NTE1509

Integrated Circuit
10–Step Dot/Bar Display Driver
for Logarithmic Scale
Description:
The NTE1509 is a monolithic integrated circuit in an 18–Lead DIP type package that senses analog
voltage levels and drives 10 LEDs, LCDs, or vacuum fluorescent displays, providing a logarithmic 3dB
analog display. A single pin changes the display from a bar graph to a moving dot display. LED current
is regulated and programmable, eliminating the need for current limiting resistors. The whole display
system can operate from a single supply as low as 3V or as high as 25V
The circuit contains its own adjustable reference and accurate 10–step voltage divider. The high im-
pedance input buffer accepts signals down to GND and up to within 1.5V of the positive supply. Fur-
ther, it needs no protection against inputs of ±35V. The input buffer drives 10 individual comparators
referenced to the precision divider. Accuracy is typically better than 1dB.
The NTE1509’s 3dB/step display is suited for signals with wide dynamic range, such as audio level,
power, light intensity, or vibration. Audio applications include average or peak level indicators, power
meters, and RF signal strength meters. Replacing conventional meters with an LED bar graph results
in a faster responding, more rugged display with high visibility that retains the ease of interpretation
of an analog display.
The NTE1509 is extremely easy to apply. A 1.2V full–scale meter requires only 1 resistor in addition
to the 10 display LEDs. One more resistor programs the full–scale anywhere from 1.2V to 12V inde-
pendent of supply voltage. LED brightness is easily controlled with a single pot.
The NTE1509 is very versitile. The outputs can drive LCDs, vacuum fluorescents, and incandescent
bulbs as well as LEDs of any color. Multiple devices can be cascaded for a dot or bar mode display
with a range of 60 or 90dB. NTE1509s can also be cascaded with NTE1508s for a linear/log display
or with NTE1549s for an extended–range VU meter.

Features:
D 3dB/Step, 30dB Range D Output current programmable from 1 to 30mA
D Drives LEDs, LCDs or vacuum fluorescents D Input withstands ±35V without damage or false
D Bar or dot display mode externally selectable outputs
by user
D Outputs are current regulated, open–collectors
D Expandable to displays of 90dB
D Internal voltage reference from 1.2V to 12V D Directly Drives TTL or CMOS
D Operates with single supply of 3V to 25V D The internal 10–step divider is floating and can
D Inputs operate down to GND be referenced to a wide range of voltages
Absolute Maximum Ratings:
Power Dissipation (Note 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1365mW
Supply Voltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25V
Voltage on Output Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25V
Input Signal Overvoltage (Note 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ±35V
Divider Voltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . –100mV to V+
Reference Load Current . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10mA
Storage Temperature Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . –55° to +150°C
Lead Temperature (During soldering, 10sec) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +260°C
Note 1. The maximum junction temperature of the NTE1509 is +100°C. Device must be derated for
operation at elevated temperatures. Junction to ambient thermal resistance is 55°C/W.
Note 2. Pin5 input current must be limited to ±3mA. The addition of a 39kΩ resistor in series with
Pin5 allows ±100V signals without damage.
Electrical Characteristics: (Note 2, unless otherwise specified, all specifications apply with the
following conditions:
3VDC ≤ V+ ≤ 20VDC VREF, VRHI, VRLO ≤ (V+ –1.5V)
3VDC ≤ VLED ≤ V+ 0V ≤ VIN ≤ V+ –1.5V
–0.015V ≤ VRLO ≤ 12VDC TA +25°C, IL(REF) = 0.2mA,
–0.015V ≤ VRHI ≤ 12VDC Pin9 connected to Pin3 (Bar Mode)
Parameter Test Conditions Min Typ Max Unit
Comparator
Offset Voltage, Buffer, and First Comparator 0V ≤ VRLO = VRHI ≤ 12V, ILED = 1mA – 3 10 mV
Offset Voltage, Buffer, and Any Other 0V ≤ VRLO = VRHI ≤ 12V, ILED = 1mA – 3 15 mV
Comparator
Gain (∆ILED/∆VIN) IL(REF) = 2mA, ILED = 10mA 3 8 – mA/mV
Input Bias Current (At Pin5) 0V ≤ VIN ≤ V+ =1.5V – 25 100 nA
Input Signal Overdrive No Change is Display –35 – +35 V
Voltage Divider
Divider Resistance Total, Pin6 to Pin4 16 28 36 kΩ
Relative Accuracy (Input Change Between Note 3 2.0 3.0 4.0 dB
Any Two Threshold Points)
Absolute Accuracy at Each Threshold Point VIN = –3, –6dB, Note 3 –0.5 – +0.5 dB
VIN = –9dB, Note 3 –0.5 – +0.65 dB
VIN = –12, –15, –18dB, Note 3 –0.5 – +1.0 dB
VIN = –21, –24, –27dB, Note 3 –0.5 – +1.5 dB
Voltage Reference
Output Voltage 0.1mA ≤ IL(REF) ≤ 4mA, V+ = VLED = 5V 1.2 1.28 1.34 V
Line Regulation 3V ≤ V+ ≤ 18V – 0.01 0.03 %/V
Load Regulation 0.1mA ≤ IL(REF) ≤ 4mA, V+ = VLED = 5V – 0.4 2.0 %
Output Voltage Change with Temperature 0° ≤ TA ≤ +70°C, IL(REF) = 1mA, V+ = 5V – 1 – %
Adjust Pin Current – 75 120 µA

Note 2. Pin5 input current must be limited to ±3mA. The addition of a 39kΩ resistor in series with
Pin5 allows ±100V signals without damage.
Note 3. Accuracy is measured referred to +10.000VDC at Pin5, with + 10.000VDC at Pin6, and
0.000VDC at Pin4. At lower full–scale voltages, buffer and comparator offset voltage may
add significant error. See table for threshold voltages.
Electrical Characteristics (Cont’d): (Note 2, unless otherwise specified, all specifications apply
with the following conditions:
3VDC ≤ V+ ≤ 20VDC VREF, VRHI, VRLO ≤ (V+ –1.5V)
3VDC ≤ VLED ≤ V+ 0V ≤ VIN ≤ V+ –1.5V
–0.015V ≤ VRLO ≤ 12VDC TA +25°C, IL(REF) = 0.2mA,
–0.015V ≤ VRHI ≤ 12VDC VLED = 3V, Pin9 connected to Pin3
(Bar Mode)
Parameter Test Conditions Min Typ Max Unit
Output Drivers
LED Current V+ = VLED = 5V, IL(REF) = 1mA 7 10 13 mA
LED Current Difference (Between Largest VLED = 5V ILED = 2mA – 0.12 0.4 mA
and Smallest LED Currents)
ILED = 20mA – 1.2 3.0 mA
LED Current Regulation 2V ≤ VLED ≤ 17V ILED = 2mA – 0.1 0.25 mA
ILED = 20mA – 1 3 mA
Dropout Voltage ILED(ON) = 20mA, VLED = 5V, – – 1.5 V
∆ILED = 2mA
Saturation Voltage ILED = 2mA, IL(REF) = 0.4mA – 0.15 0.4 V
Output Leakage, Each Collector Bar Mode, Note 4 – 0.1 10 µA
Output Leakage Dot Mode, Note 4 Pin10 to Pin18 – 0.1 10 µA
Pin1 60 150 450 µA
Supply Current
Standby Supply Current (All Outputs OFF) V+ = 5V, IL(REF) = 0.2mA – 2.4 4.2 µA
V+ = 20V, IL(REF) = 1mA – 6.1 9.2 µA

Note 2. Pin5 input current must be limited to ±3mA. The addition of a 39kΩ resistor in series with
Pin5 allows ±100V signals without damage.
Note 4. Bar mode results when Pin9 is within 20mV of V+. Dot mode results when Pin9 is pulled at
least 200mV below V+ or left open circuit. LED No. 10 (Pin10 output current) is disabled if
Pin9 is pulled 0.9V or more below VLED.

Threshold Voltage: (Note 3)

Output dB Min Typ Max Output dB Min Typ Max
1 –27 0.422 0.447 0.531 6 –12 2.372 2.512 2.819
1 –24 0.596 0.631 0.750 7 –9 3.350 3.548 3.825
3 –21 0.841 0.891 1.059 8 –6 4.732 5.012 5.309
4 –18 1.189 1.259 1.413 9 –3 6.683 7.079 7.498
5 –15 1.679 1.778 1.995 10 0 9.985 10.000 10.015

Note 3. Accuracy is measured referred to +10.000VDC at Pin5, with + 10.000VDC at Pin6, and
0.000VDC at Pin4. At lower full–scale voltages, buffer and comparator offset voltage may
add significant error. See table for threshold voltages.
 Pin Connection Diagram

LED1 1 18 LED2
V (–) 2 17 LED3
V (+) 3 16 LED4
Divider Low 4 15 LED5
Signal Input 5 14 LED6
Divider High 6 13 LED7
Reference Output 7 12 LED8
Reference Adjust 8 11 LED9
Mode 9 10 LED10

18 10

1 9

.870 (22.1) Max .250

(6.35)

.150
(3.8)

.100 (2.54) .125 (3.17) Min

.800 (20.3)