The INA600 is an integrated difference amplifier that processes large differential voltages while simultaneously rejecting larger common-mode voltages. The device offers a low power consumption of 65µA (typical) and has a smaller form factor.

With the specifications above, the device is a good fit for applications using 48V batteries such as robotics, power tools and so forth. While, battery monitoring ICs are often used to perform sophisticated functions including cell balancing, protection, voltage and current sensing and so forth, these systems still require basic monitoring of battery voltages, internal DC bus voltages, and load voltages when driving various motors using control-loops. In these scenarios, the amplifier-based monitoring application shown below can be used.

Figure 8-2 shows an example circuit that monitors a 48V battery voltage and interfaces the voltage to an ADC that is powered using a 5V power supply. The main advantage for using difference amplifiers in this application is the elimination of ground bounce, which is a common-mode signal, when measuring the battery voltage. These ground bounce signals, when not rejected, are capable of causing errors in the range of few milli-volts to tens or hundreds of milli-volts.

Figure 8-2 48V Battery Monitoring Circuitry