Voltage-to-Frequency Converters

Voltage-to-frequency converters are electronic devices that convert voltage inputs to linearly proportional frequency outputs. They consist of an analog input amplifier, a precision oscillator system, a resistor-capacitor (RC) network, and a power supply. Low-drift input amplifiers enable voltage-to-frequency converters to process small signals while offering high levels of input resistance. Input amplifiers provide high impedances to positive voltages and low impedances to negative voltages. Scaling resistors adjust and trim a range of voltages while timing capacitors determine the full-scale frequency. Typically, voltage-to-frequency linearity requires the use of capacitors with low dielectric absorption (DA). Charge-balanced voltage-to-frequency converters provide increased accuracy and linearity, but have greater supply voltage and current requirements.