Nonlinear Applications of CCs - Current Conveyors: Variants, Applications and Hardware Implementations - page 213

Chapter 8
Nonlinear Applications of CCs

Abstract This chapter discusses the applications of CCs in realizing a number of
non-linear functions such as multipliers, dividers, Squarers, square-rooters, fuzzy
functions, analog switches, pseudo-exponential circuits and built-in-test structures.
Also discussed are a variety of Schmitt triggers, relaxation oscillators, wave form
generators and chaotic oscillators.

8.1 Introduction

Admittedly, a major chunk of work on the CCs has dominantly been concerned with
applications of the CCs in realizing linear circuits like analog filters, oscillators and
impedance simulators etc. Nevertheless, several researchers have investigated the
use of CCs in the realization of non-linear functions as well and it has been found
that CCs could be used to advantage even in many non-linear function applications
[ 1 - 44 ]. This chapter and subsequently Chap. 13 of this monograph deal with
various nonlinear applications of the CCs.

8.2 Precision Rectifiers

In many signal processing, signal conditioning and instrumentation applications
when signal levels are low particularly lower than the cutin voltage of the diodes,
precision rectifiers are required which are normally made from op-amps and diodes
such that the cutin voltage of the diode is made ineffective because of very large
gain of the op-amps employed. Some of the applications areas where such precision
rectifiers are useful are: RMS to DC convertor, peak detectors and floor detectors in
ultrasonic systems.
Several authors have demonstrated [ 3 - 7 , 21 , 31 , 35 , 37 , 40 ] that current con-
veyors can be advantageously employed to design precision full wave rectifiers
with operating frequencies in MHz range quite easily with a reduced number of
resistors as compared to precision rectifiers made from IC op-amps.