.

I can use LM3406 array, but the specs are far worse. There are plenty of arrays of '2222 or '3904 available, but there is no mention of matching in the datasheet. The transistors might be on separate dies for all I know.

TI still sells some Burr Brown log amps but they are expensive. LOG101 is $18.37 in onesies. Analog makes the AD606 for $43.88 each or the AD830x parts for $12 - $20.

How can I (cheaply) make a logarithm?

MarkU
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markrages
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  • just searching around I found that futurlec.com is selling the lm394 at a very affordable rate, check http://www.futurlec.com/cgi-bin/search/search.cgi?search=lm394. scratch that, i just realized you said "obsolete", darn I need sleep. – Philoxopher Mar 10 '11 at 09:37
  • As far as I know, there is a new model named [LM394BH](http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/lm394.pdf), which I wonder if it's what you want, but I still hope it can help you. – alisa Jun 01 '16 at 09:47

10 Answers10

8

The Analog Devices SSM2212 is a cheaper ($2.50 in quantity) alternative to the MAT12, with similar headline specs.

Cheaper matched NPN pairs include the DMMT3904W and DMMT5551 from Diodes Inc., the PMP4501, PMP4201 and BCM847 from NXP, and the NST45011M/NST65011M from ON Semi, which are roughly an order of magnitude cheaper than the SSM2212 but have a maximum offset voltage an order of magnitude worse (1-2mV).

As Roman mentions in another answer, at the time of writing (2020), Alfa RPAR make the AS394 (http://www.alfarzpp.lv/eng/sc/AS394CH.php), an LM394 substitute stocked by a number of specialist electronic music distributors.

Chris Johnson
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5

How about the LS312 from Linear Systems? Some people in other forums claim it's better than the 5% worst-case matching described on the datasheet.

Adam Lawrence
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5

A year ago, I tried to build Thomas Henry's X-4046 VCO where the LM394 is used. 10-15$ for for this rare beast is too high and there are a lot of fakes on Ebay and I decided to substitute. I don't know what a miracle happened but I have found the 100% substitution of it, produced by reincarnated plant in Riga owned by Russians. The chip has almost the same name: AS394. The specs are identical to the original. Same cases: dip8 and CAN. You can find them here But the plant does not sell them directly. You have to find the dealer in Moscow (can find an email or phone in case someone need it). The price for 1 unit is around 2-3$ (depend on quantity).

Roman
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4

I remember some years ago using the Analog Devices MAT02 for this purpose. It seems that this is not recommended for new designs but the replacement is the MAT12.

MikeJ-UK
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    MAT12 is still in production, but octopart.com shows 13 pieces available worldwide, for $22 each. So no cheaper than the LOG101. – markrages Mar 10 '11 at 15:23
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enter image description here

I had this idea for a quick and dirty log amp. If you modulated the reference voltage by 3dB, the output would probably average to about the right value. That would more-or-less be an interpolation between 3dB values.

Two LM3915s can be stacked to get 60 dB range.

This is probably not the way to go unless there is a need for an LED bargraph in the circuit already.

markrages
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2

This circuit looks to be a log amplifier using two op-amps, two transistors, a few passives and a current source. However, I'm not sure how suitable it is for your application.

Screenshot:

enter image description here

Thomas O
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  • falstad links don't work for me. I just get the default circuit. please post a screenshot. – markrages Mar 10 '11 at 16:32
  • @markrages, see screenshot. The circuit is also under Circuits > Op-Amps > Amplifiers > Log Amplifier. – Thomas O Mar 10 '11 at 17:37
  • @markrages Why don't they work for you? What browser/platform? – endolith Mar 11 '11 at 05:57
  • Chromium on Ubuntu 10.04. Nothing fancy, just the supplied browser and Java. The simulator works fine, it's just the hyperlinking that's broken. – markrages Mar 11 '11 at 06:22
  • @markrages, Firefox on Ubuntu 10.04 seems to work. – Thomas O Mar 11 '11 at 07:47
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    @ThomasO, as previously noted, does falstad simulator use real components, because, like most things, they can very easy to build accurately if you get a 100% match to spec on every component. – Kortuk Mar 11 '11 at 09:40
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    Especially in this circuit, which lives and dies by transistor matching, the simulator is going to give a very optimistic performance estimate. Those "transistors" are identical. – markrages Mar 12 '11 at 04:17
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    @markrages. I tried adjusting the Hfe of the transistors and unless it was something like 20-100 it kept a very clean log output. I'm not sure to what extent other parameters would matter, though. – Thomas O Mar 12 '11 at 08:31
  • This circuit is used as an example of a logging amplifier in "The Art of Electronics" by Horowitz and Hill. They specifically writes that the two transistors should be a matched pair "like the LM394 or MAT-01". – evading Apr 06 '14 at 20:27
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TI manufactures the LM194/394 now. You can also go to THAT corporation and use their PNP/NPN oairs and quads. THAT 300 series: 36 V, 30 mA, hfe 75-100, Ft 320 MHz

Nick Alexeev
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Joseph Perkins
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  • TI still lists the part in their catalog, but designates it as obsolete. There is no commitment that if you design it in to your circuit, you will be able to purchase it later. – The Photon Jul 16 '13 at 20:44
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    TI isn't making the part at all as far as I can tell. They are just listing the National Semi datasheet as a courtesy since they bought National. – markrages Jul 18 '13 at 19:19
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Maxim-IC has a couple of log amps, and so does TI, but Analog Devices makes I think the biggest selection.

Intersil makes a number of transistor arrays some are certainly single die and well matched.

mctylr
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    I mentioned TI and ADI in my question. As usual, Maxim parts do not exist. http://octopart.com/partsearch/#search/requestData&q=max4206 – markrages Mar 26 '11 at 22:21
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    Octopart is **not** comprehensive. For example, does not search Maxim-Direct, i.e. direct from Maxim world-wide. https://shop.maxim-ic.com/storefront/priceavailable.do?Partnumber=MAX4207ETE%2B&event=PartSearch&menuitem=PriceAndAvailability – mctylr Mar 27 '11 at 03:41
  • Maxim direct is saying 15 weeks lead time for single parts. So Maxim doesn't have any either. – markrages Mar 27 '11 at 14:03
  • You were looking at the part with Pb, look at MAX4207ETE+, the Pb-free/RoHS version which is in stock. – mctylr Mar 27 '11 at 18:33
  • ok, I can buy one for $19. I'd rather the LOG101 and skip the Maxim hassle. (BTW, why do they list non-RoHS parts at all?) – markrages Mar 27 '11 at 18:41
  • @markrages: Mostly because the vast majority of electronics in the United States are not required to meet RoHS standards. If non-RoHS part only costs 60% of the RoHS part, and you are not required to meet RoHS, then the choice is obvious. – Kevin Cathcart Apr 11 '12 at 16:38
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Devices equivalent to the LM394 are now being made by another company: http://www.alfarzpp.lv/eng/sc/AS394CH.php

user7291
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TI has a bunch of chips that implement log amps. There's LOG101, LOG102, LOG112 and others. I don't know what the definitive chip is but there are many chips that implement the whole circuit. They're wildly expensive for some reason but you can find LOG102 on Fleabay for $5.

squarewav
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