The ZN414 IC is a single, low-cost AM radio chip designed and supplied in 1972 by Ferranti. This chip was very popular and the original IC from Ferranti was provided in a 3-pin metal TO-18 package. After that, its variants came within 8-pin DIL packages like; ZN415 and ZN416 with an in-built amplifier that could drive directly small speakers and headphones. Thus, the ZN414 IC manufacturing procedure is a relatively new called; CDI (Collector Diffusion Isolation), invented by Bell Telephone Laboratories engineers and then developed into a commercial procedure in the UK by Ferranti. This article overviews ZN414 IC, pinout, specifications, circuit, working, and its applications.
What is ZN414 IC?
The ZN414 is a radio receiver IC, used in AM receivers mainly for solar-powered mini-radios. It was designed originally to be an efficient and cheap AM radio receiver. It was very popular with hobbyists & businesses around the world. Thus, the original family of ZN41x has not been manufactured; however, some modern 3-pin ZN414 equivalents are available like TA7642, MK484, YS414 & LMF501T.
ZN414 IC Pin Configuration:
The ZN414 IC includes three pins which are discussed below.
ZN414 IC Pin Configuration
- Pin-1 (Output): The LF signal from the IC output is led over the C3 coupling capacitor to a simple amplifier.
- Pin 2 (Input): This is an input signal.
- Pin 3 (Ground/earth): This is the GN or earth pin.
Features & Specifications:
The features and specifications of ZN414 IC include the following.
- The input circuit signal is led on pin-2 of the integrated circuit.
- The amplifier includes about 4 MOhms high input impedance.
- The signal can be amplified throughout a 3-stage HF amplifier.
- The signal is demodulated within the detector.
- The LF signal from the IC output is led above the coupling capacitor to a simple amplifier.
- It is packaged in a 3-pin TO-92 plastic package.
- It has low current consumption.
- This IC is easily assembled without alignment.
- It has outstanding audio quality.
- It needs requires minimum exterior components.
- The DC voltage on pin-1 must be 0.9 V.
- The typical Idle current value is 0.3 mAmps.
- The maximum current is 0.5 mA.
- It generates outstanding audio quality.
- It can be utilized as an IF amp.
- It includes effective and simple AGC action.
- The load resistor of this IC sets the basic gain.
Equivalent & Other ICs
The equivalent ZN414 ICs are; MK484, TA7642, UTC7642, LA105, LMF501T, ZN415, LMF501, YS414 and LMF501T. So the ther ICs are; ZN415 & ZN416.
Portable AM Receiver with ZN414 IC
The portable AM receiver with ZN414 IC is shown below. So this circuit demonstrates the utilization of the ZN414 chip to produce a portable AM radio receiver. The required components to make this circuit mainly include; ZN414 IC, 741 IC, 1N4148 diodes, BC108B, BC179C, BC109C, 9V battery, switch, 220uH inductor, 8R speaker, resistors, and capacitors. Thus, connect this circuit as per the diagram shown below.
ZN414 IC is a composition of a transistor TRF (tuned radio frequency) circuit available in a 3-pin TO-92 plastic package for space economy and simplicity. Thus, it has less current consumption, simple to assemble devoid of alignment, has effective and simple AGC action, has outstanding audio quality, and least external components necessary.
Amplitude modulation is a technique used for data emphasizing an AC waveform (or) radio wave where the transmitted carrier signal changes concerning the amplitude. Thus, the maximum modulating data frequency is normally < 10 percent of the carrier frequency & the overall power signal changes based on the modulating data’s amplitude.
So, an Op-Amp is an electronic voltage amplifier with DC-coupled high gain and differential inputs and generally a single output.
Portable AM Receiver with ZN414 IC
Working
This circuit operates on a medium wave frequency band range that ranges from 550 to 1600 KHz. So this circuit uses the ZN414 IC that includes numerous RF stages, an AM detector, and automatic gain control. However, it is essential to attain good functioning voltage results because this IC easily gets overloaded.
The voltage regulator uses a BC108B transistor which is mainly appropriate for utilization in AF input & driver stages where the collector is connected electrically to the case. Thus, there are four diodes used in this circuit along with the IC for high-speed switching, a series resistor, and two preset resistors. So the operating voltage of this IC is being controlled through the potentiometer & performs as the selectivity control mainly for the complete receiver. The voltage is reduced if the receiver is in the region using a resilient radio signal.
Thus, an inverting 741 IC is utilized by the audio amplifier due to its low noise feature because it replaces the old op-amps. So the utilization BC179 transistor has a similar feature to the BC109 transistor used for propelling the loudspeaker & provides more current supply to the circuit. So, a distortion-free and good-quality output can be attained from the whole receiver circuit. The ZN414 IC drives a sensitive earpiece directly from being utilized as a domestic portable receiver. It can be used as an I.F. amplifier and broadcast band superhet.
Advantages & Disadvantages
The advantages of ZN414 IC include the following.
- Its voltage supply ranges from 1.2V to 1.6V.
- It has under 0.5mA current consumption.
- It provides RF amplification, detection & AGC from 150 kHz to 3MHz frequency range.
- These ICs are reliable because they contain fewer components & interconnections decreasing the failure risk because of faulty components or loose connections.
- These are appropriate for battery-operated devices.
- These ICs are much smaller than discrete circuits.
- These are cost-effective because of their faster production times.
- The TO-18 package of this IC dissipates heat better as compared to the similarly sized TO-92 package.
The disadvantages of ZN414 IC include the following.
- This IC doesn’t have an automatic gain control, thus manually we have to control the gain to get a soft and clear sound.
- It is designed exclusively for AM.
- The TO-18 package is more expensive.
Applications
The applications of ZN414 IC include the following.
- The ZN414 IC is used to make a portable AM radio receiver.
- This chip can be utilized as an IF amplifier.
- This ICs high input impedance makes it a perfect choice for a valve radio IF transformer.
- It was designed mainly for use within solar-powered mini-radios.
- The ZN415E IC can be utilized to design an efficient AM portable MW broadcast radio with an inbuilt loudspeaker.
- This IC is used to make a portable radio receiver.
- This IC is very useful in constructing many kinds of tuners & receivers.
Please refer to this link for the ZN414 IC Datasheet.
Thus, this is an overview of ZN414 IC, pinout, specifications, circuit, working, and its applications.
ZN414 IC is designed mainly for mini solar-powered radios as well as 1.5V applications. It has a very simple and efficient design with minimal external components. Thus, this IC consumes less power thus a 1.8 V red color LED is used as a shunt regulator. This IC generates outstanding audio quality. Here is a question for you, what is ZN415 IC?