Exar 16:1 Sensor Interface Connects Multiple Sensors to MCUs or FPGAs

Exar XR10910

Exar Corporation introduces a highly integrated sensor interface analog front end (AFE) that provides calibration of sensor outputs. The XR10910 offers an onboard 16:1 differential multiplexer, offset correction DAC, programmable gain instrumentation amplifier and voltage reference. This AFE provides 14-bit signal path linearity and is designed to connect multiple bridge sensors to a microcontroller (MCU) or field-programmable gate array (FPGA) with an embedded ADC.

Exar Corporation XR10910

The integrated, DAC provides offset calibration for any offset voltage generated by bridge sensors, improving overall system sensitivity and accuracy. An independent offset value can be set for each of the 16 differential inputs. The XR10910 allows the customer to select from eight fixed-gain settings (from 2 V/V to 760 V/V) to ensure the amplified sensor signal falls within the optimum input range of the downstream ADC. The integrated LDO provides a regulated voltage to power the sensors and is selectable between 3 V and 2.65 V for lower voltage compatibility. An I2C serial interface provides an easy way to control the XR10910's many functions.

The XR10910 operates from 2.7 V to 5 V supplies and offers a wide digital supply range of 1.8 V to 5 V. It typically consumes 457 uA of supply current and offers a sleep mode which reduces the supply current to only 45 uA.

Summary of features:

  • Designed to interface multiple bridge sensors with an MCU or FPGA
  • Integrated features simplify sensor conditioning
  • 16:1 differential MUX, programmable gain INA, LDO and offset correction DAC
  • Eight selectable voltage gains from 2 V/V to 760 V/V with only ±0.5% gain error 
  • 6mm x 6mm QFN-40 package