VU meter driver simulation and design

Abstract

This paper deals with a design, construction and practical testing of a VU meter driver that includes an accurate rectifier and logarithmical driver of a pointer-type gauge. The logarithm is taken from the rectified signal by employing a capacitor discharge voltage curve. Several software simulations were made in order to proof the circuit design. Then a simple rectifier and logarithmiser was designed and built in order these simulations were proved and afterwards, based on the gained experience, the more complex design of the VU meter driver was created. The paper incorporates mathematical description of the circuit, simulation results and results gained when the simple driver circuit underwent several physical tests as well as further propositions for practical extensions of the designed circuit.