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MAX1452
Low-Cost Precision Sensor
Signal Conditioner
8
Maxim Integrated
Linear and Nonlinear
Temperature Compensation
Writing 16-bit calibration coefficients into the offset TC
and FSOTC registers compensates first-order tempera-
ture errors. The piezoresistive sensor is powered by a
current source resulting in a temperature-dependent
bridge voltage due to the sensor's temperature resis-
tance coefficient (TCR). The reference inputs of the off-
set TC DAC and FSOTC DAC are connected to the
bridge voltage. The DAC output voltages track the
bridge voltage as it varies with temperature, and by
varying the offset TC and FSOTC digital code a portion
of the bridge voltage, which is temperature dependent,
is used to compensate the first order temperature
errors.
The internal feedback resistors (RISRC and RSTC) for
FSO temperature compensation are optimized to 75k
Ω
for silicon piezoresistive sensors. However, since the
required feedback resistor values are sensor dependent,
external resistors may also be used. The internal resis-
tors selection bit in the configuration register selects
between internal and external feedback resistors.
To calculate the required offset TC and FSOTC com-
pensation coefficients, two test-temperatures are need-
ed. After taking at least two measurements at each
temperature, calibration software (in a host computer)
calculates the correction coefficients and writes them to
the internal EEPROM.
With coefficients ranging from 0000hex to FFFFhex and
a +5V reference, each DAC has a resolution of 76V.
Two of the DACs (offset TC and FSOTC) utilize the sen-
sor bridge voltage as a reference. Since the sensor
bridge voltage is approximately set to +2.5V the FSOTC
and offset TC exhibit a step size of less than 38V.
For high accuracy applications (errors less than
0.25%), the first-order offset and FSO TC error should
be compensated with the offset TC and FSOTC DACs,
and the residual higher order terms with the lookup
table. The offset and FSO compensation DACs provide
unique compensation values for approximately 1.5°C of
temperature change as the temperature indexes the
address pointer through the coefficient lookup table.
Changing the offset does not effect the FSO, however
changing the FSO affects the offset due to nature of the
bridge. The temperature is measured on both the
MAX1452 die and at the bridge sensor. It is recom-
mended to compensate the first-order temperature
errors using the bridge sensor temperature.
Typical Ratiometric
Operating Circuit
Ratiometric output configuration provides an output that
is proportional to the power supply voltage. This output
can then be applied to a ratiometric ADC to produce a
digital value independent of supply voltage.
Ratiometricity is an important consideration for battery-
operated instruments, automotive, and some industrial
applications.
The MAX1452 provides a high-performance ratiometric
output with a minimum number of external components
(Figure 2). These external components include the fol-
lowing:
One supply bypass capacitor.
One optional output EMI suppression capacitor.
Two optional resistors, RISRC and RSTC, for special
sensor bridge types.
Figure 2. Basic Ratiometric Output Configuration
MAX1452
+5V VDD
OUT
GND
RSTC
RISRC
0.1
μF 0.1μF
INM
TEST VSS
INP
7
9
2
16
1
8
3
BDR
VDDF
OUT
5
6
4
FSOTC
ISRC
SENSOR
VDD