Precision amplifier for bridge circuits AM467 PRINCIPLE FUNCTION Adjustable offset and span output signal for differential input signals from 0 to ±5 mV FS up to 0 to ±100 mV FS. Ratiometric output voltage of 0.2V to Vcc-0.2 V _ 5% VCC = 5V+ Differential input voltages _ 5...+ _ 100mV FS) (+ AM467 VOUT =0,2...VCC -0,2V (adjustable) e.g.0,5...4,5V ratiometric TYPICAL APPLICATIONS • • • • Differential amplifiers for ceramic sensing elements Differential amplifiers for DMS sensing elements Differential amplifiers for GMR sensing elements Amplifier for industrial and automotive applications analog microelectronics Analog Microelectronics GmbH An der Fahrt 13, D – 55124 Mainz Internet: http://www.analogmicro.de Phone: Fax: Email: +49 (0)6131/91 073 – 0 +49 (0)6131/91 073 – 30 [email protected] February 2011 1/9 Rev. 1.1 Precision amplifier for bridge circuits AM467 TABLE OF CONTENTS PRINCIPLE FUNCTION 1 TYPICAL APPLICATIONS 1 FEATURES 3 GENERAL DESCRIPTION 3 BLOCK DIAGRAM 3 ELECTRICAL SPECIFICATIONS 4 DESCRIPTION OF FUNCTIONS 5 EXAMPLE APPLICATION 5 The procedure in detail (for calibration with discrete resistors) DIMENSIONING 6 7 NOTES 8 BLOCK DIAGRAM and PINOUT 8 FURTHER READING 9 analog microelectronics Analog Microelectronics GmbH An der Fahrt 13, D – 55124 Mainz Internet: http://www.analogmicro.de Phone: Fax: Email: +49 (0)6131/91 073 – 0 +49 (0)6131/91 073 – 30 [email protected] February 2011 2/9 Rev. 1.1 Precision amplifier for bridge circuits AM467 FEATURES GENERAL DESCRIPTION • Wide differential input voltage range (±5 mV FS...±100 mV FS) • Low offset • Low offset drift • Low input noise • High CMRR: > 120 dB • Wide operating temperature range: – 40 °C... +125 °C • Adjustable span of output signal • Adjustable offset of output signal • Rail-to-rail output stage: VOUT = 0.2 V ... VCC – 0.2 V • Sink/source output • Single ratiometric supply: VCC = 5 V • Integrated EMV protective functions • Overvoltage protection 12 V • Integrated ESD protective functions • Short-circuit-proofing • Small-scale design • Low cost circuit AM467 is a high-precision integrated amplifier which has been developed as signal condition circuit for small differential input voltages within a range of a few millivolts (±5 to ±100 mV FS). The chief component of the IC is a highly accurate, low-noise amplifier circuit which can be adjusted to the sensing elements using an external network of resistors. Offset and span of the output signal are adjustable in the range of 0.2 to Vcc-0.2Volt. The rail-to-rail output makes the IC suitable for the amplification of DMS and piezoceramic sensing elements and GMR measuring cells with respect to the specific calibration network. BLOCK DIAGRAM VCC 8 AM467 IN- 2 IN+ 3 Inputamplifier Biasing Unit Output stage 1 OUT Short circuit protection Current limitation 4 GND Figure 1: Block diagram for AM467 analog microelectronics Analog Microelectronics GmbH An der Fahrt 13, D – 55124 Mainz Internet: http://www.analogmicro.de Phone: Fax: Email: +49 (0)6131/91 073 – 0 +49 (0)6131/91 073 – 30 [email protected] February 2011 3/9 Rev. 1.1 Precision amplifier for bridge circuits AM467 ELECTRICAL SPECIFICATIONS (with reference to the example application) Tamb = 25°C, VCC = 5V (unless otherwise stated) Parameter Symbol Voltage Range VCC Quiescent Current ICC Conditions Tamb = – 40 ... +125°C Min. Typ. Max. Unit 4.5 5 5.5 V 170 320 530 µA °C Temperature Specifications Operating Tamb –45 125 Storage Tst –55 150 °C Junction TJ 150 °C ±0.1 ±0.3 mV ±0.5 ±3 µV/°C ±6 µV/°C 200 nA Amplifier AMP Offset Voltage VOS VOS vs. Temperature dVOS/dT Tamb= -45 … 105°C VOS vs. Temperature dVOS/dT Tamb= 105 … 125°C Input Bias Current IB VCM = 2.5V 30 IB vs. Temperature dIB/dT Tamb= -45…125°C Differential Input Voltage VIN VIN =Vout+ – Vout- –0.13 –0.6 nA/°C ±100 mV Input Offset Current IOS VCM = 2.5V IOS vs. Temperature dIOS/dT Tamb= -45 … 125°C ±0.5 ±5 nA Input Resistance RIN VCM / IB,typ (VCM = 2.5V) ±2.5 ±30 pA/°C Input Capacitance CIN By design Common Mode Input Range CMIR 1 Common Mode Rejection Ratio CMRR 100 120 dB Open Loop Gain G0 120 140 dB Adjustable Gain G Output Voltage Range VOUT Guaranteed Max Output Current IOUT Sink and source 250 µA Output Load Resistance RL = VOUT / I OUT , sink and source 20 kΩ Power Supply Rejection Ratio PSRR 90 110 dB Gain Bandwidth Product GBW R1,2=1k Rk=10k, C1=1nF, Ck=100pF, no RL 190 310 kHz ±5 See Figure 2 Non Linearity 80 MΩ 90 C1 = 1nF; Iout = 1µA pF 3.7 V 10 0.2 VCC – 0.2 10-4 NL = G/Go, G = 100 Slew Rate SR C1 = 1nF; RL = 20kΩ Input Voltage Noise en Rs = 100Ω; VCC = 5V ; fg=1kHz with Rs = Source Impedance V 0.2 0.3 13.5 Overvoltage Protection V/µs 20 nV/√Hz 12 V Table 1: Specifications Currents flowing into the IC are negative. VCM = Input Common Mode Voltage analog microelectronics Analog Microelectronics GmbH An der Fahrt 13, D – 55124 Mainz Internet: http://www.analogmicro.de Phone: Fax: Email: +49 (0)6131/91 073 – 0 +49 (0)6131/91 073 – 30 [email protected] February 2011 4/9 Rev. 1.1 Precision amplifier for bridge circuits AM467 EXTERNAL COMPONENTS Parameter Symbol Conditions Min. Typ. Max. Unit 5 nF 100 120 pF Output Capacitor C1 1 Compensation Capacitor C2 80 Stabilization Capacitor (optional) C3 100 nF EMV Protection Capacitor (optional) C4 470 pF Load Resistor to GND, to VCC RL Vout = max. Vout 20 kΩ Table 2: External components of the calibration network (see figure 2) Recommended: ceramic capacitors DESCRIPTION OF FUNCTIONS AM467 is an integrated precision circuit for the signal amplification of high- and medium impedance signal sources and for the signal conditioning of sensor (resistor) bridges with low sensitivity, particularly for ceramic and DMS sensing elements or GMR measuring cells. The IC is able to generates a rail-to-rail output signal of 0.2 V to Vcc-0.2 V. The output signal is adjustable in offset and span. The amplification and offset can be set independently of one another using external resistors. Through the suitable dimensioning of external resistors in particular an output voltage of 0.5...4.5 V can also be provided. As these values are standard the following description refers to this output voltage. AM467 works on the principle of ratiometry with a supply voltage of 5 V ±5%. The IC is distinguished by its low offset and extremely low thermal offset drift across a wide temperature range, enabling it to be classified as a precision amplifier. The sink and source output stage is protected internally against short-circuiting. The AM467 design incorporates protective measures against interference from EMV and ESD using suitable semiconductor structures. AM467 can be used as an autonomous signal conditioning IC or as a preamplifier for an A/D converter for digital signal conditioning. For higher output voltages e.g. 10Volt or 2(3)-wire current output, this IC can be combined with the analog interface circuits of Analog Microelectronics (e.g. AM461 and AM460) EXAMPLE APPLICATION AM457 is suitable for the amplification of resistance networks connected up as a Wheatstone bridge with four resistors and which have a low sensitivity, such as 1.0 to 3.5 mV/V with a 5 V supply, for example. By way of example a sensor application is described herein which is analog microelectronics Analog Microelectronics GmbH An der Fahrt 13, D – 55124 Mainz Internet: http://www.analogmicro.de Phone: Fax: Email: +49 (0)6131/91 073 – 0 +49 (0)6131/91 073 – 30 [email protected] February 2011 5/9 Rev. 1.1 Precision amplifier for bridge circuits AM467 based on a piezoceramic sensing element such as the above and is to be calibrated to an output signal of 0.5...4.5 V (sensor system). The basic calibration procedure The sensor system is calibrated in two stages. Using a mathematical algorithm (Excel sheet: Cali_AM467_rev1.xls) and taking AM467's measured output voltage values and the individual sensor bridge values as a basis, the values for the two resistors (calibration resistors) are calculated. In the calibration of the system all effective errors (parasitic effects and component tolerances) are taken into account. The sensing element is first measured and secondly the electrical characteristics of the sensor using predefined precision measuring resistors. This information is then processed in an Excel program to calculate the setpoint for two of the calibration resistors which are then swapped with the given measuring resistors and added to the circuit accordingly. If necessary, in a second stage the offset of the output voltage can be corrected using the information given in the Excel sheet. The procedure in detail (for calibration with discrete resistors) In order to evaluate the sensor system signal four resistors (R1 to R4) are required (see Figure 2). The values of the two resistors R2 and R4 are fixed for the network and do not have to be adjusted during calibration. Like capacitors C1 to C4 they can be mounted on the circuit board at the outset. Resistors R1 and R3 act as measuring resistors and are assembled on the measuring apparatus for all sensor systems in one sensing element category (see Dimensioning). Their values must be as close as possible to those calculated by Analog Microelectronics for the relevant sensing element category. With the described components (R1 to R4 and C1 to C4) the sensor signal is at its operating point which then enables calibration. For this purpose a few of the electrical characteristics of the sensing element are first determined without the evaluation circuitry being connected (Stage 1). Using the Excel calibration software (Kali_AM467.xls) the necessary calibration parameters are: the sensing element resistance (RBR), average output voltage of the sensing element (VBR) and the system's supply voltage (VCC). Once these three values have been determined the sensing element is connected up to the evaluation circuit. The output signal at the AM467 IC (Out1 and Out2) is measured at zero and full pressure (offset and full scale signal) and entered into the Excel program with the bridge values including the values for the given maximum pressure of the sensing element (Pmax). Taking these values and applying them to a calibration algorithm the two resistors R1 and R3 are calculated separately for each individual system. These then replace the measuring resistors and have to be soldered onto the circuit board. Resistors R1 and R3 are described as calibration resistors. These stipulate the final operating point. analog microelectronics Analog Microelectronics GmbH An der Fahrt 13, D – 55124 Mainz Internet: http://www.analogmicro.de Phone: Fax: Email: +49 (0)6131/91 073 – 0 +49 (0)6131/91 073 – 30 [email protected] February 2011 6/9 Rev. 1.1 Precision amplifier for bridge circuits AM467 Once these resistors have been mounted the calibration procedure is complete. Depending on the accuracy of the resistors used an offset value of 0.5 V and a full scale signal of 4.5 V should have been obtained. Should the expected final accuracy require it, in an additional second stage (Stage 2) the offset of the output voltage can be corrected using resistor R1. To this end the AM467 output must again be measured at P = 0 bar. If at 0 bar the output is too high or too low by a few millivolts, for example, the Excel program then calculates the necessary second correction of R1 in ohms. The offset error which is then obtained if a different resistance is used in place of calculated resistance R1 can also be determined by the Excel sheet. The sensitivity in mV/ohm is instrumental here, providing information as to by how many millivolts the offset shifts when the used resistor R1 has a delta R (in ohms) to the calculated value. The given sensitivity value (mV/ohm) is multiplied by the delta R of resistor R1 to obtain a change in offset which affects both the offset (0.5 V) and the full scale signal (4.5 V). AM467 8 VCC R3 C3 R1 IN+ 3 C4 IN- AMP 2 Output stage with short circuit proofing OUT 1 R2 4 C2 Vout C1 R4 GND GND Figure 2: Ceramic sensing element with AM467 and a calibration network with external resistors. DIMENSIONING In the combination of ceramic sensing element and AM467 the operating point (the initial value of the four resistors R1 to R4) was determined for all sensing elements in a specific sensing element category. In the case of piezoceramic sensors the term "sensing element category" is used to denote sensing elements with the following characteristics: Bridge resistance: 11 kOhm ± 20% Sensitivity: 2.4 ± 1 mV/V analog microelectronics Analog Microelectronics GmbH An der Fahrt 13, D – 55124 Mainz Internet: http://www.analogmicro.de Phone: Fax: Email: +49 (0)6131/91 073 – 0 +49 (0)6131/91 073 – 30 [email protected] February 2011 7/9 Rev. 1.1 Precision amplifier for bridge circuits AM467 Offset: 0 to ± 0.3 mV/V Supply voltage: 5 V ± 10% The following values are obtained for the above sensing element categories: Fixed resistor R2 = 33 k; accuracy of 1% Fixed resistor R4 = 12 k; accuracy of 1% Measuring resistor R1 = 11 k; accuracy of 0.1% Measuring resistor R3 = 120 k; accuracy of 0.1% C1 = 1 nF to 5 nF (ceramic) C2 = 100 pF (ceramic) C3 = 100 nF (optional) C4 = 470 pF optional (ceramic) NOTES For bridge circuits with characteristics other than the above (with other sensing element categories, such as DMS sensing elements, for example) Analog Microelectronics can adapt the dimensioning program on request. The proposed calibration is in principle usable for bridge configuration of > 0,5 kOhm. An Excel program (Kali1_AM467_rev1.xls) is proposed for calibration (the calculation of the definitive operating point). This is available on the www.analogmicro.de website. A DLL (Dynamic Link Library) can be delivered on request. With help of this program the calibration Kali1_AM467 can be automated. The DLL allows a simple implementation of the calculation procedure in a standardized program environment e.g. C++, Labview, Visual Basis. DIAGRAM and PINOUT AM467 8 VCC IN+ 3 + 2 - AMP IN- Output stage with short circuit proofing 1 OUT OUT ININ+ GND 1 2 3 4 8 7 6 5 VCC N.C. N.C. N.C. 4 Figure 4: AM467 Pinout GND Figure 3: Diagram of AM467 analog microelectronics Analog Microelectronics GmbH An der Fahrt 13, D – 55124 Mainz Internet: http://www.analogmicro.de Phone: Fax: Email: +49 (0)6131/91 073 – 0 +49 (0)6131/91 073 – 30 [email protected] February 2011 8/9 Rev. 1.1 Precision amplifier for bridge circuits AM467 For package dimensions see: http://www.analogmicro.de/products/analogmicro.de.en.package.pdf PIN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 NAME OUT ININ+ GND N.C. N.C. N.C. VCC EXPLANATION Output Negative Input Positive Input IC Ground No function No function No function 5V Supply Voltage Table 3: Pin configuration for AM467 FURTHER READING http://www.analogmicro.de/english/index.html Kali1_AM467.xls for differential signal sources with 11kO Kali2_AM467.xls for differential signal sources with lower bridge resistance DELIVERY OPTIONS AM467 is available as: • An SOP 8 • Dice in a 6" wafer on blue foil (on request) NOTES Analog Microelectronics reserves the right to make amendments to dimensions, technical data and any other information without prior notice. analog microelectronics Analog Microelectronics GmbH An der Fahrt 13, D – 55124 Mainz Internet: http://www.analogmicro.de Phone: Fax: Email: +49 (0)6131/91 073 – 0 +49 (0)6131/91 073 – 30 [email protected] February 2011 9/9 Rev. 1.1