SBAS501D May 2013 – May 2026 ADS1220
PRODUCTION DATA
The full-scale range of the ADS1220 is defined by the reference voltage and the PGA gain (FSR = ±VREF / Gain). An external reference can be used instead of the integrated 2.048V reference to adapt the FSR to the specific system needs. An external reference must be used if VIN > 2.048V. For example, an external 5V reference and an AVDD = 5V are required to measure a single-ended signal that can swing between 0V and 5V.
The reference inputs of the device also allow the implementation of ratiometric measurements. In a ratiometric measurement the same excitation source that is used to excite the sensor is also used to establish the reference for the ADC. As an example, a simple form of a ratiometric measurement uses the same current source to excite both the resistive sensor element (such as an RTD) and another resistive reference element that is in series with the element being measured. The voltage that develops across the reference element is used as the reference source for the ADC. Because current noise and drift are common to both the sensor measurement and the reference, these components cancel in the ADC transfer function. The output code is only a ratio of the sensor element and the value of the reference resistor. The value of the excitation current source is not part of the ADC transfer function.