PD32 - 32 Channel Piezo Driver
Version 4
Manual and Specifications

PD32 V4 Manual1Rev 1, 12/11/2018

Contents
1Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 32Warnings / Notes ........................................................................................................................................ 3

3Specifications .............................................................................................................................................. 44Output Voltage Range ................................................................................................................................ 5
4.1

Grounded Load .................................................................................................................................... 5

4.2

Floating Load ....................................................................................................................................... 6

5

Input Connection Diagram ......................................................................................................................... 6

6

Output Connection Diagram ...................................................................................................................... 77

Output Current ........................................................................................................................................... 88Power Bandwidth ....................................................................................................................................... 8

9

Small Signal Bandwidth ............................................................................................................................ 10

10Overload Protection .............................................................................................................................. 1111

Enclosure ............................................................................................................................................... 11

12

Input Test Connector and Cable ........................................................................................................... 1113

Breakout Board and Cable (PD32-Breakout) ........................................................................................ 1114Signal Adaptors ..................................................................................................................................... 1215Warranty ............................................................................................................................................... 12PD32 V4 Manual2Rev 1, 12/11/2018

1 Introduction
The PD32 is a high-bandwidth, low-noise linear amplifier for driving up to 32 piezoelectric actuators. Thevoltage range is configurable from +50V to +/-140V and includes asymmetric voltage ranges such as -20V
to +120V. The PD32 works seamlessly with common multi-channel DAC cards and is easy to use withLabView and Simulink. The compact size and 19-inch rack compatibility provides a comprehensive off-theshelf solution for driving hundreds or thousands of piezoelectric actuators.
The PD32 is designed for demanding applications such as Adaptive Optics, Acoustic Beam Forming,
Materials Testing, Astronomy, Ultrasonics, and Vibration Control. With an output current of 150mA per
channel, a large array of piezoelectric actuators can be driven simultaneously at high frequencies. Positiveand negative high-voltage bias outputs are also included for compatibility with piezoelectric benderactuators.
Compatible Actuators
Stack Actuators

60V, 100V, 120V, 150VPlates and Tubes

up to +/-140V

Two Wire Benders

up to +/-140V

Three Wire Benders

Up to 140V, or +/-75V

Each channel is individually protected against short circuit and thermal overload. Status indicators on thefront panel provide individual monitoring of all channels. A digital status signal and external shutdown
command is also accessible from the input connector to allow remote monitoring and control. The inputand output connectors are industry standard 37 Pin D-Sub connectors which are straight-forward toassemble. Adaptors are available for industry standard 32 Channel DAC cards.

2 Warnings / Notes
This device produces hazardous potentials and should be used by suitably
qualified personnel under the supervision of an observer with appropriate
first-aid training. Do not operate the device when there are exposed
conductors.

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3 Specifications
Grounded Load

Floating Load

Output Voltage+45V to +140V+/-90V or +/-140V

Peak Current

150 mA per channel

75 mA per channel

RMS Current

106 mA per channel

53 mA per channel

Power Bandwidth

50 kHz (120 Vpp)

50 kHz (240 Vpp)

Signal Bandwidth120 kHz

120 kHz

Slew Rate

19 V/us38 V/usGain

15 V/V

20 V/V

Input Impedance

53 kOhm

6.25 kOhm

Input Offset

±5 mV

±5 mV

Load

Unlimited

Unlimited

Output Noise

200 uV RMS (1uF Load)

300 uV RMS (1uF Load)

Protection

Short-circuit and thermal overload

Inputs32 Analog inputs, shutdown command

Outputs

32 HV Analog outputs, overload monitor

Connectors

Industry standard DB-37 (input) and DD-78 (output)

Mechanical Specifications
Environment

0 - 40C (-32 to 104F) Non-condensing humidity

Dimensions

212 x 304.8 x 88 mm (8.35 x 12 x 3.46 in)

Weight2 kg (4.4 lb)

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4Output Voltage Range

The output voltage range is configurable between +50V and +/-140V and the load can be either groundedor floating. For peak-to-peak voltages less than 140V, the grounded load configuration is recommended
since this provides greater current. The floating load configuration is required for the +/-100V and +/-140V
ranges. The desired configuration should be specified at the time of ordering.

4.1 Grounded LoadIn the grounded load configurations, the actuator connections are illustrated below. The negative output isinternally grounded.

In1Out1+15+Piezo 1Out1-The desired output voltage range can be selected from the following table.
Min Voltage

Max Voltage

Order Code0+140

PD32-0,1400+120

PD32-0,1200+95

PD32-0,950+70

PD32-0,700+45

PD32-0,45-20+120PD32-20,120-20+95

PD32-20,95-45+45

PD32-45,45-70+70

PD32-70,70

Grounded Load Voltage Ranges
Three wire bender actuators can be driven using the following connection diagram. The HV+ and HV- bias
voltages are the minimum and maximum voltages listed in the table above and are accessible on theoutput connector.
HV+Piezo 1
In1

15Out1+
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4.2 Floating Load
The floating load configuration is useful for achieving higher peak-to-peak voltage swings. The connection
diagram is illustrated below. Do not connect either of these signals to ground, for example, an oscilloscopeprobe.
Out1++In1

20Piezo 1

Out1-The desired output voltage range can be selected from the following table.
Min Voltage

Max Voltage

Order Code-140+140

PD32-140,140-95+95

PD32-95,95

Floating Load Voltage Ranges

5 Input Connection Diagram
The front panel input connector is an industry standard DB37 Female Connector (TE 1658612-1). Any Male
DB-37 cable plug is compatible. The connection diagram is illustrated below.
Signals

Input Connector

Notes

Analog Inputs 1 to 32

Pins 1 to 32+/- 10V max

Ground33, 34

Non Connected35

Digital disable command

Pin 36

3.3V or 5V logic

Overload indicator

Pin 37

5V logic

Input Connector Signals

Input Connector Pinout

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6 Output Connection Diagram
The front panel output connector is an industry standard DB37 Female Connector (TE 5748483-5). Any
Male DD-78 cable plug is compatible. The connection diagram is illustrated below.

Signals

Connector 1

Outputs 1 to 16 (positive)

1 - 16Ground17, 20HV+18, 19Outputs 1 to 16 (negative)

21 - 36

Ground37

HV-38, 39

Outputs 17 to 32 (positive)

40 - 55

Ground56, 59

HV+57, 58

Outputs 17 to 32 (negative)60 - 75

Ground76

HV-77, 78

Notes

For driving benders

For driving benders

For driving benders

For driving benders

Output Connector Signals

Output Connector Pinout

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7 Output Current
The peak output current is 150 mA per channel in the grounded load configuration or 75 mA per channel inthe floating load configuration. The maximum RMS current is 106 mA in the grounded configuration and53 mA in the floating load configuration.
The maximum simultaneous output current from all channels is 3 Amps RMS.

8 Power Bandwidth
The nominal slew-rate of the PD32 in the grounded load configuration is 19 V/us. Therefore, the unloadedmaximum frequency sine-wave is
19 × 106
𝑓𝑚𝑎𝑥 =.
𝜋𝑉𝐿(𝑝−𝑝)That is, the power bandwidth for a 120 Vp-p sine-wave is 50 kHz. In the floating load configuration, theslew-rate is doubled to 38 V/us, therefore, the power bandwidth for a 240 Vp-p sine-wave is 50 kHz
With a capacitive load, the power bandwidth is limited by the output current. The maximum frequency
sine wave is𝑓𝑝𝑤𝑟 =𝐼 𝑝𝑘
𝜋𝑉𝐿(𝑝−𝑝) 𝐶𝐿

where 𝐼𝑝𝑘 is the peak current limit, 𝑉𝐿(𝑝−𝑝) is the peak-to-peak output voltage, and 𝐶𝐿 is the effective loadcapacitance. The power bandwidth versus load capacitance is listed below.

Load

Grounded Load Voltage (pk-pk)

Load

Floating Load Voltage (pk-pk_Cap.

50

100

140Cap.

100200280

10 nF

95 kHz47 kHz34 kHz

10 nF

23 kHz

11 kHz8.5 kHz

30 nF

31 kHz

15 kHz

11 kHz30 nF

7.9 kHz

3.9 kHz2.8 kHz100 nF

9.5 kHz4.7 kHz

3.4 kHz100 nF

2.3 kHz

1.1 kHz850 Hz300 nF

3.1 kHz

1.5 kHz

1.1 kHz300 nF

790 Hz390 Hz284 Hz1 uF

950 Hz470 Hz340 Hz1 uF

230 Hz119 Hz

85 Hz

3 uF

310 Hz150 Hz114 Hz

3 uF

80 Hz

40 Hz

28 Hz

10 uF

96 Hz

48 Hz

34 Hz

10 uF

24 Hz

12 Hz

9 Hz

30 uF

32 Hz

16 Hz

11 Hz

30 uF

8 Hz

4 Hz

3 Hz

Power Bandwidth versus Load Capacitance (Grounded and Floating Load Configuration)
In the following figures, the maximum frequency periodic signal is plotted against the peak-to-peakvoltage.

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160

10 uF

3 uF1 uF

300 nF

100 nF

30 nF

Peak to Peak Voltage (V)1401201008060402001102103410Frequency (Hz)10Maximum frequency versus voltage and capacitance (Grounded Load)

Peak to Peak Voltage (V)

300

3 uF

1 uF

300 nF

100 nF

30 nF

10 nF

250

200
150
100500110210310Frequency (Hz)410Maximum frequency versus voltage and capacitance (Floating Load)

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9 Small Signal Bandwidth
The small-signal bandwidth for a range of capacitive loads is listed below. The small-signal frequency
responses are also plotted.
Load Capacitance

Signal Bandwidth

No Load120 kHz

10 nF

90 kHz

30 nF

40 kHz

100 nF

11 kHz

300 nF

3.8 kHz1 uF

1.0 kHz

3 uF

320 Hz

10 uF

62 Hz

30 uF

24 Hz

Small signal bandwidth (-3 dB)

Magnitude (dB)

3010 uF

3 uF

300 nF

100 nF

30 nF

10 nF

20100

210Phase (deg.)

1 uF

3410105100-50-100-150

210

341010510Frequency (Hz)Small signal frequency response versus load capacitance

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10 Overload Protection
Each channel is protected against short-circuit and thermal overload. If the thermal overload on any
channel engages, the front panel indicator for that channel will illuminate. In addition, an overload on any
channel will cause the overload signal (pin 37) on the input connector to go high (+5V).
The amplifier can also be disabled by applying a logic high (3.3V to 5V) to the disable pin (pin 36).

11 Enclosure
The PD32 has a side air intake and rear exhaust. These vents should not be obstructed. If sufficient air-flow
is not available, the amplifier will enter a thermal overload state as discussed above.
The PD32 amplifier can be rack-mounted in a single or side-by-side arrangement. The DAC card adaptor
can also be rack mounted in a single or side-by-side arrangement with another adaptor or the amplifier
itself. A single amplifier or adaptor can be mounted with the PD32-Rack1 kit. Two adaptors, amplifiers, or a
combination of both can be mounted side-by-side with the PD32-Rack2 kit.

12 Input Test Connector and CableAn adaptor PCB is supplied which connects all input channels to a single BNC connector. A 2.5ft DB37(Male-Male) input cable is also supplied.

13 Breakout Board and Cable (PD32-Breakout)
A screw-terminal breakout board is included which connects to the amplifier via a Female DD78 connector(TE 5748483-5) and HD78 Male-Male cable (2.5 ft). If required, the board can be mounted onto a basestructure using the installed M3 hex spacers.

Breakout Board

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14Signal Adaptors

The signal adaptors allow a direct connection to common multi-channel DAC cards. Standard adaptors arelisted below; however, custom adaptors can also be created.
Manufacturer

DAC Card

Signal Adaptor

Notes

National Instruments

PCI-6723

PD-6723

Requires NI SH68-C68-S Cable

National Instruments

PXI-6723

PD-6723

Requires NI SH68-C68-S Cable

Standard Signal Adaptors
The adaptors are contained in a compact desktop enclosure which can be mounted in a side-by-sidearrangement to another adaptor or an amplifier. A single amplifier or adaptor can be mounted with thePD32-Rack1 kit. Two adaptors, amplifiers, or a combination of both can be mounted side-by-side with thePD32-Rack2 kit.

15Warranty

The PD32 is guaranteed against manufacturer defects for a period of 12 months.

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