Pendulum Instruments · High-Voltage Linear Amplifiers
F20A
Fixed gain x20, DC to 1 MHz bandwidth, a high-voltage driver for piezo and MEMS work
The F20A shares its chassis with the F10A; the difference is gain and voltage: x20 and ±150 V. That pairing targets setups that use the same ±7.5 V signal source but need more swing than 100 V. Slew rate is 400 V/µs (load up to 400 pF) and bandwidth is DC to 1 MHz at 100 Vpp output, which suits MEMS devices and piezo drive that must respond quickly. Keep the input within ±7.5 V, ±10 V maximum. The selection rule is simple: if 100 V is not enough and 200 V would go unused, this is the voltage band that fits.
Overview
In fast-drive applications the slew rate often matters more than the bandwidth. Bandwidth tells you how fast a small signal can follow; slew rate decides how fast a large step can move. A square wave that has to complete a 150 V transition inside 1 µs needs more than 150 V/µs of slew capability, not just a sufficient -3 dB bandwidth. The F20A delivers 400 V/µs with loads up to 400 pF, so the edges of a full-scale square wave are not slowed by the amplifier itself. For MEMS switches, fast shutters and piezo stages that step between positions, that is a practical difference. On voltage, ±150 V sits between the ±100 V of the F10A and the ±200 V of the A400, and x20 gain lets a standard signal source drive it to full scale. Load capacitance is a variable you must bring into the selection: the rated slew rate carries a load condition, and above 400 pF the real capability drops. If your device has a larger capacitance, give us the actual value when you request a quotation and we will confirm it together.
Key specifications
| Voltage gain (fixed) | x20 |
|---|---|
| Output voltage range | -150 V to +150 V (bipolar) |
| Maximum input voltage (recommended) | ±7.5 V (maximum ±10 V) |
| Bandwidth | DC to 1 MHz (at 100 Vpp output); DC to 500 kHz at the full 300 Vpp swing |
| Slew rate | 400 V/µs (load ≤ 400 pF) |
| Continuous output current | 185 mA (current-limited) |
| Maximum output power | approx. 30 W |
| Maximum capacitive load | 400 pF |
| Input impedance | 1 MΩ (in parallel with 30 pF) |
| Output impedance | <0.1 Ω (linear mode) |
| Mains supply | 100/110 V or 220/230 V, 50/60 Hz |
| Dimensions (W × H × D) | 257 × 102 × 262 mm, weight 4 kg |
Features
400 V/µs slew rate
Full-scale square-wave edges are not limited by the amplifier; MEMS and fast positioning respond as fast as the device allows.
x20 gain, ±150 V
A standard ±7.5 V source reaches full scale, filling the gap where 100 V is too little and 200 V goes unused.
DC to 1 MHz
Static bias through mid-frequency sweeps on one unit; DC coupling supports absolute-position drive.
Work out the load capacitance first
The rated slew rate assumes 400 pF or less; larger device capacitance reduces real capability, so give us the value when you ask for a quotation.
Current limiting included
Overload and short-circuit protection so the driver and the driven device do not fail together.
Bench size
257 × 102 × 262 mm on 100/110 V or 220/230 V mains; sits on the lab bench with no rack or special supply.
Typical applications
Precision positioning
Piezo actuator drive and nanopositioning systems
In scanning probe microscopes (SPM/AFM), optical alignment stages and wafer inspection equipment, piezo actuators need bipolar voltages above ±100 V to reach nanometer displacement resolution. The F20A amplifies the low-voltage output of an arbitrary function generator 20 times (up to ±150 V at 185 mA) from DC to 1 MHz, so open-loop positioning gets linearity and bandwidth at the same time.
MEMS testing
Electrical characterization and functional validation of MEMS devices
Electrostatically driven MEMS devices (micromirrors, microswitches, RF MEMS filters) are excited with programmable high-voltage signals during development and incoming inspection so their mechanical response or switching behavior can be measured. Paired with a signal source, the F20A builds a high-voltage excitation setup on the bench without a dedicated high-voltage supply, cutting the setup time for device characterization.
Electro-optic measurement
Electro-optic and PZT modulator drive for optical communication component testing
The half-wave voltage (Vπ) of lithium niobate (LiNbO₃) or PZT electro-optic modulators usually falls between tens of volts and about a hundred volts, so measuring insertion loss, frequency response and linearity needs a low-noise, wideband high-voltage drive. With 400 V/µs slew rate and low output impedance (< 0.1 Ω), the F20A is a well-suited amplifier stage for verifying modulator dynamics in optical communication labs.
Options and configuration
Tick the configuration and options you need; the list is compiled and carried into the quotation form for pricing.
Standard equipment (shipped with the unit)
Custom hardware options (specify when ordering)
Model upgrade options
Downloads
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