Balanced, double-sided calibration circuit for sensor element and differential preamplifier

Abstract

The balanced, bi-directional calibration circuit of the present invention joined to a sensor and a differential preamplifier. The sensor has two outputs which are received by the differential preamplifier such that common-mode line noise is rejected. The calibration circuit includes a broadband signal generator which provides the calibration signal. The calibration circuit also includes a switching network that allows the calibration signal to be switched to either of the two sensor outputs or isolated from the sensor and preamplifier. A dual-state switching control signal is applied via a single control wire to the switching network to select which preamplifier input receives the calibration signal. The calibration signal generator control line is electrically isolated from the preamplifier by an opto-isolator. The electrical balance of the bi-directional calibration circuit and electrical isolation of the calibration signal generator preserve the common-mode noise rejection of the differential preamplifier.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.