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2004 Microchip Technology Inc.
DS21314F-page 13
MCP601/2/3/4
3.7.2
INSTRUMENTATION AMPLIFIER
CIRCUITS
Instrumentation amplifiers have a differential input that
subtracts one input voltage from another and rejects
common mode signals. These amplifiers also provide a
single-ended output voltage.
The three-op amp instrumentation amplifier is illustrated
in Figure 3-7. One advantage of this approach is unity-
gain operation, while one disadvantage is that the
common mode input range is reduced as R
2
/R
G
gets
larger.
FIGURE 3-7:
Instrumentation Amplifier.
Three-Op Amp
The two-op amp instrumentation amplifier is shown in
Figure 3-8. While its power consumption is lower than
the three-op amp version, its main drawbacks are that
the common mode range is reduced with higher gains
and it must be configured in gains of two or higher.
FIGURE 3-8:
Instrumentation Amplifier.
Two-Op Amp
Both instrumentation amplifiers should use a bulk
bypass capacitor of at least 1 μF. The CMRR of these
amplifiers will be set by both the op amp CMRR and
resistor matching.
3.7.3
PHOTO DETECTION
The MCP601/2/3/4 op amps can be used to easily
convert the signal from a sensor that produces an
output current (such as a photo diode) into a voltage (a
transimpedance amplifier). This is implemented with a
single resistor (R
2
) in the feedback loop of the
amplifiers shown in Figure 3-9 and Figure 3-10. The
optional capacitor (C
2
) sometimes provides stability for
these circuits.
A photodiode configured in the Photovoltaic mode has
zero voltage potential placed across it (Figure 3-9). In
this mode, the light sensitivity and linearity is
maximized, making it best suited for precision
applications. The key amplifier specifications for this
application are: low input bias current, low noise,
common mode input voltage range (including ground)
and rail-to-rail output.
FIGURE 3-9:
Photovoltaic Mode Detector.
In contrast, a photodiode that is configured in the
Photoconductive mode has a reverse bias voltage
across the photo-sensing element (Figure 3-10). This
decreases the diode capacitance, which facilitates
high-speed
operation
(e.g.,
communications). The design trade-off is increased
diode leakage current and linearity errors. The op amp
needs to have a wide Gain Bandwidth Product
(GBWP).
high-speed
digital
FIGURE 3-10:
Detector.
Photoconductive Mode
MCP60X
V
1
MCP60X
V
2
R
2
R
2
R
3
MCP60X
R
4
R
3
R
4
V
OUT
V
REF
R
G
+
–
–
+
–
+
V
OUT
V
1
V
2
–
(
)
1
2R
2
R
G
---------
+
R
4
R
3
-----
V
REF
+
=
MCP60X
+
V
2
R
G
R
2
R
2
MCP60X
+
R
1
V
OUT
V
REF
V
1
R
1
-
-
V
OUT
V
1
V
2
–
(
)
1
R
1
R
2
-----
2R
1
R
G
---------
+
+
V
REF
+
=
D
1
Light
V
OUT
V
DD
MCP60X
R
2
C
2
I
D1
V
OUT
= I
D1
R
2
–
+
D
1
Light
V
OUT
V
DD
MCP60X
R
2
C
2
I
D1
V
OUT
= I
D1
R
2
V
BIAS
< 0V
V
BIAS
–
+