AD524
REV. C
–9–
wires and etch stripes of the circuit cards, and since these paths
have resistance and inductance, hundreds of millivolts can be
generated between the system ground point and the data acqui-
sition components. Separate ground returns should be provided
to minimize the current flow in the path from the sensitive points
to the system ground point. In this way supply currents and logic-
gate return currents are not summed into the same return path
as analog signals where they would cause measurement errors.
Since the output voltage is developed with respect to the poten-
tial on the reference terminal an instrumentation amplifier can
solve many grounding problems.
SENSE TERMINAL
The sense terminal is the feedback point for the instrument
amplifier’s output amplifier. Normally it is connected to the in-
strument amplifier output. If heavy load currents are to be
drawn through long leads, voltage drops due to current flowing
through lead resistance can cause errors. The sense terminal can
be wired to the instrument amplifier at the load thus putting the
IxR drops “inside the loop” and virtually eliminating this error
source.
12
3
1
7
V–
8
V+
6
10
9
X1
AD524
2
N
VI +
N
VI –
OUTPUT
CURRENT
BOOSTER
(REF)
(SENSE)
RL
Figure 38. AD524 Instrumentation Amplifier with Output
Current Booster
Typically, IC instrumentation amplifiers are rated for a full
±10
volt output swing into 2 k
. In some applications, however, the
need exists to drive more current into heavier loads. Figure 38
shows how a high-current booster may be connected “inside the
loop” of an instrumentation amplifier to provide the required
current boost without significantly degrading overall perfor-
mance. Nonlinearities, offset and gain inaccuracies of the buffer
are minimized by the loop gain of the IA output amplifier. Off-
set drift of the buffer is similarly reduced.
REFERENCE TERMINAL
The reference terminal may be used to offset the output by up
to
±10 V. This is useful when the load is “floating” or does not
share a ground with the rest of the system. It also provides a di-
rect means of injecting a precise offset. It must be remembered
that the total output swing is
±10 volts to be shared between
signal and reference offset.
When the IA is of the three-amplifier configuration it is neces-
sary that nearly zero impedance be presented to the reference
terminal.
Any significant resistance from the reference terminal to ground
increases the gain of the noninverting signal path thereby upset-
ting the common-mode rejection of the IA.
In the AD524 a reference source resistance will unbalance the
CMR trim by the ratio of 20 k
/R
REF. For example, if the refer-
ence source impedance is 1
, CMR will be reduced to 86 dB
(20 k
/1 = 86 dB). An operational amplifier may be used to
12
3
1
7
–Vs
8
+Vs
6
10
9
AD524
2
N
VI +
N
VI –
REF
SENSE
VOFFSET
LOAD
Figure 39. Use of Reference Terminal to Provide Output
Offset
provide that low impedance reference point as shown in Figure
39. The input offset voltage characteristics of that amplifier will
add directly to the output offset voltage performance of the in-
strumentation amplifier.
An instrumentation amplifier can be turned into a voltage-to-
current converter by taking advantage of the sense and reference
terminals as shown in Figure 40.
13
3
1
6
10
AD524
2
REF
SENSE
LOAD
9
AD711
+INPUT
–INPUT
R1
VX
IL
R1
RG
IL =
=
VX
=
(1 + 40,000
R1
VIN
)
A2
Figure 40. Voltage-to-Current Converter
By establishing a reference at the “l(fā)ow” side of a current setting
resistor, an output current may be defined as a function of input
voltage, gain and the value of that resistor. Since only a small
current is demanded at the input of the buffer amplifier A2, the
forced current IL will largely flow through the load. Offset and
drift specifications of A2 must be added to the output offset and
drift specifications of the IA.
PROGRAMMABLE GAIN
Figure 41 shows the AD524 being used as a software program-
mable gain amplifier. Gain switching can be accomplished with
mechanical switches such as DIP switches or reed relays. It
should be noted that the “on” resistance of the switch in series
with the internal gain resistor becomes part of the gain equation
and will have an effect on gain accuracy.
11
1
12
13
16
15
14
10
9
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
20k
+Vs
R1
10k
13
14
15
16
74LS138
DECODER
1
6
7
3
4
5
2
16
7407N
BUFFER
DRIVER
6
7
3
4
5
2
Y0
Y2
Y1
1
20k
+5V
A1
AD524
INPUT
OFFSET
TRIM
C1
C2
1F
35V
ANALOG
COMMON
A
B
INPUTS
GAIN
RANGE
LOGIC
COMMON
+5V
G = 10
K1
G = 100
K2
G = 1000
K3
R2
10k
RELAY
SHIELDS
–IN
+IN
+Vs
–Vs
K1 – K3 =
THERMOSEN DM2C
4.5V COIL
D1 – D3 = IN4148
20k
4.44k
404
40
OUT
K1
K2
K3
D1
D2
D3
10F
PROTECTION
NC
GAIN TABLE
A
B
GAIN
0
1
0
1
0
1
10
1000
100
1
OUTPUT
OFFSET
TRIM
Figure 41. Three Decade Gain Programmable Amplifier