BRIDGE BALANCE
With V+
and V–
connected to the bridge output, the
LIN
LIN
bridge excitation voltage can be made to vary as much as
±0.5V in response to the bridge output voltage. Be sure that
the total load on the VR output is less than 2mA at the
maximum excitation voltage, VR = 5.5V.
Figure 1 shows a bridge trim circuit (R1, R2). This adjust-
ment can be used to compensate for the initial accuracy of
the bridge and/or to trim the offset voltage of the XTR104.
The values of R1 and R2 depend on the impedance of the
bridge, and the trim range required. This trim circuit places
an additional load on the VR output. The effective load of the
trim circuit is nearly equal to R2. Total load on the VR output
terminal must not exceed 2mA. An approximate value for R1
can be calculated:
Signal-dependent variation of the bridge excitation voltage
provides a second-order term to the complete transfer func-
tion (including the bridge). This can be tailored to correct for
bridge sensor nonlinearity. Either polarity of nonlinearity
(bowing up or down) can be compensated by proper connec-
tion of the VLIN inputs. Connecting V+LIN to V+IN and V–
5V • R B
LIN
to V–IN (Figure 1) causes VR to increase with bridge output
which compensates for a positive bow in the bridge re-
sponse. Reversing the connections (Figure 3) causes VR to
decrease with increasing bridge output, to compensate for
negative-bowing nonlinearity.
(3)
R1
≈
4 • V TRIM
Where: RB is the resistance of the bridge.
TRIM is the desired ±voltage trim range (in V).
V
Make R2 equal or lower in value to R1.
To determine the required value for RLIN you must know the
nonlinearity of the bridge sensor with constant excitation
voltage. The linearization circuitry can only compensate for
the parabolic portion of a sensor’s nonlinearity. Parabolic
nonlinearity has a maximum deviation from linear occurring
at mid-scale (see Figure 4). Sensors with nonlinearity curves
similar to that shown in Figure 4, but not peaking exactly at
mid-scale can be substantially improved. A nonlinearity that
is perfectly “S-shaped” (equal positive and negative
nonlinearity) cannot be corrected with the XTR104. It may,
however, be possible to improve the worst-case nonlinearity
of a sensor by equalizing the positive and negative
nonlinearity.
Figure 2 shows another way to adjust zero errors using the
output current adjustment pins of the XTR104. This pro-
vides ±500µA (typical) adjustment around the initial low-
scale output current. This is an output current adjustment
that is independent of the input stage gain set with RG. If the
input stage is set for high gain the output current adjustment
may not provide sufficient range.
(a)
XTR104
14
The nonlinearity, B (in % of full scale), is positive or
negative depending on the direction of the bow. A maximum
of ±2.5% nonlinearity can be corrected. An approximate
value for RLIN can be calculated by:
15
16
10kΩ
±500µA typical
output current
adjustment range.
K LIN • V FS
(5)
RLIN
=
0. 2 • B
(b)
Where: KLIN ≈ 24000.
XTR104
VFS is the full-scale bridge output (in Volts) with
constant 5V excitation.
B is the parabolic nonlinearity in ±% of full scale.
RLIN in Ω.
14
15
16
5kΩ
5kΩ
±50µA typical
output current
adjustment range.
Methods for refining this calculation involve determining
the actual value of KLIN for a particular device (explained
later).
FIGURE 2. Low-scale Output Current Adjustment.
B is a signed number (negative for a downward-bowing
nonlinearity). This can produce a negative value for RLIN. In
this case, use the resistor value indicated (ignore the sign),
LINEARIZATION
Differential voltage applied to the linearization inputs, V+
and V–LIN, causes the reference (excitation) voltage, VR, to
vary according to the following equation:
LIN
but connect V+
Figure 3.
to V– and V–
to V+ as shown in
LIN
IN
LIN IN
This approximate calculation of RLIN generally provides
about a 5:1 improvement in bridge nonlinearity.
KLIN
(4)
V R = 5V + V LIN
R LIN
Example: The bridge sensor depicted by the negative-
bowing curve in Figure 4. Its full scale output is 10mV with
constant 5V excitation. Its maximum nonlinearity, B, is
–1.9% referred to full scale (occurring at mid-scale). Using
equation 5:
Where: VLIN is the voltage applied to the V+ and V–
LIN
LIN
differential inputs (in V).
RLIN in Ω.
KLIN ≈ 24000 (approximately ±20% depending on
variations in the fabrication of the XTR104).
®
7
XTR104