SLYS025A January   2021  – May 2022 INA238

PRODUCTION DATA  

  1. 1 Features
  2. 2 Applications
  3. 3 Description
  4. 4 Revision History
  5. 5 Pin Configuration and Functions
  6. 6 Specifications
    1. 6.1 Absolute Maximum Ratings
    2. 6.2 ESD Ratings
    3. 6.3 Recommended Operating Conditions
    4. 6.4 Thermal Information
    5. 6.5 Electrical Characteristics
    6. 6.6 Timing Requirements (I2C)
    7. 6.7 Timing Diagram
    8. 6.8 Typical Characteristics
  7. 7 Detailed Description
    1. 7.1 Overview
    2. 7.2 Functional Block Diagram
    3. 7.3 Feature Description
      1. 7.3.1 Versatile High Voltage Measurement Capability
      2. 7.3.2 Power Calculation
      3. 7.3.3 Low Bias Current
      4. 7.3.4 High-Precision Delta-Sigma ADC
        1. 7.3.4.1 Low Latency Digital Filter
        2. 7.3.4.2 Flexible Conversion Times and Averaging
      5. 7.3.5 Integrated Precision Oscillator
      6. 7.3.6 Multi-Alert Monitoring and Fault Detection
    4. 7.4 Device Functional Modes
      1. 7.4.1 Shutdown Mode
      2. 7.4.2 Power-On Reset
    5. 7.5 Programming
      1. 7.5.1 I2C Serial Interface
        1. 7.5.1.1 Writing to and Reading Through the I2C Serial Interface
        2. 7.5.1.2 High-Speed I2C Mode
        3. 7.5.1.3 SMBus Alert Response
    6. 7.6 Register Maps
      1. 7.6.1 INA238 Registers
  8. 8 Application and Implementation
    1. 8.1 Application Information
      1. 8.1.1 Device Measurement Range and Resolution
      2. 8.1.2 Current and Power Calculations
      3. 8.1.3 ADC Output Data Rate and Noise Performance
      4. 8.1.4 Input Filtering Considerations
    2. 8.2 Typical Application
      1. 8.2.1 Design Requirements
      2. 8.2.2 Detailed Design Procedure
        1. 8.2.2.1 Select the Shunt Resistor
        2. 8.2.2.2 Configure the Device
        3. 8.2.2.3 Program the Shunt Calibration Register
        4. 8.2.2.4 Set Desired Fault Thresholds
        5. 8.2.2.5 Calculate Returned Values
      3. 8.2.3 Application Curves
  9. 9 Power Supply Recommendations
  10. 10Layout
    1. 10.1 Layout Guidelines
    2. 10.2 Layout Example
  11. 11Device and Documentation Support
    1. 11.1 Receiving Notification of Documentation Updates
    2. 11.2 Support Resources
    3. 11.3 Trademarks
    4. 11.4 Electrostatic Discharge Caution
    5. 11.5 Glossary
  12. 12Mechanical, Packaging, and Orderable Information

Package Options

Mechanical Data (Package|Pins)
Thermal pad, mechanical data (Package|Pins)
Orderable Information

7.3.3 Low Bias Current

The INA238 features very low input bias current which provides several benefits. The low input bias current of the INA238 reduces the current consumed by the device in both active and shutdown state. Another benefit of low bias current is that it allows the use of input filters to reject high-frequency noise before the signal is converted to digital data. In traditional digital current-sense amplifiers, the addition of input filters comes at the cost of reduced accuracy. However, as a result of the low bias current, the reduction in accuracy due to input filters is minimized. An additional benefit of low bias current is the ability to use a larger shunt resistor to accurately sense smaller currents. Use of a larger value for the shunt resistor allows the device to accurately monitor currents in the sub-mA range.

The bias current in the INA238 is the smallest when the sensed current is zero. As the current starts to increase, the differential voltage drop across the shunt resistor increases which results in an increase in the bias current as shown in Figure 6-14.