| |
| |

| | | | | |

|

EE TIMES NETWORK

Online Editions
EE TIMES
EE TIMES ASIA
EE TIMES CHINA
EE TIMES FRANCE
EE TIMES GERMANY
EE TIMES INDIA
EE TIMES JAPAN
EE TIMES KOREA
EE TIMES TAIWAN
EE TIMES UK

EE TIMES EUROPE
ANALOG EUROPE
INDUSTRIAL EUROPE
AUTOMOTIVE DL EUROPE

POWER DL EUROPE

Web Sites
• Audio DesignLine
• Automotive DesignLine
• Career Center
• CommsDesign
• Microwave
Engineering
• Deepchip.com
• Design & Reuse
• Digital Home DesignLine
• DSP DesignLine
• EDA DesignLine
• Embedded.com
• Elektronik i Norden
• Green SupplyLine
• Industrial Control
DesignLine
• Planet Analog
• Mobile Handset
DesignLine
• Power Management
DesignLine
• Programmable Logic
DesignLine
• RF DesignLine
• RFID-World
• Techonline
• Video | Imaging
DesignLine
• Wireless Net
DesignLine

ELECTRONICS GROUP SITES

• eeProductCenter
• Electronics Supply &
Manufacturing
• Conferences
and Events
• Electronics Supply &
Manufacturing--China
• Electronics Express
• Webinars

22 September 2009
SIGNAL CHAIN BASICS Series (Part 5): Introduction to the Instrumentation Amplifier

The SIGNAL CHAIN BASICS series continues with this Introduction to instrumentation amplifiers (in amps)

By Bill Klein, Senior Applications Engineer, Texas Instruments
Planet Analog
January 4, 2008 (12:33 PM EST)

| Rate this article |

WORSE | BETTER
| | | |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
| |
| |

(Editor's Note: There are links to the previous parts of this series at the end, below the author's biography.)

The differential amplifier (diff amp) addressed in an earlier article was considered with an ideal operational amplifier (op amp), that is, one with infinite common mode rejection. Real world op amps display less-than-perfect common-mode rejection. This specification is either common mode rejection (CMR) or common mode rejection ratio (CMRR).

To appreciate the difference between the CMR and the CMRR, consider the circuit shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Differential amplifier with gain of 100.
(Click on image to enlarge)

Here, Vcm is the common mode voltage, and Vdm1 and Vdm2 are the differential mode voltages. The intent of the circuit is to amplify the differential mode voltage (Vdm1 + Vdm2) while rejecting the common mode voltage.

With the change in resistor values from an earlier article (Part 3, link below), this is now a gain stage. The transfer function is:

The CMR also could be called the common-mode gain or:

Since CMR is determined by the op amp input-stage device match, in a circuit with ratio-matched resistors, the value of CMR also depends on the gain of the circuit. To normalize the gain, or refer the reading to the input, the CMRR is defined as:

Both of these terms usually are expressed in dB. CMRR becomes:

While the basic diff amp is useful, it has two weak spots. The input impedance is relatively low, and changing the gain requires changing two matched resistors.

To address the input impedance issue, two buffer amplifiers are added at the diff amp inputs, Figure 2.

Figure 2: Input buffer stages
(Click on image to enlarge)

This configuration provides high input impedance with the gain and CMRR set by the output-stage resistors. Adding matched resistors around the input op amps moves the gain set to the front end.

Figure 3: Classical three op-amp instrumentation amp
(Click on image to enlarge)

In the general case the gain expression becomes:

For the circuit in Figure 3, this is reduced to:

(Click on image to enlarge)

Adding this front end gives high input impedance, single-resistor gain-set capability, and keeps the CMRR adjustment at the output-stage resistor-ratio match. In IC manufacturing, it is easier to adjust the resistor ratio than be concerned with the absolute value of the resistor.

About the author

William P. (Bill) Klein is a Senior Applications Engineer with the High Performance Analog group at Texas Instruments. Bill joined TI through its acquisition of Burr-Brown in August 2000. His experience as an analog circuit designer covers over 40 years in fields ranging from mineral exploration to medical nuclear imaging. One current role Bill has is hosting the Analog e-LAB Web Cast, presenting real world solutions to real world problems in analog circuit design. In addition to a BSEE from Arizona State University and registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of Arizona, he has authored numerous magazine articles, application notes and conference papers.

Previous installments of this series:

"SIGNAL CHAIN BASICS Series (Part 4): Introduction to analog/digital converter (ADC) types", www.planetanalog.com/features/showArticle.jhtml;?articleID=204803631, click here
"SIGNAL CHAIN BASICS Series (Part 3): Analog and the digital world", www.planetanalog.com/features/showArticle.jhtml;?articleID=204400376, click here
"SIGNAL CHAIN BASICS Series (Part 2): Op Amp--Basic operations", www.planetanalog.com/features/showArticle.jhtml;?articleID=203101699, click here
"SIGNAL CHAIN BASICS: Operational Amplifier--The Basic Building Block", www.planetanalog.com/features/showArticle.jhtml;?articleID=202801320, click here

Industry's smallest 16-bit ADC - Get samples and evaluation modules today! Click here to learn more.

EE Times TechCareers

Search Jobs

Enter Keyword(s):

Function:

Engineering & Arch.

Information Tech.

State:

Post Your Resume
-----------------
Employers Area

Most Recent Posts
BAE Systems seeking Director-Architecture in Herndon, VA
SEL seeking Business Development Manager in Alexandria, VA
ITT Systems seeking System Administrator in IQ, Middle East
ITT Systems seeking Supply Clerk/Tech in IQ, Middle East
AWR Corp seeking Microwave Library Development Engr in El Segundo, CA
More career-related news, resources and job postings for technology professionals

Sponsor Links

45V, 50mA Synchronous Buck Converter with Only 12µA Quiescent Current
Linear's LTC®3642, a 45V input capable synchronous buck converter, can deliver up to 50mA of continuous output current from a 3mm x 3mm (or MSOP8-E) package. It operates from an input voltage range of 4.5V to 45V (60V Max), making it ideal for automotive & industrial 4mA to 20mA control loop applications. For more information, visit here

Watch the latest videos from Fairchild covering topics on power supply and portable applications.

Industry's smallest 16-bit ADC - Get samples and evaluation modules today! Click for more information.

All materials on this site Copyright © 2009 TechInsights, a Division of United Business Media LLC.
All rights reserved.
Terms and Conditions | Privacy Statement | Your California Privacy Rights

|