SBAS683C August 2014 – August 2026 ADS1120-Q1
PRODUCTION DATA
To stay within the linear operating range of the PGA, the input signals must meet the requirements discussed in this section.
The outputs of both amplifiers (A1 and A2) in Figure 8-2 cannot swing closer to the supplies (AVSS and AVDD) than 200mV. If the outputs OUTP and OUTN are driven to within 200mV of the supply rails, the amplifiers saturate and consequently become nonlinear. To prevent this nonlinear operating condition the output voltages must meet Equation 6 and Equation 7:
Translating the requirements of Equation 6 into requirements referred to the PGA inputs (AINP and AINN) is beneficial because no direct access to the outputs of the PGA exists. The PGA employs a symmetrical design, therefore the common-mode voltage at the output of the PGA can be assumed to be the same as the common-mode voltage of the input signal, as shown in Figure 8-3.
Figure 8-3 PGA
Common-Mode VoltageEquation 8 calculates the common-mode voltage:
Equation 9 and Equation 10 calculates the voltages at the PGA inputs (AINP and AINN):
Equation 11 and Equation 12 calculates the output voltages (VOUTP and VOUTN):
Equation 13 and Equation 14 calculate the requirements for the input common-mode voltage range using the requirements for the output voltages of amplifiers A1 and A2 (Equation 6) and the values from Equation 11 and Equation 12:
To calculate the minimum and maximum common-mode voltage limits, use the maximum differential input voltage (VINMAX) that occurs in the application. VINMAX can be less than the maximum possible FS value.
In addition to Equation 13, the minimum VCM must also meet Equation 15 because of the specific design implementation of the PGA.
Figure 8-4 and Figure 8-5 show the common-mode voltage limits for AVDD = 3.3V and AVSS = 0V, with gain = 1 and gain = 16, respectively.

| AVDD = 3.3V |

| AVDD = 3.3V |
The following
discussion explains how to apply Equation 13 through Equation 15 to a hypothetical application. The setup for this example is AVDD = 3.3V, AVSS =
0V, and gain = 16, using an external reference,
VREF = 2.5V. The maximum possible differential input voltage
VIN = (VAINP – VAINN) that can be applied is
then limited to the full-scale range of FSR = ±2.5V / 16 = ±0.156V. Consequently,
Equation 13 through Equation 15 yield an allowed VCM range of 1.45V ≤ VCM ≤ 1.85V.
If the sensor signal connected to the inputs in this hypothetical application does not make use of the entire full-scale range but is limited to VINMAX = ±0.1V, for example, then this reduced input signal amplitude relaxes the VCM restriction to 1.0V ≤ VCM ≤ 2.3V.
In the case of a fully-differential sensor signal, each input (AINP, AINN) can swing up to ±50mV around the common-mode voltage (VAINP + VAINN) / 2, which must remain between the limits of 1.0V and 2.3V. The output of a symmetrical Wheatstone bridge is an example of a fully-differential signal. Figure 8-6 shows a situation where the common-mode voltage of the input signal is at the lowest limit. VOUTN is exactly at 0.2V in this case. Any further decrease in common-mode voltage (VCM) or increase in differential input voltage (VIN) drives VOUTN below 0.2V and saturates amplifier A2.
Figure 8-6 Example
Where VCM is at Lowest LimitIn contrast, the signal of an RTD is of a pseudo-differential nature (if implemented as shown in the RTD Measurement section), where the negative input is held at a constant voltage other than 0V and only the voltage on the positive input changes. To measure a pseudo-differential signal, bias the negative input in this example at a voltage between 0.95V and 2.25V. The positive input can then swing up to VINMAX = 100mV above the negative input. In this case, the common-mode voltage changes at the same time the voltage on the positive input changes. While the input signal swings between 0V ≤ VIN ≤ VINMAX, the common-mode voltage swings between VAINN ≤ VCM ≤ VAINN + VINMAX / 2. The requirements for the entire signal range are met if the common-mode voltage requirements for the maximum input voltage VINMAX are satisfied.
Figure 8-7 and Figure 8-8 show examples of both fully-differential and pseudo-differential signals, respectively.


Remember, common-mode voltage requirements with PGA enabled (Equation 13 to Equation 15) are as follows: