Thermocouple

The circuit shown in Figure 1 provides a dual-channel, channel-to-channel isolated, thermocouple or RTD input suitable for programmable logic controllers (PLC) and distributed control systems (DCS). The highly integrated design utilizes a low power, 24-bit, Σ-Δ analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with a rich analog and digital feature set that requires no additional signal conditioning ICs.

Each channel can accept either a thermocouple or a RTD input. The entire circuit is powered from a standard 24 V bus supply. Each channel measures only 27 mm × 50 mm.

The circuit shown in Figure 1 is an isolated smart industrial field instrument that interfaces to many types of analog sensors such as temperature (Pt100, Pt1000, and thermocouple) or bridge pressure sensors. The instrument communicates via a 4 mA to 20 mA analog output and a highway addressable remote transducer (HART^®) interface. HART is a digital 2-way communication in which a 1 mA peak-to-peak frequency shift keyed (FSK) signal is modulated on top of the standard 4 mA to 20 mA analog current signal. The HART interface allows features such as remote calibration, fault interrogation, and transmission of process variables, which are necessary in applications such as temperature and pressure control.

The circuit uses the AD7124-4, an ultralow power, precision 24-bit, Σ-Δ analog-to-digital converter (ADC), which includes all the features needed for temperature and pressure systems. The circuit also includes the AD5421, a 16-bit, 4 mA to 20 mA, loop powered digital-to-analog converter (DAC); the AD5700, the industry’s lowest power and smallest footprint HART-compliant IC modem; the ADuM1441, which provides ultralow power serial peripheral interface (SPI) isolation; the ADG5433 CMOS switch; and the ADP162 low power, 3.3 V regulator in the isolated power circuitry.

The circuit shown in Figure 1 is an integrated 2-wire, 3-wire, or 4-wire resistance temperature detector (RTD) system based on the AD7124-4/AD7124-8 low power, low noise, 24-bit Σ-Δ analog-to-digital converter (ADC) optimized for high precision measurement applications.

 

This circuit note uses a Class B Pt100 RTD sensor with an accuracy of ±0.3°C at 0°C but it can support other classes such as Class A, Class AA, 1/3 DIN, or 1/10 DIN that are higher accuracy RTDs. This circuit also has provision for Pt1000 RTDs that are useful in low power applications.

The AD7124-4/AD7124-8 can achieve high resolution, low nonlinearity, and low noise performance as well as high 50 Hz and 60 Hz rejection, suitable for industrial RTD systems. The typical peak to peak resolution of the system is 0.0043°C (17.9 bits) for full power mode, sinc4 filter selected, at an output data rate of 50 SPS, and 0.0092°C (16.8 bits) for low power mode, post filter selected, at an output data rate of 25 SPS. These settings show that the system accuracy is significantly better than the sensor accuracy.

The AD7124-4/AD7124-8 integrate several important system building blocks required to support RTD measurements. Functions, including programmable excitation current sources and a programmable gain amplifier (PGA), excite and gain the RTD, respectively, which allows direct interfacing with the sensor and simplifies the design while reducing cost and power consumption.

Several options of the on-chip digital filtering and three integrated power modes, where the current consumption, range of output data rates, settling time, and rms noise are optimized, provide application flexibility. The current consumed in low power mode is only 255 μA and in full power mode is 930 μA. In power-down mode, the complete ADC along with its auxiliary functions are powered down so that the AD7124-4/AD7124-8 consume 1 μA typical. The power options make the AD7124-4/AD7124-8 suitable for nonpower critical applications, such as input modules, and also for low power applications, such as loop-powered smart transmitters where the complete transmitter must consume less than 4 mA.

The AD7124-4/AD7124-8 also have extensive diagnostic functionality integrated as part of its comprehensive feature set. This functionality can be used to check that the voltage level on the analog pins are within the specified operating range. These devices also include a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) on the serial peripheral interface (SPI) bus and signal chain checks, which leads to a more robust solution. These diagnostics reduce the need for external components to implement diagnostics, resulting in a smaller solution size, reduced design cycle times, and cost savings.

The circuit shown in Figure 1 is an integrated thermocouple measurement system based on the AD7124-4/AD7124-8 low power, low noise, 24-bit, Σ-Δ analog-to-digital converter (ADC), optimized for high precision measurement applications. Thermocouple measurements using this system show an overall system accuracy of ±1°C over a measurement temperature range of −50°C to +200°C . Typical noise free code resolution of the system is approximately 15 bits.

 

The AD7124-4 can be configured for 4 differential or 7 pseudo differential input channels, while the AD7124-8 can be configured for 8 differential or 15 pseudo differential channels. The on-chip low noise programmable gain array (PGA) ensures that signals of small amplitude can be interfaced directly to the ADC.

The AD7124-4/AD7124-8 establishes the highest degree of signal chain integration, which includes programmable low drift excitation current sources, bias voltage generator, and internal reference. Therefore, the design of a thermocouple system is simplified when the AD7124-4/AD7124-8 is used because most of the required system building blocks are included on-chip.

The AD7124-4/AD7124-8 gives the user the flexibility to employ one of three integrated power modes, where the current consumption, range of output data rates, and rms noise are tailored with the power mode selected. The current consumed by the AD7124-4/AD7124-8 is only 255 μA in low power mode and 930 μA in full power mode. The power options make the device suitable for non-power critical applications, such as input/output modules, and also for low power applications, such as loop-powered smart transmitters where the complete transmitter must consume less than 4 mA.

The device also has a power-down option. In power-down mode, the complete ADC along with its auxiliary functions are powered down so that the device consumes 1 μA typical. The AD7124-4/AD7124-8 also has extensive diagnostic functionality integrated as part of its comprehensive feature set.

The circuit shown in Figure 1 is a flexible, 4-channel, low power thermocouple measurement circuit with an overall power consumption of less than 8 mW. The circuit has a multiplexed front end, followed by an instrumentation amplifier that performs cold junction compensation (0°C to 50°C) and converts the thermocouple output to a voltage with a precise scale factor of 5 mV/°C. The error is less than 2°C, over a measurement range of −25°C to +400°C, and is primarily due to the thermocouple nonlinearity. A nonlinearity correction algorithm reduces the error to less than 0.5°C over a 900°C measurement range. Noise free resolution is less than 0.1°C.

The signal is then digitized by a 24-bit Σ-Δ ADC, and the digital value is provided on an SPI serial interface. With the PMOD form factor for rapid prototyping, the design requires minimal PC board area and is ideal for applications that require precise thermocouple temperature measurements.

This circuit uses the ADuCM360/ADuCM361 precision analog microcontroller in an accurate thermocouple temperature monitoring application. The ADuCM360/ADuCM361 integrates dual 24-bit sigma-delta (Σ-Δ) analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), dual programmable current sources, a 12-bit digital-to-analog converter (DAC), and a 1.2 V internal reference, as well as an ARM Cortex-M3 core, 128 kB flash, 8 kB SRAM, and various digital peripherals such as UART, timers, SPIs, and I²C interfaces.

In the circuit, the ADuCM360/ADuCM361 is connected to a thermocouple and a 100 Ω platinum resistance temperature detector (RTD). The RTD is used for cold junction compensation.

In the source code, an ADC sampling rate of 4 Hz is chosen. When the ADC input programmable gain amplifier (PGA) is configured for a gain of 32, the noise-free code resolution of the ADuCM360/ADuCM361 is greater than 18 bits.

The LTC2983 measures a wide variety of temperature sensors and digitally outputs the result, in °C or °F, with 0.1°C accuracy and 0.001°C resolution. The LTC2983 can measure the temperature of virtually all standard (type B, E, J, K, N, S, R, T) or custom thermocouples, automatically compensate for cold junction temperatures and linearize the results. The device can also measure temperature with standard 2-, 3- or 4-wire RTDs, thermistors and diodes. It has 20 reconfigurable analog inputs enabling many sensor connections and configuration options. The LTC2983 includes excitation current sources and fault detection circuitry appropriate for each type of temperature sensor.

The LTC2983 allows direct interfacing to ground referenced sensors without the need for level shifters, negative supply voltages, or external amplifiers. All signals are buffered and simultaneously digitized with three high accuracy, 24-bit ΔΣ ADCs, driven by an internal 10ppm/°C (maximum) reference.

Applications

• Direct Thermocouple Measurements
• Direct RTD Measurements
• Direct Thermistor Measurements
• Custom Sensor Applications

The LTC2984 measures a wide variety of temperature sensors and digitally outputs the result, in °C or °F, with 0.1°C accuracy and 0.001°C resolution. The LTC2984 can measure the temperature of virtually all standard (type B, E, J, K, N, S, R, T) or custom thermocouples, automatically compensate for cold junction temperatures and linearize the results. The device can also measure temperature with standard 2-, 3-, or 4-wire RTDs, thermistors, and diodes. It has 20 reconfigurable analog inputs enabling many sensor connections and configuration options. The LTC2984 includes excitation current sources and fault detection circuitry appropriate for each type of temperature sensor as well as an EEPROM for storing custom coefficients and channel configuration data.

The LTC2984 allows direct interfacing to ground referenced sensors without the need for level shifters, negative supply voltages, or external amplifiers. All signals are buffered and simultaneously digitized with three high accuracy, 24-bit ΔΣ ADC's, driven by an internal 10ppm/°C (maximum) reference.

Applications

• Direct Thermocouple Measurements
• Direct RTD Measurements
• Direct Thermistor Measurements
• Custom Sensor Applications

The LTC2986 measures a wide variety of temperature sensors and digitally outputs the result, in °C or °F, with 0.1°C accuracy and 0.001°C resolution. The LTC2986 can measure the temperature of virtually all standard (Type B, E, J, K, N, S, R, T) or custom thermocouples, automatically compensate for cold junction temperatures and linearize the results. The device can also measure temperature with standard 2-, 3-, or 4-wire RTDs, thermistors, and diodes. The LTC2986 includes excitation current sources and fault detection circuitry appropriate for each type of temperature sensor.

The LTC2986/LTC2986-1 are 10-channel software and pin-compatible versions of the 20-channel LTC2983/LTC2984. Additional features include special modes that enable easy protection in universal multi-sensor applications, custom tables for generic ADC readings, and direct temperature readout from active analog temperature sensors. The LTC2986-1 is the EEPROM version of the LTC2986.

Applications

• Direct Thermocouple Measurements
• Direct RTD Measurements
• Direct Thermistor Measurements
• Custom Sensor Applications

The AD7124-4 is a low power, low noise, completely integrated analog front end for high precision measurement applications. The device contains a low noise, 24-bit Σ-Δ analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and can be configured to have 4 differential inputs or 7 single-ended or pseudo differential inputs. The onchip low gain stage ensures that signals of small amplitude can be interfaced directly to the ADC.

One of the major advantages of the AD7124-4 is that it gives the user the flexibility to employ one of three integrated power modes. The current consumption, range of output data rates, and rms noise can be tailored with the power mode selected. The device also offers a multitude of filter options, ensuring that the user has the highest degree of flexibility.

The AD7124-4 can achieve simultaneous 50 Hz and 60 Hz rejection when operating at an output data rate of 25 SPS (single cycle settling), with rejection in excess of 80 dB achieved at lower output data rates.

The AD7124-4 establishes the highest degree of signal chain integration. The device contains a precision, low noise, low drift internal band gap reference, and also accepts an external differential reference, which can be internally buffered. Other key integrated features include programmable low drift excitation current sources, burnout currents, and a bias voltage generator, which sets the common-mode voltage of a channel to AV_DD/2. The low-side power switch enables the user to power down bridge sensors between conversions, ensuring the absolute minimal power consumption of the system. The device also allows the user the option of operating with either an internal clock or an external clock.

The integrated channel sequencer allows several channels to be enabled simultaneously, and the AD7124-4 sequentially converts on each enabled channel, simplifying communication with the device. As many as 16 channels can be enabled at any time; a channel being defined as an analog input or a diagnostic such as a power supply check or a reference check. This unique feature allows diagnostics to be interleaved with conversions.

The AD7124-4 also supports per channel configuration. The device allows eight configurations or setups. Each configuration consists of gain, filter type, output data rate, buffering, and reference source. The user can assign any of these setups on a channel by channel basis.

The AD7124-4 also has extensive diagnostic functionality integrated as part of its comprehensive feature set. These diagnostics include a cyclic redundancy check (CRC), signal chain checks, and serial interface checks, which lead to a more robust solution. These diagnostics reduce the need for external components to implement diagnostics, resulting in reduced board space needs, reduced design cycle times, and cost savings. The failure modes effects and diagnostic analysis (FMEDA) of a typical application has shown a safe failure fraction (SFF) greater than 90% according to IEC 61508.

The device operates with a single analog power supply from 2.7 V to 3.6 V or a dual 1.8 V power supply. The digital supply has a range of 1.65 V to 3.6 V. It is specified for a temperature range of −40°C to +105°C. The AD7124-4 is housed in a 32-lead LFCSP package or a 24-lead TSSOP package.

Applications

• Temperature measurement 
• Pressure measurement 
• Industrial process control 
• Instrumentation Smart transmitters
• Smart transmitters

The AD7124-8 is a low power, low noise, completely integrated analog front end for high precision measurement applications. The device contains a low noise, 24-bit Σ-Δ analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and can be configured to have 8 differential inputs or 15 single-ended or pseudo differential inputs. The onchip low gain stage ensures that signals of small amplitude can be interfaced directly to the ADC.

One of the major advantages of the AD7124-8 is that it gives the user the flexibility to employ one of three integrated power modes. The current consumption, range of output data rates, and rms noise can be tailored with the power mode selected. The device also offers a multitude of filter options, ensuring that the user has the highest degree of flexibility. The AD7124-8 can achieve simultaneous 50 Hz and 60 Hz rejection when operating at an output data rate of 25 SPS (single cycle settling), with rejection in excess of 80 dB achieved at lower output data rates.

The AD7124-8 establishes the highest degree of signal chain integration. The device contains a precision, low noise, low drift internal band gap reference and accepts an external differential reference, which can be internally buffered. Other key integrated features include programmable low drift excitation current sources, burnout currents, and a bias voltage generator, which sets the common-mode voltage of a channel to AV_DD/2. The low-side power switch enables the user to power down bridge sensors between conversions, ensuring the absolute minimal power consumption of the system. The device also allows the user the option of operating with either an internal clock or an external clock.

The integrated channel sequencer allows several channels to be enabled simultaneously, and the AD7124-8 sequentially converts on each enabled channel, simplifying communication with the device. As many as 16 channels can be enabled at any time, a channel being defined as an analog input or a diagnostic such as a power supply check or a reference check. This unique feature allows diagnostics to be interleaved with conversions. The AD7124-8 also supports per channel configuration. The device allows eight configurations or setups. Each configuration consists of gain, filter type, output data rate, buffering, and reference source. The user can assign any of these setups on a channel by channel basis.

The AD7124-8 also has extensive diagnostic functionality integrated as part of its comprehensive feature set. These diagnostics include a cyclic redundancy check (CRC), signal chain checks, and serial interface checks, which lead to a more robust solution. These diagnostics reduce the need for external components to implement diagnostics, resulting in reduced board space needs, reduced design cycle times, and cost savings. The failure modes effects and diagnostic analysis (FMEDA) of a typical application has shown a safe failure fraction (SFF) greater than 90% according to IEC 61508.

The device operates with a single analog power supply from 2.7 V to 3.6 V or a dual 1.8 V power supply. The digital supply has a range of 1.65 V to 3.6 V. It is specified for a temperature range of −40°C to +125°C. The AD7124-8 is housed in a 32-lead LFCSP package.

Note that, throughout this data sheet, multifunction pins, such as DOUT/RDY, are referred to either by the entire pin name or by a single function of the pin, for example, RDY, when only that function is relevant.

Applications

• Temperature measurement
• Pressure measurement
• Industrial process control
• Instrumentation
• Smart transmitters

The ADuCM360 is a fully integrated, 3.9 kSPS, 24-bit data acquisition system that incorporates dual high performance, multichannel sigma-delta (Σ-Δ) analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), a 32-bit ARM Cortex™-M3 processor, and Flash/EE memory on a single chip. The ADuCM360 is designed for direct interfacing to external precision sensors in both wired and battery-powered applications. The ADuCM361 contains all the features of the ADuCM360 except that only one 24-bit Σ-Δ ADC (ADC1) is available.

The ADuCM360/ADuCM361 contain an on-chip 32 kHz oscillator and an internal 16 MHz high frequency oscillator. The high frequency oscillator is routed through a programmable clock divider from which the operating frequency of the processor core clock is generated. The maximum core clock speed is 16 MHz; this speed is not limited by operating voltage or temperature.

The microcontroller core is a low power ARM Cortex-M3 processor, a 32-bit RISC machine that offers up to 20 MIPS peak performance. The Cortex-M3 processor incorporates a flexible, 11-channel DMA controller that supports all wired communica-tion peripherals (SPI, UART, and I2C). Also integrated on chip are 128 kB of nonvolatile Flash/EE memory and 8 kB of SRAM.

The analog subsystem consists of dual ADCs, each connected to a flexible input mux. Both ADCs can operate in fully differential and single-ended modes. Other on-chip ADC features include dual programmable excitation current sources, diagnostic current sources, and a bias voltage generator of AVDD_REG/2 (900 mV) to set the common-mode voltage of an input channel. A low-side internal ground switch is provided to allow power-down of an external circuit (for example, a bridge circuit) between conversions.

The ADCs contain two parallel filters: a sinc3 or sinc4 filter in parallel with a sinc2 filter. The sinc3 or sinc4 filter is used for precision measurements. The sinc2 filter is used for fast measure-ments and for the detection of step changes in the input signal.

The devices contain a low noise, low drift internal band gap ref-erence, but they can be configured to accept one or two external reference sources in ratiometric measurement configurations. An option to buffer the external reference inputs is provided on chip. A single-channel buffered voltage output DAC is also provided on chip.

The ADuCM360/ADuCM361 integrate a range of on-chip peripherals, which can be configured under microcontroller software control as required in the application. The peripherals include UART, I2C, and dual SPI serial I/O communication controllers; a 19-pin GPIO port; two general-purpose timers; a wake-up timer; and a system watchdog timer. A 16-bit PWM controller with six output channels is also provided.

The ADuCM360/ADuCM361 are specifically designed to operate in battery-powered applications where low power operation is critical. The microcontroller core can be configured in a normal operating mode that consumes 290 μA/MHz (including flash/ SRAM IDD). An overall system current consumption of 1 mA can be achieved with both ADCs on (input buffers off), PGA gain of 4, one SPI port on, and all timers on.

The ADuCM360/ADuCM361 can be configured in a number of low power operating modes under direct program control, including a hibernate mode (internal wake-up timer active) that consumes only 4 μA. In hibernate mode, peripherals such as external interrupts or the internal wake-up timer can wake up the device. This mode allows the part to operate with ultralow power and still respond to asynchronous external or periodic events.

APPLICATIONS

• Industrial automation and process control
• Intelligent precision sensing systems
• 4 mA to 20 mA loop-powered smart sensor systems
• Medical devices, patient monitoring

The ADT7320 is a high accuracy digital temperature sensor that offers breakthrough performance over a wide industrial temperature range, housed in a 4 mm × 4 mm LFCSP package. It contains an internal band gap reference, a temperature sensor, and a 16-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to monitor and digitize the temperature to a resolution of 0.0078°C. The ADC resolution, by default, is set to 13 bits (0.0625°C). The ADC resolution is a user programmable mode that can be changed through the serial interface.

The ADT7320 is guaranteed to operate over supply voltages from 2.7 V to 5.5 V. Operating at 3.3 V, the average supply current is typically 210 μA. The ADT7320 has a shutdown mode that powers down the device and offers a shutdown current of typically 2.0 μA at 3.3 V. The ADT7320 is rated for operation over the −40°C to +150°C temperature range.

The CT pin is an open-drain output that becomes active when the temperature exceeds a programmable critical temperature limit. The INT pin is also an open-drain output that becomes active when the temperature exceeds a programmable limit. The INT pin and CT pin can operate in either comparator or interrupt mode.

Product Highlights

1. Ease of use, no calibration or correction required by the user.
2. Low power consumption.
3. Excellent long term stability and reliability.
4. High accuracy for industrial, instrumentation, and medical applications.
5. Packaged in a 16-lead RoHS-compliant, 4 mm x 4 mm LFCSP package.

Applications

• RTD and thermistor replacement
• Thermocouple cold junction compensation
• Medical equipment
• Industrial controls and test
• Food transportation and storage
• Environmental monitoring and HVAC
• Laser diode temperature controls

The ADT7420 is a high accuracy digital temperature sensor offering breakthrough performance over a wide industrial range, housed in a 4 mm × 4 mm LFCSP package. It contains an internal band gap reference, a temperature sensor, and a 16-bit ADC to monitor and digitize the temperature to 0.0078°C resolution. The ADC resolution, by default, is set to 13 bits (0.0625°C). The ADC resolution is a user programmable mode that can be changed through the serial interface.

The ADT7420 is guaranteed to operate over supply voltages from 2.7 V to 5.5 V. Operating at 3.3 V, the average supply current is typically 210 μA. The ADT7420 has a shutdown mode that powers down the device and offers a shutdown current of typically 2.0 μA at 3.3 V. The ADT7420 is rated for operation over the −40°C to +150°C temperature range.

Pin A0 and Pin A1 are available for address selection, giving the ADT7420 four possible I²C addresses. The CT pin is an open-drain output that becomes active when the temperature exceeds a programmable critical temperature limit. The INT pin is also an open-drain output that becomes active when the temperature exceeds a programmable limit. The INT pin and CT pin can operate in comparator and interrupt event modes.

Product Highlights

1. Ease of use, no calibration or correction required by the user.
2. Low power consumption.
3. Excellent long-term stability and reliability.
4. High accuracy for industrial, instrumentation, and medical applications.
5. Packaged in a 16-lead, 4 mm × 4 mm LFCSP RoHS-compliant package.

Applications

• RTD and thermistor replacement
• Thermocouple cold junction compensation
• Medical equipment
• Industrial control and test
• Food transportation and storage
• Environmental monitoring and HVAC
• Laser diode temperature control