8208Signal_Path_108 12/12/06 9:40 AM Page 1

SIGNAL PATH designer ®

Tips, tricks, and techniques from the analog signal-path experts

No. 108

Low-Voltage Current Loop Transmitter

Feature Article....1-7 — By Walt Bacharowski, Applications Manager

Pressure Force
Load Testing............2 Current Loop
Receiver
Factory Current Loop
Automation Transmitter
+ Loop
VS Power
Solutions..............4-5 W R1 Supply
-
Design Tools............8 Sensor VT I L =4 to 20 mA

RR
WR2
VOUT

Figure 1. Current Loop Components and Connection

T
he 4 to 20 mA current loop, which is used extensively in industrial
and process control systems, creates challenges for maximizing the
operating loop length. In some cases, a very long loop is required and
the combination of limited loop-power supply voltage and excessive loop
wire resistance prevents it use. This article discusses the use of low-voltage
amplifiers to minimize the transmitter’s operating voltage requirements,
which will maximize the operating loop length.
Typically, the current loop is powered from the receiver side while the
transmitter controls the current flowing in the loop to indicate the value of
the physical parameter being measured by the sensor. Figure 1 shows the
basic components and connection of a current loop.
The maximum distance between the transmitter and receiver is dependent
on the power supply voltage (VS), and the sum of the loop drops, which are
the minimum transmitter voltage (VT), the voltage drops across the wire
resistance (WR1 and WR2), and receiver resistor (RR). In equation form:
EQ1 VS = VWR1 + VT + VWR2 + VRR

NEXT ISSUE:
Generating Precision Clocks
for >1 GSPS Interleaved ADCs
8208Signal_Path_108 12/12/06 9:40 AM Page 2

Solutions for Pressure Force Load Testing

Bridge Sensor Application

3 +5V
1 6 SYNC
DAC 5 SCLK
4 DIN
5V +V 2
3
+ 5 1 180
A1
4 470 pF
- 2 0.2 pF
-V +V
140K 1
2 8 7 SCLK
6 DOUT To µC
ADC
AV = 141 2K 5
3
470 pF 4 CS
+V
0.2 pF ADC = ADC121S625
A1 = LMP2012 4 - 5
1 140K DAC = DAC081S101
A1
3
+ 2 180
-V

LMP2012 Precision Op Amp ADC121S625 12-Bit A/D Converter

• Auto zero dual op amp • 12-bit analog-to-digital converter
• Input offset voltage, VOS, (36 µV MAX) minimizes • True differential inputs
signal amplification errors of original input • Guaranteed performance from 50 kSPS to 200 kSPS
• TCVos of 15 nV/°C maintains a stable VOS over time • Reference voltage between 500 mV and 2.5V
and temperature
• Binary 2’s compliant
• CMRR and PSRR greater than 120 dB ensures
• SPI™/QSPI™/MICROWIRE™/DSP compatible
accuracy over various common mode voltages and
across its entire operating voltage range
DAC081S101 8-Bit D/A Converter
• Gain bandwidth product and slew rate are best in
class at 3 MHz and 4 V/µs • Low power, 8-bit digital-to-analog converter
• Also available: • ±0.75 LSB INL
• LMP2011 (single) in SOIC-8 and SOT23-5 packaging • 3 µsec settling time
• LMP2014 (quad) in TSSOP-14 packaging • Rail-to-rail voltage output
• SPI™/QSPI™/MICROWIRE™/DSP compatible

For FREE samples, datasheets, and more information, visit

www.national.com/adc
amplifiers.national.com

2
8208Signal_Path_108 12/12/06 9:40 AM Page 3

SIGNAL PATH designer

Low-Voltage Current Loop Transmitter
Substituting the loop current and loop resistances In this example, a temperature sensor, such as the
into EQ1: LM94022, provides a signal for the transmitter.
EQ2 VS = ILWR1 + VT + ILWR2 + ILRR The components A1, Q1, and R1 through R5
form a voltage-to-current converter. The nonin-
Given the wire’s resistance in X Ohms per foot, the
verting input of A1, pin 3, is the summing node for
maximum loop current of 20 mA, the value of RR
three signals, the loop current, offset current, and
equal to 10Ω, and the equal lengths of wire, EQ2
sensor signal voltage. The resistor R2 is the current
can be rearranged to calculate the maximum loop
shunt that measures the current flowing in the loop
distance in terms the loop parameters:
and is fed back through R3. The total loop current
is the sum of the currents flowing in resistor R2
VS − VT − 0. 2 and R3, IL=IR2+IR3. The amplifier, A1, forces the
EQ3 ft =
0.04 (X Ω/ft) voltages at its inputs, pins 3 and 4, to be equal by
forcing more or less current through R2. The result
EQ3 illustrates three ways to increase the is that R2 and R3 have the same voltage across
maximum loop length: (1) increase the loop power them. The ratio of the currents in R2 and R3 is the
supply voltage, (2) increase the wire gage, which inverse of the resistor ratio:
will reduce the wire’s ohms per foot, or (3) reduce
the minimum voltage required for the current loop I R2 R3
EQ4 ( = )
transmitter operation, which is the focus of the IR3 R2
following section.
The use of low voltage amplifiers, such as the This highlights that the current in R3 is also part of
LMV951, and low drop out voltage regulators, the voltage-to-current conversion and is not an
such as the LP2951, can reduce the minimum volt- error current. An error source that will affect the
age required for the current loop transmitter. loop current is the offset voltage of amplifier A1,
Figure 2 shows the schematic of a loop-powered which will add an error current to the loop current.
4 to 20 mA transmitter, which will function with a At the minimum loop current of 4 mA, the voltage
minimum of 1.9V, and a 4 to 20 mA receiver. V2 is very close to 0.040V.

1 8
VOUT VIN
C3 +5
R5
VREG V3
10K 10nF
C4
3 + Loop 4
4.7 µF 7 ADJ SD C2
6
R6 VS VREF
1 µF Power 3
20K GND
– Supply 100nF
4 1,2 7,8
R7
4 R4 25.5K
V IN
VDD 402K W R1
+5 4.096V
VOUT 3 3
1 GS0 + 6 1
1 RR 6 4 SCLK
TS R5 A1 1
5 GS1 4 5
Q1
C1 10 + 180 3 To
100K – R1 2N3904 5 6 CS
A2 ADC
GND 2 4.7K 1 µF W R2 8
– 4 5 SDATA µP
2 3
V2 2
2
470pF
IR3 IR2 R2 100nF
R3
TS = LM94022 10
10K IL V1
A1 = LMV951
4 to 20 mA ADC = ADC081S021
VREG = LP2951 4 to 20 mA
Current Loop A2 = LMP8270 ADC101S021
Current Loop
Transmitter Receiver VREF = LM4140ACM-4.1 ADC121S021

Figure 2. Loop-Powered Transmitter Schematic

signalpath.national.com/designer
03
8208Signal_Path_108 12/12/06 9:40 AM Page 4

Solutions for Factory Automation

Resistance Temperature Detector Application

+V

4 3
3 6
5 + LM4140A-2.500
1
W1 A1 4 1,2 7,8
2 - +V R2 R1
W2 3 5 10K 10K
-V + 1
4 A2
RTD
- 2
R5
-V 10K
W3 +V
+V
1
W4 R7 3 + 5 180Ω 3 4 SCLK
1
3.205K A4 6 /CS To μP
R8 ADC
2 5 SDATA
2.5K 4 - V
R6 -V OUT 470pF 2
+V
4 - 10K
5
1
3 A3
A1, A2, A3, and A4 = LMP7701 + 2 ADC = ADC121S021
R4 R3
or one LMP7704 (quad op amp)
-V 10K 10K

Thermocouple Temperature Detector Application

4 SCLK
180Ω 3
+V 6 /CS
ADC 5 SDATA
Cold Junction Av = 200
4
Temperature Full Scale ~ 500°C 470 pF 1 2
VDD 1M
1 3 VOUT +5
GS0 LM4140ACM-4.1 To
5 4 µP
GS1 5K 4.096V
+V 3 6
T CJR 100nF
2 1,2 7,8
1 4 SCLK
Type K Copper 3 + 5 180Ω 3
1 6 /CS
Thermocouple A1 ADC 5 SDATA
- 2
Amplified
Copper 4 Thermocouple 470 pF 2
5K Output
Cold Junction 1M
Reference
TCJR= LM94022 ADC = ADC081S021
A1 = LMP7701 ADC101S021
ADC121S021

For FREE samples, datasheets, and more information, visit

www.national.com/adc
www.amplifiers.national.com

4
8208Signal_Path_108 12/12/06 9:40 AM Page 5

Precision Op Amps

IBIAS
Max VOS TCVOS Specified Supply PSRR CMRR Gain GBWP Voltage Noise Room
Product ID Room Temp (µV) (µV/°C) Voltage Range (V) (dB) (dB) (dB) (MHz) (nV/ Hz) Temp (pA)
LMP2011/12/14 25 0.015 2.7 to 5.25 120 130 130 3 35 -3
LMP7701/02/04 200 1 2.7 to 12 100 130 130 2.5 9 0.2
LMP7711/12 150 -1 1.8 to 5.5 100 100 110 17 5.8 0.1
LMP7715/16 150 -1 1.8 to 5.5 100 100 110 17 5.8 0.1

Precision Current Sense Amps

Product ID Input Voltage Range TCVOS (µV/°C) Fixed Gain (V/V) Supply Voltage (V) CMRR (dB) Packaging

LMP8275 -2 to 16 30 20 4.75 to 5.5 80 SOIC-8

LMP8276 -2 to 16 30 20 4.75 to 5.5 80 SOIC-8

LMP8277 -2 to 16 30 14 4.75 to 5.5 80 SOIC-8

Low-Voltage Op Amps
Typ Is/ Total Specified Max VOS Max IBIAS Over Typ GBW
Product ID Channel (µA) Supply Range (V) (mV) Temperature CMVR (V) (MHz) Packaging

LMV651 110 2.7 to 5.5 1 80 nA (typ) 0 to 4.0 12 SC70-5, TSSOP-14

LMV791 1150/0.14 1.8 to 5.5 1.35 100 pA -0.3 to 4.0 17 TSOT23-6, MSOP-10

LMV796 1150 1.8 to 5.5 1.35 100 pA -0.3 to 4.0 17 SOT23-5, MSOP-8

LMV716 1600 2.7 to 5.0 5 130 pA -0.3 to 2.2 5 MSOP-8

LPV531 425 2.7 to 5.5 4.5 10 pA -0.3 to 3.8 4.6 TSOT23-6

ADCs for Single-Channel Applications

# of Pin/Function Throughput Max Power Max INL Min SINAD
Product ID Res Inputs Compatible Rate (kSPS) Input Type 5V/3V (mW) Supply (V) (LBS) (dB) Packaging
ADC121S101 12 1 500 to 1000 Single ended 16/4.5 2.7 to 5.25 ±1.1 70 SOT23-6, LLP-6
ADC121S051 12 1 200 to 500 Single ended 15.8/4.7 2.7 to 5.25 ±1.0 70.3 SOT23-6, LLP-6
ADC121S021 12 1 50 to 200 Single ended 14.7/4.3 2.7 to 5.25 ±1.0 70 SOT23-6, LLP-6
ADC101S101 10 1 500 to 1000 Single ended 16/4.5 2.7 to 5.25 ±0.7 61 SOT23-6
ADC101S051 10 1 200 to 500 Single ended 13.7/4.3 2.7 to 5.25 ±0.7 60.8 SOT23-6
ADC101S021 10 1 50 to 200 Single ended 12.6/4 2.7 to 5.25 ±0.6 60.7 SOT23-6
ADC081S101 8 1 500 to 1000 Single ended 16/4.5 2.7 to 5.25 ±0.3 49 SOT23-6
ADC081S051 8 1 200 to 500 Single ended 12.6/3.6 2.7 to 5.25 ±0.3 49 SOT23-6
ADC081S021 8 1 50 to 200 Single ended 11.6/3.24 2.7 to 5.25 ±0.3 49 SOT23-6
ADC121S625* 12 1 50 to 200 Differential 2.8 4.5 to 5.5 ±1.0 68.5 MSOP-8
ADC121S705* 12 1 500 to 1000 Differential 16.5 4.5 to 5.5 ±.95 69.5 MSOP-8

*Differential input, 200 to 500 kSPS thruput rate forthcoming

05
8208Signal_Path_108 12/12/06 9:40 AM Page 6

SIGNAL PATH designer

Low-Voltage Current Loop Transmitter
An offset voltage of 1 mV in A1 will cause an error The loop current generates a voltage drop across
of about 2.5% in IR3: resistor R2 such that V1 is negative with respect to
V2 and then fed back through R3.
0 . 001V
EQ5 × 100 = 2 . 5 % EQ7 V1=V2-R2(IL)
0 . 040 V
The 4 to 20 mA current loop uses the offset current
level of 4 mA to represent zero signal input. This is
Because the ratio of IR2 to IR3 is 1000 to 1, an error
used as an open loop fault condition since zero
of 2.5% in IR3 results in a 0.0025% error in the
current is a broken wire, transmitter failure, or
loop current.
another fault. The resistor R4 is connected to the
The voltage supply requirements for the compo- output of the adjustable low drop-out voltage
nents in transmitter must be evaluated in order to regulator to create the 4 mA offset current. Resistor
determine the minimum operating voltage R4, at 402 kΩ, sets approximately a 4 mA offset
required by the transmitter. For this example, a current when the output of the voltage regulator is
full-scale sensor input signal of 1.6V is used and 1.65V. The variable resistor R6 is used to set the
results in a 10 mA per volt scale factor: loop current to 4 mA when the input signal is at
zero volts. This adjustment compensates for error in
EQ6 the voltage regulator’s output and resistor tolerance
I L MAX − I L MIN 20 mA − 4 mA 16 mA in R4, R5, and R7. The offset can be calibrated to
= = = 10 mA /V
V IN MAX − V IN MIN 1 .6V − 0V 1 . 6V 4 mA by measuring the voltage across RR and
adjusting R6 until the voltage across RR is equal to
0.04V. The value of resistor R4 can be calculated
The minimum voltage required for the transmit-
for other supply voltages by equating the voltages
ter (V3 – V1) is the highest voltage requirement
at the amplifier’s input pins and rearranging to
of the two paths from V3 to V1. Path one is from
solve for R4:
V3 to Q1 and R2 to V1. At the maximum loop
current of 20 mA, the voltage drop across R2 is
0.2V (V2) and a collector emitter voltage of about R3 x VOUT
EQ8 R4 = R3
0.5V to stay out of saturation is a total of 0.7V. R2 x IR2
The second path is V2 plus the output voltage of
the voltage regulator and its dropout voltage. The The resistor R5 is used to scale the signal input
full-scale sensor input signal of 1.6V requires voltage to the 16 mA span of the loop current, and
about a 1.65V output from the regulator and the in this example, it is assumed the input signal span
dropout voltage of the voltage regulator is less is 1.6V. The equation for calculating R5 can be
then 50 mV. The path has a minimum voltage developed by equating the voltages at the amplifi-
requirement of 1.9V (0.2 + 1.65 + 0.05). Note er’s input pins and rearranging to solve for R5.
that the minimum operating voltage of the VIN is the maximum signal input, 1.6V for this
LMV951 is 0.9V so the minimum transmitter example, and IR2 is the change in output current,
voltage could be reduced to about 1.3V by 16mA:
increasing the scale factor to 18 mA per volt. This
R3 x VIN
is supported by the voltage regulator, VR, which EQ9 R5 =
can be adjusted down to 1.25V, and with a drop R2 x IR2
out voltage of 50 mV, the loop transmitter can
This equation also indicates that changing the
work down to 1.3V. The current loop transmitter
value of R5 can change the full-scale input voltage.
functions by summing three signals: the loop
A low resistance variable resistor could be used in
current (R3), the offset current (R4), and the
sensor (R5).

6
8208Signal_Path_108 12/12/06 9:40 AM Page 7

series with R5 to add a full-scale calibration as brought out to pins 3 and 4. Also internal to the
shown in the following schematic (Figure 3). LMP8270 is a 100 kΩ resistor in series with
the output of the first amplifier. A low pass filter is
R4
402K
easily implemented by connecting a capacitor from
3 + 6 pins 3 and 4 to ground.
1
R5 R8 4 A1 Figure 2 shows a 4.096V reference being used
VIN 95K - 5
10K 2 by the ADC, representing the full-scale input. The
differential input voltage to the LMP8270 for a
R3 4.096V output is 4.096/20 = 0.2048V. The value
10 KΩ of RR for a voltage drop of 0.2048V at a current of
20 mA is 0.2048/20 = 10.24Ω. A 10Ω resistor is
Figure 3. Input Calibration used because it is a standard precision value. The
result is an output voltage from A2 of 0.8V to 4.0V
In this example, a silicon temperature sensor is for a loop current of 4 mA to 20 mA.
used as a signal source. The LM94022 is a low
The current loop transmitter was calibrated using
voltage, programmable gain temperature sensor
the end points, 0V and 1.6V, as the input voltages
that can be used to measure temperature from
while measuring the voltage across the RR resistor.
–50°C to 150°C. The schematic in Figure 2 shows
With 0.0V applied to the input the resistor R6 is
the LM94022’s gain select pins connected to
adjusted until 40 mV is across RR. With 1.6V on
ground, or the lowest gain. With this gain, the sen-
the input, resistor R8, see Figure 3, is adjusted until
sor’s output ranges from 1.299V for a temperature
200 mV is across RR. Figure 4 is the measured
of –50° C to 0.183V for a temperature of 150°C.
transfer function using a calibrated voltage source.
As shown in Figure 1, the current loop transmitter The worst case deviation from a straight line was
accounts for only part of the voltage drop in the –8 µA, which is not observable on the graph in
loop. The current loop receiver frequently uses a Figure 4.
resistor, RR in Figure 1, to generate a voltage drop 1.70
that is used to measure the loop current. The 1.60
1.50
measurement of the voltage across RR can present 1.40
1.30
1.20
some problems such as high common mode
Input Voltage (V)

1.10
1.00
voltages, due to the loop power supply, as well as 0.90
0.80
0.70
induced voltages from the environment. 0.60
0.50
To overcome these measurement problems a 0.40
0.30
differential amplifier, such as the LMP8270, can be 0.20
0.10
0.00
used. The LMP8270 is a high common mode 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

voltage differential amplifier with a fixed gain Output Current (mA)

of 20. The gain of 20 also reduces the resistance of Figure 4. Output Current vs Input Voltage
RR, which reduces the loop voltage drop.
Referring to Figure 2, the voltage across resistor RR In summary, by using a selection of components
is recovered from whatever common mode voltage that function with very low supply voltages a
exists on the current loop, up to 28V, and is current loop transmitter can be designed that
amplified and drives the input to an Analog-to- operates with as little as 1.3V.
Digital Converter (ADC). Internal to the
LMP8270 is a differential amplifier with a gain of View over 50 design seminars by industry experts. Log onto
10 followed by an amplifier with a gain of two. The www.national.com/onlineseminars
internal connection between the two amplifiers is

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8208Signal_Path_108 12/12/06 9:40 AM Page 8

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