NCS210R, NCV210R, NCS211R, NCV211R, NCS213R, NCV213R, NCS214R, NCV214R
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10
Basic Connections
Current Sensing Techniques
The NCS21xR current−sense amplifiers can be
configured for both low−side and high−side current sensing.
Low−side sensing appears to have the advantage of being
straightforward, inexpensive, and can be implemented with
a simple op amp circuit. However, the NCS21xR series of
devices provides the full differential input necessary to get
accurate shunt connections, while also providing a built−in
gain network with precision difficult to obtain with external
resistors. While at times the application requires low−side
sensing, only high−side sensing can detect a short from the
positive supply line to ground. Furthermore, high−side
sensing avoids adding resistance to the ground path of the
load being measured. The sections below focus primarily on
high−side current sensing.
Unidirectional Operation
In unidirectional current sensing, the current always flows
in the same direction. Common applications for
unidirectional operation include power supplies and load
current monitoring. Figure 31 shows the NCS21xR circuit
implementation for unidirectional operation using
high−side current sensing.
Basic connections for unidirectional operation include
connecting the load power supply, connecting a current
shunt to the differential inputs of the NCS21xR, grounding
the REF pin, and providing a power supply for the
NCS21xR. The NCS21xR can be connected to the same
power supply that it is monitoring current from, or it can be
connected to a separate power supply. If it is necessary to
detect short circuit current on the load power supply, which
may cause the load power supply to sag to near zero volts,
a separate power supply must be used on the NCS21xR.
When using multiple supplies, there are no restrictions on
power supply sequencing.
When no current is flowing though the RSHUNT, and the
REF pin is connected to ground, the NCS21xR output is
expected to be within 50 mV of ground. When current is
flowing through RSHUNT, the output will swing positive, up
to within 200 mV of the applied supply voltage, VS.
R4
R2
-
+
R3
R1
NCS21xR
REF
OUT
IN-
IN+
GND
VS
RSHUNT Load
0.01uF
To
0.1uF
+2.2 V to +26 V
Output
Supply
Figure 31. Basic Unidirectional Connection
Bidirectional Operation
In bidirectional current sensing, the current
measurements are taken when current is flowing in both
directions. For example, in fuel gauging, the current is
measured when the battery is being charged or discharged.
Bidirectional operation requires the output to swing both
positive and negative around a bias voltage applied to the
REF pin. The voltage applied to the REF pin depends on the
application. However, most often it is biased to either half of
the supply voltage or to half the value of the measurement
system reference. Figure 32 shows bidirectional operation
with three different circuit choices that can be connected to
the REF pin to provide a voltage reference to the NCS21xR.