Multipath programmable gain instrumentation amplifier frontend
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorsSudarshan Udayashankar, Viola Schaffer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system includes an instrumentation amplifier (INA) including a first transistor coupled to a first input node, and a second transistor coupled to a second input node. The INA also includes a resistor coupled between the first transistor and the second transistor. The INA includes a gain resistor network coupled to the resistor and to the first and second transistors, where the gain resistor network includes two or more gain resistors. The system also includes a voltage to current converter, where the voltage to current converter is coupled to the resistor and the gain resistor network.
Claims19
A system, comprising:
- an instrumentation amplifier (INA) including:
- a first transistor coupled to a first input terminal, and a second transistor coupled to a second input terminal;
- a resistor coupled between the first transistor and the second transistor;
- and
- a gain resistor network coupled to the resistor and to the first and second transistors, wherein the gain resistor network includes two or more gain resistors;
- a voltage to current converter, wherein the voltage to current converter is coupled to the resistor and the gain resistor network;
- and
- an amplifier having an amplifier output and first and second amplifier inputs, wherein the amplifier output is coupled to the gain resistor network, the first amplifier input is coupled to a voltage source, and the second amplifier input is coupled to the first transistor.
A system, comprising:
- an instrumentation amplifier (INA) including a first transistor, a second transistor, a first resistor, and a gain resistor network;
- and
- a voltage to current converter coupled to the INA and including:
- a first buffer configured to receive a first input signal;
- a second buffer configured to receive a second input signal;
- one or more current mirrors configured to provide a current to a second resistor, the second resistor coupled to the first buffer and the second buffer;
- and
- a switch for selectively conducting the current to the INA.
A method, comprising:
- providing a first input signal to a first input of an instrumentation amplifier (INA), and providing a second input signal to a second input of the INA;
- providing the first input signal to a first input of a voltage to current converter, and providing the second input signal to a second input of the voltage to current converter;
- generating a current in the voltage to current converter proportional to a difference between the first input signal and the second input signal;
- providing the current to a gain resistor network in the INA;
- applying a gain, via the gain resistor network, to the difference between the first input signal and the second input signal, to generate an amplified signal;
- and
- providing the amplified signal to an output of the INA.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.