Extend Current-Sense Amplifier - 模拟电源 -

Figure 1. Adding a -5V rail to this current-sense amplifier extends its lower common-mode limit from 4.5V to 0V.

The internal op amp (A2) of IC1 now operates from ±5V rails (a 10V span), with its noninverting input (REF pins) sitting at the 0V midrail level. For VSENSE = 0V, the output voltage is 0V. VSENSE then increases with load current, producing an output of 5x, 20x, or 60x, according to the part number's gain suffix F, T, or S. The effective common-mode range now extends from 0V to +70V, with the original specifications unchanged (VOS < 0.6mV, and gain error < 0.6%).

You can also configure this circuit for bidirectional current-sense applications that operate from a single supply voltage (Figure 2). The ADC reference output drives the REFA pin to set the zero load-current point for IC1. For the gain option of 20V/V, for example, if the ADC reference voltage is +5V, the OUT to the ADC will be +2.5V at the zero load current. When current is flowing from battery to the load, the VSENSE can increase from 0V to +100mV and the OUT voltage will increase by +2.0V to +4.5V. If the same large current is flowing in the opposite direction (charging the battery), OUT will decrease from its zero current level by -2V, thus from 2.5V to 0.5V to monitor bidirectional currents using a 0V to 5V ADC input.


Figure 2. Connecting the reference voltage from an ADC to the current-sense amplifier lets the circuit monitor bidirectional currents.

Test results for the Figure 1 circuit (Figures 3 and 4) show that the current-sense amplifier's common-mode voltage (with GND connected to -5V) goes down to -2.8V. In contrast, common-mode voltage for the standard application (with GND connected to 0V) goes down only to +2.3V. With the -5V charge pump at the "GND" pin and with REFA and REFB connected to circuit GND, however, the output can swing nearly ±5V and below circuit GND.


Figure 3. As shown in this plot of the Figure 1 output voltage, the addition of a charge pump extends IC1's common-mode range to 2.8V below ground.


Figure 4. For IC1 in Figures 1 and 2, operating with a gain of 60V/V and a common-mode voltage of 0V, VOUT vs. VSENSE is linear over the entire VSENSE range (-80mV to +80mV).

The typical supply current of IC1 (103A) presents a small load current to IC2, which prevents overloading and voltage drooping at its output. Take care when the output moves below GND. Load current then flows out of IC1's GND terminal and into the charge pump, whose negative output can droop as a result (rise toward 0V). As a countermeasure, you can use bigger capacitors in the charge pump or restrict the sense amplifier's output voltage.

A similar article appeared in the February 15, 2007 issue of Electronic Design magazine.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　 查看评论 回复