Pendulum Instruments · High-Voltage Linear Amplifiers
F10A
Single-channel wideband high-voltage linear amplifier, fixed gain x10, bipolar ±100V output
The F10A is the entry point of this high-voltage amplifier line: fixed gain x10, bipolar ±100 V output, 185 mA output current and DC to 1 MHz bandwidth. Gain of x10 means it is meant to be driven directly by a standard ±10 V function generator or AWG with no preamplifier. It fits small piezo elements, electrostatic deflection plates and any bench setup where the source is already there and only the voltage is missing. Work out the load before choosing: piezo elements are capacitive, the current they draw rises linearly with frequency and capacitance, and 185 mA sets how high in frequency you can hold full output.
Overview
The most common mistake when choosing a high-voltage amplifier is to look only at the voltage. Piezo actuators and electrostatic devices are capacitive loads, and the current needed to drive them equals capacitance times the rate of voltage change. In other words, the same device places completely different demands on the amplifier at 1 kHz and at 100 kHz. The F10A supplies 185 mA across its ±100 V range, which makes it right for small to medium devices or lower drive frequencies. The DC to 1 MHz bandwidth covers static positioning through mid-frequency sweeps, and DC coupling is essential for positioning because displacement follows absolute voltage rather than AC amplitude. The gain is fixed at x10 and ultra-linear, so the output waveform is a proportional copy of the input with no nonlinearity to correct for; in work that needs exact displacement this saves a lot of calibration. Built-in current limiting acts on a short-circuited or overloaded output so the device and the amplifier are not lost together.
Key specifications
| Channels | 1 channel |
|---|---|
| Voltage gain | x10 (fixed, ultra-linear) |
| Maximum output voltage | ±100 V (bipolar) |
| Maximum input voltage | ±10 V |
| Bandwidth | DC to 1 MHz (at maximum Vpp) |
| Slew rate | 400 V/μs |
| Continuous output current | 185 mA (current-limited) |
| Continuous output power | approx. 30 W |
| Input impedance | 1 MΩ (30 pF) |
| Output impedance | <0.1 Ω |
| Maximum capacitive load | 400 pF |
| Mains supply | 100/110 V or 220/230 V, 50/60 Hz |
| Enclosure dimensions (W × H × D) | 257 mm × 102 mm × 262 mm |
| Weight | 4 kg |
Features
x10 gain matches standard sources
A ±10 V AWG or function generator reaches the full ±100 V with no preamplifier in between.
DC coupled
In static positioning the output voltage maps directly to displacement, unlike AC-coupled units that can only drive dynamically.
185 mA output current
Capacitive loads draw more current as frequency rises; this figure sets how high you can hold full output.
Ultra-linear
The output is a proportional copy of the input, so displacement needs no extra nonlinearity correction.
Current-limit protection
Acts on a short-circuited or overloaded output so an expensive piezo element and the amplifier are not lost together.
Dual-channel version available
For two channels choose the F10AD: same specifications, shared supply and ground, so a later expansion does not mix models.
Typical applications
Precision positioning
Piezo actuator drive and nanopositioning control
In AFM scan heads, optical alignment stages and active vibration isolation, piezo actuators (PZT) need linear signals of around ±100 V to use their full travel. The F10A amplifies the ±10 V output of a function generator or DAC by 10 and drives it linearly from DC to 1 MHz, so nanometer-scale position commands are reproduced without nonlinear distortion.
Device characterization
Characterization of MEMS and electro-optic modulators
MEMS structures and electro-optic (EO) modulators are characterized with bipolar swept bias to observe the C-V curve or the half-wave voltage (Vπ). Researchers generate a low-voltage sweep on a signal source and amplify it through the F10A to the required range, covering the whole dynamic operating region of the device without changing equipment.
Display materials
Electrical research on OLED and liquid crystal materials
New OLED emitter materials and liquid crystal (LC) formulations are aged and characterized (luminance versus voltage) under high-voltage alternating fields during development. The low output impedance of the F10A (< 0.1 Ω) drives capacitive test cells steadily, and researchers change waveform frequency and amplitude at the signal source alone, cutting the equipment setup time for material evaluation.
Options and configuration
Tick the channel configuration and options you need; the configuration list is compiled and carried into the quotation form.
Standard equipment (included)
Channel configuration options
Hardware options (quotation required)
Downloads
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