
Data Sheet ADL5904
Rev. B | Page 19 of 27
CHOOSING A VALUE FOR CRMS
CRMS provides the averaging function for the internal rms
computation. Using the minimum value for CRMS allows the
quickest response time to a pulsed waveform, but leaves signifi-
cant output noise on the output voltage signal. However, a large
filter capacitor reduces output noise and improves the rms
measurement accuracy but at the expense of the response time.
In applications where the response time is not critical, place a
relatively large capacitor on the CRMS pin. In Figure 44, a value
of 100 nF is used. For most signal modulation schemes, this value
ensures excellent rms measurement accuracy and low residual
output noise. There is no maximum capacitance limit for CRMS.
Figure 45 and Figure 46 show how output noise varies with
CRMS when the ADL5904 is driven by a single-carrier W-CDMA
(Test Model TM1-64, peak envelope power = 10.6 dB, bandwidth
= 3.84 MHz) and by an LTE signal (Test Model TM1-20, peak
envelope power = 11.58 dB, bandwidth = 20 MHz), respectively.
Figure 45 and Figure 46 also show how the value of CRMS affects
the response time. This response time is measured by applying
an RF burst at 2.14 GHz at 0 dBm to the ADL5904. The 10% to
90% rise time and 90% to 10% fall time are then measured.
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
0.1
1.0
10
100
1k
10k
100k
0.1 110 100 1000
OUTPUT NOISE (mV p-p)
RISE/FALL TIMES (µs)
CRMS CAPACI TANCE ( nF )
10% TO 90% RIS E TI M E ( µs)
90% TO 10% FALL TI M E ( µs)
OUTPUT NOISE (mV p-p)
13838-046
Figure 45. Output Noise, Rise and Fall Times vs. CRMS Capacitance,
Single-Carrier W-CDMA (Test Model TM1-64) at 900 MHz with PIN = 0 dBm
0
100
200
300
400
600
700
0
0.1
1.0
10
100
1k 500
10k
100k
0.1 110 100 1000
OUTPUT NOISE (mV p-p)
RISE/FALL TIMES (µs)
CRMS CAPACI TANCE ( nF )
10% TO 90% RIS E TI M E ( µs)
90% TO 10% FALL TI M E ( µs)
OUTPUT NOISE (mV p-p)
13838-047
Figure 46. Output Noise, Rise and Fall Times vs. CRMS Capacitance,
Single-Carrier LTE (Test Model TM1-20) at 900 MHz with PIN = 0 dBm
Table 5 shows the recommended minimum values of CRMS for
various modulation schemes. Table 5 also shows the output rise
and fall times and noise performance. Using lower capacitor
values results in faster response times but can result in degraded
rms measurement accuracy. If the output noise shown in Table 5
is unacceptably high, it can be reduced by increasing CRMS or by
implementing an averaging algorithm after the output voltage of
the ADL5904 is sampled by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC).
The values in Table 5 were experimentally determined to be the
minimum capacitance that ensures good rms accuracy for that
particular signal type. This test was initially performed with a
large capacitance value on the CRMS pin (for example, 10 µF).
The value of VRMS was noted for a fixed input level (for example,
−10 dBm). The value of CRMS was then progressively reduced (this
can be accomplished with press-down capacitors) until the value
of VRMS started to deviate from its original value (this indicates
that the accuracy of the rms computation is degrading and that
CRMS is becoming too small).
In general, the minimum CRMS value required increases as the
peak to average ratio of the carrier increases. The minimum
required CRMS also tends to increase as the bandwidth of the
carrier decreases. With narrow-band carriers, the noise spectrum
of the VRMS output tends to have a correspondingly narrow
profile. The relatively narrow spectral profile requires a larger
value of CRMS that reduces the low-pass corner frequency of the
averaging function and ensures a valid rms computation.
Table 5. Recommended Minimum CRMS Values for Various Modulation Schemes
Modulation/Standard
Peak Envelope
Power Ratio Ratio
(dB)
Carrier
Bandwidth (MHz) CRMSMIN (nF)
Output Noise
(mV p-p)
Rise/Fall
Times (µs)
QPSK, 5 MSPS (SQR COS) Filter, α = 0.35) 3.3 5 10 42 4/25
QPSK ,15 MSPS (SQR COS Filter,
= 0.35)
64 QAM, 1 MSPS (SQR COS Filter,
= 0.35)
64 QAM, 5 MSPS (SQR COS Filter,
= 0.35)
64 QAM, 13 MSPS (SQR COS Filter, α = 0.35) 7.4 13 10 56 4/25
W-CDMA, One-Carrier, TM1-64 10.6 3.84 100 92 35/276
W-CDMA Four-Carrier, TM1-64, TM1-32, TM1-16, TM1-8 15.96 18.84 100 98 35/276
LTE, TM1, One-Carrier, 20 MHz (2048 QPSK Subcarriers) 11.58 20 100 80 35/276