AMP04APPLICATIONSInput Common-Mode Voltage Below GroundCommon-Mode Rejection Although not tested and guaranteed, the AMP04 inputs are The purpose of the instrumentation amplifier is to amplify the biased in a way that they can amplify signals linearly with common- difference between the two input signals while ignoring offset mode voltage as low as –0.25 volts below ground. This holds and noise voltages common to both inputs. One way of judging true over the industrial temperature range from –40°C to +85°C. the device’s ability to reject this offset is the common-mode Extended Positive Common-Mode Range gain, which is the ratio between a change in the common-mode On the high side, other instrumentation amplifier configurations, voltage and the resulting output voltage change. Instrumenta- such as the three op amp instrumentation amplifier, can have tion amplifiers are often judged by the common-mode rejection severe positive common-mode range limitations. Figure 3 shows ratio, which is equal to 20 × log10 of the ratio of the user-selected an example of a gain of 1001 amplifier, with an input common- differential signal gain to the common-mode gain, commonly mode voltage of 10 volts. For this circuit to function, VOB must called the CMRR. The AMP04 offers excellent CMRR, guaran- swing to 15.01 volts in order for the output to go to 10.01 volts. teed to be greater than 90 dB at gains of 100 or greater. Input Clearly no op amp can handle this swing range (given a 15 V offsets attain very low temperature drift by proprietary laser- supply) as the output will saturate long before it reaches the trimmed thin-film resistors and high gain amplifiers. supply rails. Again the AMP04’s topology does not have this Input Common-Mode Range Includes Ground limitation. Figure 4 illustrates the AMP04 operating at the same The AMP04 employs a topology (Figure 1) that uniquely allows common-mode conditions as in Figure 3. None of the internal the common-mode input voltage to truly extend to zero volts nodes has a signal high enough to cause amplifier saturation. As where other instrumentation amplifiers fail. To illustrate, take a result, the AMP04 can accommodate much wider common- for example the single supply, gain of 100 instrumentation mode range than most instrumentation amplifiers. amplifier as in Figure 2. As the inputs approach zero volts, in order for the output to go positive, amplifier A’s output (VOA) 10.00V must be allowed to go below ground, to –0.094 volts. Clearly AR this is not possible in a single supply environment. Consequently 100k5VR this instrumentation amplifier configuration’s input common-mode VOA20050A10.01V voltage cannot go below about 0.4 volts. In comparison, the VOB R AMP04 has no such restriction. Its inputs will function with a 100k15.01VR zero-volt common-mode voltage. B10.01V100kRGAIN Figure 3. Gain = 1001, Three Op Amp Instrumentation IN(–) Amplifier INPUT BUFFERSVOUTIN(+)100k11k0.1A+15V11k10.00V10010.01VVOUT100A10V100k10.01V–15V+15V 11k100.1AREF Figure 1. Functional Block Diagram –15V11.111V11k100k0.01V+VOBVVINBOUT0V Figure 4. Gain = 1000, AMP04 –VOAA100k20k20k100k–0.094V0.01V0V4.7A5.2A4.7A2127 Figure 2. Gain = 100 Instrumentation Amplifier –6– REV. C