CD40106 Output Drive Characteristics

In this post the output drive characteristics of a Cd40106 are measured and analyzed. The drive strength of a gate is important in high-speed signaling in order to quickly charge/discharge PCB interconnect capacitance and the effective input capacitance of the receiving gates/ICs.

The datasheet’s specification for the CD40106’s output low current sink \(I_{OL}\) is shown in the figure below.

CD40106 Schmitt-Trigger Datasheet Specifications for Output Low Sink Current.

We can translate the typically sink current to an approximate resistance as,

$$ R_{OL,5} = \dfrac{V}{I} = {0.4}{0.001 } = 400 \; \Omega $$

From the datasheet we can calculated the typical output resistance for all 3 specified Vdd supply values as,

$$ R_{OL,5}  = 400 \; \Omega \;\;\; R_{OL,10}  = 192 \; \Omega \;\;\;R_{OL,15}  = 221 \; \Omega $$

Note the output resistance is specified to be lower on a 10 V supply versus a 15 V supply. In the section below we will determine if indeed a 10 V supply yields the lowest output low resistance.

Measurement Setup

Each of the 6 gates internal to the Cd40106 are characterized separately and sequentially from gate A through to gate F. A schematic of the test setup is shown below.

CD40106 Schmitt-Trigger Test Schematic for Output Drive Characteristics.

Bench supply \(V_{s2}\) provides the Vdd supply rail, which is programmaticly stepped from 3 VDC to 15 VDC. Resistor \(R_1\) is an input pull-down resistor which is included for each gate input (each gate has a separate resistor). Jumper \(J_1\) ( a mini-grabber test lead ) allows for the selection of an input logic high. Power supply \(V_{s1}\) is programmticly ramped from 0 VDC to Vdd in 100 mV increments. Ammeter \(A_{m1}\) measures the sink current into the gate-x output pin. Voltmeter \(V_{m1}\) measures the effective voltage at the gate output pin. Voltage sag due to interconnect wiring and burden voltage of \(A_{m1}\) are mitigated by connected the leads of \(V_{m1}\) directly to the GND and output pins of the Cd40106.

Physical construction is the same as the previous post Schmitt-Trigger Threshold Levels (CD40106). A photo of the DUT mounted to an FR4 test coupon is shown below.

CD40106 Schmitt-Trigger Test Jig for Output Drive Characteristics.

Note the ground pin is pin 7 of the 14-pin DIP package, which is located at the bottom left corner of the IC in the photo above.

Measurement Results

The output drive characteristics for an output low signal are shown in the figure below.

CD40106 Schmitt-Trigger Drive Strength for an Output Low Signal.

While the CD40106 is rated for operation at 3 VDC, even into a shorted load, the IC can sink a total of 2 mA per gate. When operated on a 15 VDC supply the CD40106 can sink a maximum of 45 mA with a shorted load to the Vdd supply rail. Interestingly, at elevated power dissipation levels the cd40106 folds-back in drive strength, this can be seen from the 10 V to 15 V region on the Vdd = 15V I-V sweeps.

Output drive characteristics for an output-high signal are shown in the figure below.

CD40106 Schmitt-Trigger Drive Strength for an Output High Signal.

Comparing the output-high versus output-low I-V curves, there are a few subtle differences. The output-high drive characteristics are monotonic and do not appear to have any significant thermal-foldback. The initial slope of the output-high is steeper than that of the output-low state (higher output resistance). Both output high-low have similar peak drive currents into a shorted load.

We can estimated the instantaneous output resistance from the I-V curves collected above as,

$$ R_o = \dfrac{ \Delta V }{ \Delta I } $$

The output resistance of each gate versus load current is shown in the figure below.

CD40106 Schmitt-Trigger Output Resistance Versus Load Current.

While the datasheet claims “Standardized, Symmetrical Output Characteristics”, in the figure above the output resistance for an output high is roughly 60% larger than that of an output low signal for the same magnitude of load current. The lowest output resistance of the CD40106 is achieved with logic output low at \(R_{OL} \simeq 110 \Omega\) with a 15 VDC supply.

The output resistance for all possible load currents is shown in the figure below.

CD40106 Schmitt-Trigger Output Resistance Versus Load Current.

The output resistance of the CD40106 versus output voltage level is shown in the figure below.

CD40106 Schmitt-Trigger Output Resistance Versus Output Voltage.

Raw Data

The raw data for each of the 6 gates of the single Cd40106 tested, can be found as csv files below.

Output Low Drive Characteristics

Iol @ 3 V
Iol @ 5 V
Iol @ 10 V
Iol @ 15 V

Output High Drive Characteristics

Ioh @ 3 V
Ioh @ 5 V
Ioh @ 10 V
Ioh @ 15 V

Files are formatted as,
Va [V],..,Vf [V],Isinka [A],...,Isinkf [A]

Extras

Output Low Drive Strength

CD40106 Schmitt-Trigger Output Low Drive Characteristics at Vdd = 3 VDC.CD40106 Schmitt-Trigger Output Low Drive Characteristics at Vdd = 5 VDC. CD40106 Schmitt-Trigger Output Low Drive Characteristics at Vdd = 10 VDC.CD40106 Schmitt-Trigger Output Low Drive Characteristics at Vdd = 15 VDC.

Output High Drive Strength

CD40106 Schmitt-Trigger Output High Drive Characteristics at Vdd = 3 VDC.CD40106 Schmitt-Trigger Output High Drive Characteristics at Vdd = 5 VDC.CD40106 Schmitt-Trigger Output High Drive Characteristics at Vdd = 10 VDC. CD40106 Schmitt-Trigger Output High Drive Characteristics at Vdd = 15 VDC.

 

 

2 thoughts on “CD40106 Output Drive Characteristics”

  1. Hey, you may be interested in this model I created:
    https://www.seventransistorlabs.com/Images/CD4001_TR.ckt
    It uses this model,
    https://people.rit.edu/lffeee/RIT_Models_For_LTSPICE.txt
    although curiously I found it necessary to swap the NRD/NRS parameters for P/N to get the right characteristic.

    The transistor model gives good enough agreement with a typical part (well within the spread of normal parts), and the ESD diodes are even modeled based on a real part.

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