The logarithmic converter is thoroughly explained in Electronotes S-019. The one described on page 2 is one that sinks current, and the LM13700 VCO needs a current source. In Electronotes 129 there is a big VCO schematic that has a log converter with a current source. A combination of the two schematics is seen here:
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Current source logarithmic converter |
IC2=IC1e−VIN⋅ 26mV
Ignoring the small base currents in the transistors, we also have
IO=IC1+IC2
We will want to limit IC2 to protect the LM13700. It can receive a current of 2mA, but let's set max current to 1mA to be on the safe side. We can combine the two current equations to:
IO=IC2(1+eVIN/26mV)
A2 is an inverting attenuator that converts positive control voltage to negative in voltage:
VIN=VC⋅18mV
VO will swing all the way to the positive rail (or close at least). Ve is always close to 0.6mV (diode drop). We want the converter to work up to 5 Volts (max output of the MIDI2VC). This means we should set
RL≤9−0.6V1mA(1+e−5⋅18/26)=8144Ω
In fact, we need to go a bit lower on RL, due to the approximations in the calculation. I settled fro RL=6.8k\Omega.
We now set:
IC1≤1mAe−5⋅18/26
We can get this current by connecting 330k\Omega to the negative rail.
An LTSPICE simulation of this circuit can give us a plot like this:
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Output current as function of voltage. Note that the current doubles between each 1V increment up to the current limitation. Simulation done in LTSPICE. |
Hello from berlin,
ReplyDeletei have read that the vintage Vermona Synhtesizer needs a logarithmik vc/cv.
Do you know something about that, or is it a wrong komment?
Regards
Ralf