
VRE202
Precision Surface Mount
Reference Supplies
THALER CORPORATION • 2015 N. FORBES BOULEVARD • TUCSON, AZ. 85745 • (520) 882-4000
FEATURES
• VERY HIGH ACCURACY: 2.5000 V OUTPUT ±200 µV
• EXTREMELY LOW DRIFT: 0.6 ppm/°C 55°C to +125°C
• LOW WARM-UP DRIFT: 1 ppm Typ.
• EXCELLENT STABILITY: 6 ppm/1000 Hrs. Typ.
• EXCELLENT LINE REGULATION: 6ppm/V Typ.
• HERMETIC 20 TERMINAL CERAMIC LCC
• MILITARY PROCESSING OPTION
DESCRIPTION
VRE202 Series Precision Voltage References
provide ultrastable +2.5000V outputs with ±200
µV initial accuracy and temperature coefficient as
low as 0.6 ppm/°C over the full military
temperature range. This improvement in accuracy
is made possible by a unique, proprietary
multipoint laser compensation technique
developed by Thaler Corporation. Significant
improvements have been made in other
performance parameters as well, including initial
accuracy, warm-up drift, line regulation, and longterm stability, making the VRE202 series the most
accurate and stable 2.5V surface mount
references available.
VRE202 devices are available in two operating
temperature ranges, -25°C to +85°C and -55°C to
+125°C, and two electrical performance grades.
All devices are packaged in 20 terminal ceramic
LCC packages for maximum long-term stability.
"M" versions are screened for high reliability and
quality.
APPLICATIONS
• PRECISION A/D and D/A CONVERTERS
• TRANSDUCER EXCITATION
• ACCURATE COMPARATOR THRESHOLD
REFERENCE
• HIGH RESOLUTION SERVO SYSTEMS
• DIGITAL VOLTMETERS
• HIGH PRECISION TEST and
MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENTS
SELECTION GUIDE
Type
VRE202C +2.5V -25°C to +85°C 200µV
VRE202CA +2.5V -25°C to +85°C 100µV
VRE202M +2.5V -55°C to +125°C 400µV
VRE202MA +2.5V -55°C to +125°C 200µV
Output
Temperature
Operating Range
Max. Volt
Deviation
VRE202DS REV. D NOV 2000

ELECTRICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Vps =±15V, T = 25°C, RL = 10k? unless otherwise noted.
VRE202
MODEL C CA M MA
PARAMETERS MIN TYP MAX MIN TYP MAX MIN TYP MAX MIN TYP MAX UNITS
ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM RATINGS
Power Supply +13.5 +22 * * * * * * V
Operating Temperature -25 85 * * -55 125 -55 125 °C
Storage Temperature -65 150 * * * * * * °C
Short Circuit Protection Continuous * * *
OUTPUT VOLTAGE
VRE202 +2.5 * * * V
OUTPUT VOLTAGE ERRORS
Initial Error 300 200 300 200 µV
Warmup Drift 2 1 2 1 ppm
T
- T
min
max
(1)
200 100 400 200 µV
Long-Term Stability 6 * * * ppm/1000hrs
Noise (.1-10Hz) 1.5 * * * µVpp
OUTPUT CURRENT
Range ±10 * * * mA
REGULATION
Line 6 10 * * * * * * ppm/V
Load 3 * * * ppm/mA
OUTPUT ADJUSTMENT
Range 10 * * * mV
Temperature Coeff. 4 * * * µV/°C/mV
POWER SUPPLY CURRENTS
(2)
VRE202 +PS 5 7 * * * * * * mA
VRE202 -PS 5 7 * * * * * * mA
NOTES: *Same as C Models.
1.Using the box method, the specified value is the
maximum deviation from the output voltage at 25°C
over the specified operating temperature range.
2.The specified values are unloaded.
VRE202DS REV. D NOV 2000

TYPICAL PERFORMANCE CURVES
V
vs. TEMPERATURE
OUT
V
OUT
vs. TEMPERATURE
Temperature oC
VRE202C
V
vs. TEMPERATURE
OUT
Temperature oC
VRE202M
Temperature oC
VRE202CA
V
vs. TEMPERATURE
OUT
Temperature oC
VRE202MA
QUIESCENT CURRENT VS. TEMP
Temperature oC
JUNCTION TEMP. RISE VS. OUTPUT CURRENT
Output Current (mA)
PSRR VS. FREQUENCY
Frequency (Hz)
VRE202DS REV. D NOV 2000

DISCUSSION OF PERFORMANCE
THEORY OF OPERATION
The following discussion refers to the schematic
below. A FET current source is used to bias a 6.3
zener diode. The zener voltage is divided by the
resistor network R1 and R2. This voltage is then
applied to the noninverting input of the operational
amplifier which amplifies the voltage to produce a
2.5000V output. The gain is determined by the
resistor networks R3 and R4: G=1 + R4/R3. The 6.3
zener diode is used because it is the most stable
diode over time and temperature.
The current source provides a closely regulated
zener current, which determines the slope of the
references’ voltage vs. temperature function. By
trimming the zener current a lower drift over
temperature can be achieved. But since the voltage
vs. temperature function is nonlinear this
compensation technique is not well suited for wide
temperature ranges.
Thaler Corporation has developed a nonlinear
compensation network of thermistors and resistors
that is used in the VRE series voltage references.
This proprietary network eliminates most of the
nonlinearity in the voltage vs. temperature function.
By then adjusting the slope, Thaler Corporation
produces a very stable voltage over wide
temperature ranges. This network is less than 2% of
the overall network resistance so it has a negligible
effect on long term stability. By using highly stable
resistors in our network, we produce a voltage
reference that also has very good long term stability.
APPLICATION INFORMATION
Figure 2 shows the proper connection of the
VRE202 series voltage references with the optional
trim resistors. Pay careful attention to the circuit
layout to avoid noise pickup and voltage drops in the
lines.
The VRE202 series voltage references have the
ground terminal brought out on two pins (pin 9 and
pin 10) which are connected together internally. This
allows the user to achieve greater accuracy when
using a socket. Voltage references have a voltage
drop across their power supply ground pin due to
quiescent current flowing through the contact
resistance. If the contact resistance was constant with
time and temperature, this voltage drop could be
trimmed out. When the reference is plugged into a
socket, this source of error can be as high as 20ppm.
By connecting pin 10 to the power supply ground and
pin 9 to a high impedance ground point in the
measurement circuit, the error due to the contact
resistance can be eliminated. If the unit is soldered
into place, the contact resistance is sufficiently small
that it does not effect performance.
VRE202
FIGURE 1
VRE202DS REV. D NOV 2000

FIGURE 2
EXTERNAL CONNECTIONS
-15V
2
1
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
10
11
?
10k?
+15V
Ref. Gnd.
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
PIN CONFIGURATION
-V
NC NC NC NC
IN
1 20 19
2
3
18
17
16
15
14
NC
NC
NC
V
NC
OUT
NC
+V
NC
NC
NC
4
TOP VIEW
5
IN
6
VRE202
7
8
11 12 13
9 10
REF
GND
NC NCTRIMGND
V
OUT
= +2.5V
MECHANICAL
DIM
A 0.090 0.110 2.29 2.79
B 0.022 0.028 0.56 0.71
D 0.342 0.358 8.68 9.09
D1 0.048 0.052 1.22 1.32
E 0.342 0.358 8.68 9.09
E1 0.045 0.055 1.114 1.40
j 0.010 REF .254 REF
h 0.040 REF 1.02 REF
L 0.045 0.055 1.14 1.40
MIN
INCHES
MAX
MILLIMETER
MIN
VRE202DS REV. D NOV 2000
MAX