Instrumentation amplifier with rail-to-rail input range

• US 9,479,125 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2014
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Semtech Corporation
• Original Assignee: Semtech Corporation
• Inventors: Nys, Olivier, Krummenacher, Francois
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HIEU P
• Application Number:
  US14/333,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20140327480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 330252-261
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/3211 in differential amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/52 Circuit arrangements for protecting such amplifiers monitoring arrangements G01R31/28; increasing reliability in communication systems, e.g. using redundancy H04B1/74
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/261 Amplifier which being suitable for instrumentation applications
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/45082 the common mode signal being taken or deducted from the one or more outputs of the differential amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/45138 Two or more differential amplifiers in IC-block form are combined, e.g. measuring amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/45431 the CMCL output control signal being a current signal
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/45434 the CMCL output control signal being a voltage signal
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/45441 the CMCL comprising an integrating circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/45528 the FBC comprising one or more passive resistors and being coupled between the LC and the IC
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/3022 CMOS common source output SEPP amplifiers H03F3/3008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/45183 Long tailed pairs H03F3/4521, H03F3/45237 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/45475 using IC blocks as the active amplifying circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/45645 Controlling the input circuit of the differential amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/45941 Controlling the input circuit of the differential amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/45973 by using a feedback circuit

Abstract

A system and method for adjusting a common mode output voltage in an instrumentation amplifier is provided. In one aspect, the common mode output voltage is increased or decreased with respect to the common mode input voltage to enable high amplification of the signal input to the instrumentation amplifier. Moreover, the common mode output voltage can be driven to (or approximately to) a target voltage value such as, but not limited to, half the supply, even if the common mode input voltage is close to supply or ground rail voltage. Thus, a high amplification of the differential input voltage can be obtained and utilized for various applications requiring rail to rail input.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

measuring output voltage signals from an instrumentation amplifier;

comparing the output voltage signals with a predefined voltage range;

based on the comparing, determining that at least one of the output voltage signals does not lie within the predefined voltage range; and

in response to the determining, generating a control signal for adjusting a common mode output voltage to prevent saturation of the instrumentation amplifier, wherein the generating comprises generating a controlled current signal that is passed through an input resistor of the instrumentation amplifier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises determining that at least one of the output voltage signals is greater than the predefined voltage range and the method further comprises:

employing the control signal to decrease the common mode output voltage.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises determining that at least one of the output voltage signals is lower than the predefined voltage range and the method further comprises:

employing the control signal to increase the common mode output voltage.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating comprises generating a controlled current signal that is passed through a feedback resistor of the instrumentation amplifier.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the control signal is a voltage signal and the method further comprises:

applying the voltage signal at a control node between input resistors of the instrumentation amplifier to facilitate the adjusting.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting comprises increasing the common mode output voltage by a minimum voltage value that is sufficient to avoid the saturation of the instrumentation amplifier.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting comprises decreasing the common mode output voltage by a minimum voltage value that is sufficient to avoid the saturation of the instrumentation amplifier.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the control signal that is employable to decrease the common mode output voltage to adjust the output voltage signals to lie within the defined voltage range.

9. A system, comprising:

an instrumentation amplifier that amplifies a differential input voltage signal to generate output voltage signals;

a control circuit that compares the output voltage signals with a defined voltage range and in response to a determination that at least one of the output voltage signals does not lie within the defined voltage range, generates a control signal that is employable to modify a common mode output voltage of the instrumentation amplifier to avoid saturation of the instrumentation amplifier; and

a controlled current source that generates a common mode current that flows through input resistors of the instrumentation amplifier, wherein the controlled current source is controlled by the control signal.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the control circuit comprises:

controlled current sources that generate matched common mode current signals, wherein the matched common mode current signals flow through feedback resistors of the instrumentation amplifier and wherein the controlled current sources are controlled by the control signal.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the control circuit comprises:

a controlled voltage source that adjusts a voltage at a control node between input resistors of the instrumentation amplifier, wherein the controlled voltage source is controlled by the control signal.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuit comprises:

a resistive divider circuit that measures the common mode output voltage of the instrumentation amplifier; and

an integrator circuit that modifies the voltage at the control node in response to the determination.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the control circuit controls the common mode output voltage in response to determining that at least one of the output voltage signals is clamped at a supply rail voltage.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the control signal that is employable to increase the common mode output voltage to adjust the output voltage signals to lie within the defined voltage range.

15. A system, comprising:

a first circuit configured to determine a common mode output voltage of an instrumentation amplifier based on the output voltage signals of the instrumentation amplifier; and

a second circuit configured to generate a control signal that reduces a difference between the common mode output voltage and a target voltage, wherein the second circuit compares the output voltage signals with a defined voltage range and generates the control signal in response to a determination that at least one of the output voltage signals does not lie within the defined voltage range, and wherein the control signal adjusts a current signal that flows through input resistors of the instrumentation amplifier.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the second circuit is further configured to increase the control signal to pull up a voltage at a control node located between input resistors of the instrumentation amplifier, in response to determining that the common mode output voltage is greater than the target voltage.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the second circuit is further configured to decrease the control signal to pull down a voltage at a control node located between input resistors of the instrumentation amplifier, in response to determining that the common mode output voltage is lower than the target voltage.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the control signal is employable to reduce the common mode output voltage in response to determining that at least one of the output voltage signals is greater than the defined voltage range.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the control signal is employable to increase the common mode output voltage in response to determining that at least one of the output voltage signals is less than the defined voltage range.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the control signal comprises a controlled current signal that is passed through a feedback resistor of the instrumentation amplifier.