Re: Correcting a LED response curve?

Mar 13, 2008 5 Replies



> I just looked up "Vactrol" and realized that resistance is inversely
> related to LED current.
>
> What are you trying to accomplish? Schematic?
>
> ...Jim Thompson

I wish to use the Vactrol to replace an RTD on a existing system. I wish to simulate the RTD so the system will think it still read temperature, while it will be a value set by my equipment. I need something completely isolated, it's why the Vactrol appear to be a acceptable way to go.


I can use it has is, but I have really not much resolution in the value of resistor require. The circuit is simple, the D/A output drive a transistor as buffer that drive the Vactrol LED via a simple resistor. I can set the D/A output from 0 to 5 Vdc, the resistor as been select for 40ma on the LED at 5Vdc. The Vactrol LED need 40ma for minimum resistor output.


So my hope is to find a way to build a simple circuit that can will reverse the curve of the LED and end up with something more linear. This should give me a better resolution in the range I need.


Bye Jacques


My line of thought, use a dual Vactrol...

Then a feedback loop so that control current versus "resistor" value can be defined linearly, the second "resistor" serves as your RTD tracking the first resistor.

I need a good Spice model for a Vactrol. I found one in a schematic in SwitcherCAD, but haven't quite made sense of it yet. Helmut?

...Jim Thompson

| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens | | Analog Innovations, Inc. | et | | Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus | | Phoenix, Arizona Voice:(480)460-2350 | | | E-mail Address at Website Fax:(480)460-2142 | Brass Rat | | http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 | America: Land of the Free, Because of the Brave

Do you need to generate a complete curve, or just a couple of points? You could use relays to directly switch in a few resistors.

Or make a relay-driven R2R ladder. A relay DAC!

John Devereux

John, That's quite a nice idea to make an isolated adjustable resistor! I've done similar things non-isolated using MOS switches, for an AGC.

...Jim Thompson

| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens | | Analog Innovations, Inc. | et | | Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus | | Phoenix, Arizona Voice:(480)460-2350 | | | E-mail Address at Website Fax:(480)460-2142 | Brass Rat | | http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 | America: Land of the Free, Because of the Brave

In SwitcherCAD "led_ldr.asc" in Vactrol/Examples/Apps

...Jim Thompson

| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens | | Analog Innovations, Inc. | et | | Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC\'s and Discrete Systems | manus | | Phoenix, Arizona Voice:(480)460-2350 | | | E-mail Address at Website Fax:(480)460-2142 | Brass Rat | | http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 | America: Land of the Free, Because of the Brave

Please post the model somewhere.

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