Low-Power, High-Accuracy Instrumentation Amplifier with On-Chip Calibration

Surprisingly, with all of the system technology that Microchip Technology offers, it never had an instrumentation amplifier. With the introduction of the MCP6N11 instrumentation amplifier, that has changed.

The design uses Microchip’s mCal technology, an on-chip calibration circuit that enables low initial offset voltage and a means to control offset drift. This results in higher accuracy across time and temperature. The amplifier delivers a gain-bandwidth product of 500 kHz.

For low power applications, the MCP6N11 uses low-power CMOS process technology and has a hardware shutdown pin for even greater power savings. Operation at  1.8V allows two 1.5V batteries to be drained beyond typical use, and the amplifier’s rail-to-rail input and output operation allows full-range use, even in low-supply conditions.

The amplifier targets signal conditioning for sensors and instrumentation applications in the consumer, industrial and medical markets.

For more information about Microchip Technology’s MCP6N11 instrumentation amplifier, click here.

Strain Gauge Amplifier Offers Improved Performance

Completely overhauling an application-proven part can provide a lot of new system advantages, especially if the original design was ten years old. That’s the story for FUTEK’s CSG110 Strain Gauge Signal Amplifier. The newest version is now CE approved to the highest criteria, making it compliant for all medical, industrial and consumer applications. Additional design improvements include reduced its noise output and improved the bandwidth.

The output noise has been reduced by 90%, which is ten times less than that of the previous design. The 1 KHz or 10 KHz amplifier has the option of being modified to support 25 KHz operation.

For more information on the FUTEK upgraded CSG110, strain gauge signal amplifier, click here.

Hi-Res Signal Conditioning IC Targets Piezoresistive MEMS Sensors

Anyone who follows Sensor Tips knows that I am always  interested in signal conditioning ICs for sensors. When this involves a company
that I have not known about, it gets even more interesting. This week’s pleasant surprise comes from Micro Analog Systems Oy from Finland. The MAS6502 is a 16-bit piezoresistive sensor signal interface IC primarily intended for MEMS-based pressure sensor modules. To achieve good noise performance, the IC’s ratiometric A/D converter uses a delta-sigma (ΔΣ) conversion technique.

The circuitry can be used to sense temperature as well as not only pressure using built-in sensor sampling switches and communicates via a standard 2-wire I2C serial bus interface.

For more information about the Micro Analog Systems Oy MAS6502, Piezoresistive Sensor Signal Interface IC, click here.

Innovative Sensing Interface Circuits for Harsh Environments

The latest interface circuit technology from Micro Oscillator, Inc. includes three GaAs sensor versions that accept differing sensing inputs. One addresses capacitive inputs for touch, proximity, & humidity. The second handles inductive inputs for proximity, & metal detection. The third addresses resistive inputs for pressure, temperature, humidity, and strain gage applications. A different technology implementation of the JFET Inductive
Proximity Sensor announced earlier this year, the GaAs units allows the circuit to operate in extreme radiation environments. The circuitry operates at voltages as low as 2 to 3 Volts.

For more information about Micro Oscillator, Inc. latest GaAs sensor interface circuits, click here.

Increase Sensor Performance with 14-Bit Capacitive Sensor Conditioning IC

Designed for low-power operation, ZMDI’s ZSSC3123 complements the small size and lower power consumption capabilities of capacitive sensors. The chip delivers 14-bit resolution and 0.25 % accuracy over a wide range of sensor capacitances and temperatures. Operating power consumption is 60 µA with a sleep mode to lower to less than 1µA.

The IC has a digital technique to correct both first-order and third-order nonlinearity errors that are difficult to correct with a pure analog signal path. “Third-order correction is especially useful in humidity and pressure applications, but it can correct for sensor imperfections in almost any situation,” explains Steve Ramdin, product manager at ZMDI.

For more information about the ZMDI ZSSC3123 signal conditioning IC, click here.

Sensor Analog Front-Ends Simplify System Design

National’s LMP900xx sensor Analog Front-Ends (AFE integrated circuits (ICs) target precision sensing systems used to monitor and control temperature, pressure, load, force, motion/position and voltage inindustrial, medical, and test and measurement applications. For example, the conversion (ADC) and op amps for pressure sensors and op amps and current sources for RTDs.

The LMP900xx family features either a 24-bit or 16-bit sigma-delta ADC with a programmable input (mux) configuration that interfaces up to 4-differential inputs, or 7-single-ended inputs in any combination of input types.

Combined with National’s WEBENCH Sensor AFE Designer software tool and bench-top development system the ICs help designers to complete their system design quickly.

For more information on National’s LMP900xx sensor AFE ICs, click here.

Sensor Signal Conditioner IC Addresses Resistive Bridge Circuits

If you have found the right pressure sensor for your application but it needs addition signal conditioning, the ZMDI ZSSC3008 may solve your problem. The first requirement is a pressure sensor with an intrinsically low temperature coefficient (TC).

If that’s the case, the rest of the IC’s features come into play.  These features include offset correction and gain programming to precisely calibrate the bridge output signal. In addition, the ZSSC3008 has two analog and one digital outputs and variety of diagnostics and protection features such as bridge connection checks. The analog and mixed-signal IC provides a solution for automotive, industrial and medical applications.

For more information about the ZMDI ZSSC3008 Sensor Signal Conditioner IC, click here.

Inductive Proximity Sensor for Extreme Radiation & Temperatures

Making High Temperature Rotation Measurements

Jeff Watson, a systems applications engineer in the High Temperature Strategic Marketing Group of Analog Devices, explains the high temperature measurements in ADI’s demo at Sensors Expo 2011 to Randy Frank.

With the 175°C rated ADXL206 accelerometer and the 210°C rated AD8229 instrumentation amplifier, rotation can be measured inside an oven.

For more information about Analog Devices ADXL206, dual-axis, high temperature accelerometer click here and for the AD8229 high temperature instrumentation amplifier, click here.

To watch the video, click here.

Sensor Signal Conditioner Integrates Lin Transceiver

Resistive bridge sensors are common in automotive systems and frequently they connect using the vehicle’s LIN bus. For those applications, ZMDI’s ZSSC3170 IC could be an ideal solution. The single chip combines a fast and precise sensor conditioning IC with a robust LIN transceiver.

Designed for powering directly from the vehicle’s 12V supply, the ZSSC3170 has maximum analog gain of 420, as well as extended offset compensation capabilities. The unit conforms to LIN specifications 1.3 / 2.0 / 2.1.  The circuitry is packaged in a SSOP-20 but is also available in die format

The IC targets air-conditioning, level measurement and seat adjustment applications in vehicles with an integrated LIN interface.

For more information about ZMDI’s ZSSC3170 sensor signal conditioner IC, click here.

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