AD524
acquisition components. Separate ground returns should be
provided to minimize the current flow in the path from the sensi-
tive points to the system ground point. In this way supply currents
and logic-gate return currents are not summed into the same
return path as analog signals where they would cause measure-
ment errors.
REFERENCE TERMINAL
The reference terminal may be used to offset the output by up
to ±10 V. This is useful when the load is “floating” or does not
share a ground with the rest of the system. It also provides a
direct means of injecting a precise offset. It must be remem-
bered that the total output swing is ±10 volts to be shared be-
tween signal and reference offset.
Since the output voltage is developed with respect to the poten-
tial on the reference terminal, an instrumentation amplifier can
solve many grounding problems.
When the IA is of the three-amplifier configuration it is neces-
sary that nearly zero impedance be presented to the reference
terminal.
Any significant resistance from the reference terminal to ground
increases the gain of the noninverting signal path, thereby upset-
ting the common-mode rejection of the IA.
DIGITAL P.S.
ANALOG P.S.
+15V –15V
+5V
C
C
In the AD524 a reference source resistance will unbalance the
CMR trim by the ratio of 20 kΩ/RREF. For example, if the refer-
ence source impedance is 1 Ω, CMR will be reduced to 86 dB
(20 kΩ/1 Ω = 86 dB). An operational amplifier may be used to
provide that low impedance reference point as shown in Figure
39. The input offset voltage characteristics of that amplifier will
add directly to the output offset voltage performance of the
instrumentation amplifier.
0.1 0.1
0.1 0.1
1F 1F
1F
F F
F F
DIG
COM
AD583
SAMPLE
AND HOLD
DIGITAL
DATA
OUTPUT
AD524
AD574A
6
*ANALOG
GROUND
OUTPUT
REFERENCE
SIGNAL
GROUND
+V
S
SENSE
*IF INDEPENDENT; OTHERWISE RETURN AMPLIFIER REFERENCE
TO MECCA AT ANALOG P.S. COMMON
V
+
IN
Figure 37. Basic Grounding Practice
AD524
LOAD
REF
V
–
SENSE TERMINAL
IN
The sense terminal is the feedback point for the instrument
amplifier’s output amplifier. Normally it is connected to the
instrument amplifier output. If heavy load currents are to be
drawn through long leads, voltage drops due to current flowing
through lead resistance can cause errors. The sense terminal can
be wired to the instrument amplifier at the load, thus putting
the IxR drops “inside the loop” and virtually eliminating this
error source.
–V
S
V
OFFSET
AD711
Figure 39. Use of Reference Terminal to Provide Output
Offset
An instrumentation amplifier can be turned into a voltage-to-
current converter by taking advantage of the sense and reference
terminals as shown in Figure 40.
V+
(SENSE)
OUTPUT
CURRENT
SENSE
+INPUT
V
+
IN
BOOSTER
R1
X1
AD524
AD524
I
L
V
X
R
L
(REF)
V
–
IN
–INPUT
REF
A2
V–
AD711
LOAD
Figure 38. AD524 Instrumentation Amplifier with Output
Current Booster
V
V
IN
40,000
X
I
=
=
=
(1 +
)
R
G
L
R1
R1
Typically, IC instrumentation amplifiers are rated for a full ±10
volt output swing into 2 kΩ. In some applications, however, the
need exists to drive more current into heavier loads. Figure 38
shows how a high-current booster may be connected “inside the
loop” of an instrumentation amplifier to provide the required
current boost without significantly degrading overall perfor-
mance. Nonlinearities, offset and gain inaccuracies of the buffer
are minimized by the loop gain of the IA output amplifier. Off-
set drift of the buffer is similarly reduced.
Figure 40. Voltage-to-Current Converter
By establishing a reference at the “low” side of a current setting
resistor, an output current may be defined as a function of input
voltage, gain and the value of that resistor. Since only a small
current is demanded at the input of the buffer amplifier A2, the
forced current IL will largely flow through the load. Offset and
drift specifications of A2 must be added to the output offset and
drift specifications of the IA.
REV. E
–11–