Ultra low noise current sources

C. Ciofi, R. Giannetti, V. Dattilo, B. Neri

14th IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference - IMTC 1997, Ottawa (Canada). 19-21 mayo 1997

Summary:
The current sources which are normally used in research laboratories are not suitable for low noise measurement systems because of the unacceptable level of low frequency noise which they introduce in the measurement chain. The most important source of low frequency noise in such instruments is the solid state device (usually a Zener diode) which is used as voltage reference. By using a novel circuital topology in which a lead battery which does not supply current is used as voltage reference, we have been able to design an ultra low noise current source characterized by a low-frequency noise level some orders of magnitude lower than that of similar commercial instrumentation. The design, realization and testing of such current source is presented.

Keywords: Low-frequency noise, Noise measurement, Instruments, Voltage, Laboratories, Current measurement, Battery charge measurement, Frequency measurement, Solid state circuits, Diodes

DOI: 10.1109/IMTC.1997.612447

Publication date: May 1997.

Citation:
Ciofi, C., Giannetti, R., Dattilo, V., Neri, B., Ultra low noise current sources, 14th IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference - IMTC 1997, Ottawa (Canada). 19-21 May 1997.

IIT-97-077A