Peak Detectors for inputs to microcontrollers, what do they do?

[Billy Mayo]

At my work , I see peak detector circuits for each input pin on the microcontroller chip. My Manger said the peak detector circuits are to average or do averaging, what does he mean? why do you need to average the voltage before the input pins to the microcontroller?

 

[blueroomelectronics]

Where do you work? Sounds more like you're doing school assignments.

 

[Billy Mayo]

I'm not doing school assignments

 

[blueroomelectronics]

Okay, where do you work? Why does your manager just wander by your desk dropping random tidbits of tech info yet never seems to explain it. Have you ever asked him? More importantly WHY does he do this?

 

[Billy Mayo]

He doesn't like teaching or training , plus he is on field service for weeks , so I get very little info, that why I ask people on forums to help me out

 

[blueroomelectronics]

What sort of devices are these that appear on your desk, why do they appear on your desk? Are you a technician or a student?

 

[Billy Mayo]

Test Technicians

The Microcontroller is MC68HC11E9BCFN2

There is multiple Peak detector op amp circuits for each input going to the Microcontroller, My manager said the peak detector circuits are for averaging the voltage because it goes to the microcontroller input pins.

What does he mean and why would you need to average the voltage for the microcontroller inputs?

 

[dougy83]

A peak detector doesn't average the voltage. Do you have a schematic or partial schematic?

 

[ericgibbs]

T My manager said the peak detector circuits are for averaging the voltage because it goes to the microcontroller input pins.

What does he mean and why would you need to average the voltage for the microcontroller inputs?

hi Billy,

Not wishing to sound picky, but as your manager seems to know so much about most of the questions you keep posting, WHY don't you ask your manager the answer to these questions.???

E.

 

[Diver300]

Microcontroller typically sample ADC inputs very quickly, but there is not enough processing time or power to sample very often. There is often a risk that very fast signals can be missed, or aliasing with repetitive signals can give false readings.

Analogue circuits are often used to average signals before they are presented to the ADC.

If a peak signal is important, but it would be difficult to get the ADC to measure often enough to spot the peak, then an analogue peak detector circuit would be a solution.

Also peak detectors are often used to measure AC voltages. Of course, the peak voltage may not be the measurement that is wanted, but it is a lot easier than measuring the mean or the RMS.

 

[Billy Mayo]

My manager doesn't explain much, either he is guessing or doesn't know or doesn't want to teach

Analogue circuits are often used to average signals before they are presented to the ADC.

So a analog op amp peak detector circuit averages the Logic signals? or just analog signals?

How does an analog op amp peak detector do the averaging?

 

[crutschow]

Did you not read post #8? You question has been answered.

 

[ChrisP58]

A true peak detector does exactly what the name implies. It detects and holds the highest voltage that a signal has ever been. It does not average the signal. Even if the voltage was at that point for only a microsecond once, that is the peak voltage that will be detected and held. The cap is charged to the peak voltage, but the diode prevents any discharge.

Fundamentally, a peak detector is a diode and a capacitor. Quite often, the diode gets wrapped in an op-amp circuit resulting in what is called a precision rectifier. What the op-amp does is offset the voltage drop of the diode so that it can be used with sub millivolt signals.

To get an average of a voltage, you would use a resistor and a capacitor. then the cap charges and discharges based on the time and magnitude of the signal input signal.


Note: The description above is assuming an ideal circuit. In reality, series inductance and resistance can inhibit the ability of a cap to capture very short peaks. And leakage currents in the cap, diode and other components can cause the peak voltage to drift over time. Nevertheless, practical detectors can be built to hold a peak voltage for a few seconds. In many cases, a resistor will be places in parallel with the cap to drop the peak over time. Or, a switch may be placed across the cap to reset the peak value to zero.

 

[Mosaic]

Also you'll want to use a smallish cap with LOW ESR to get a decent peak reading if your transients are short.
Similarly, short transients call for a fast switching diode.