8.1.1 Handheld Remote Controls

The LM7301 offers outstanding specifications for applications requiring good speed/power trade-off. In applications such as remote control operation, where high bandwidth and low power consumption are needed, the LM7301 performance can easily meet these requirements.

8.1.2 Remote Microphone in Personal Computers

Remote microphones in Personal Computers often use a microphone at the top of the monitor which must drive a long cable in a high noise environment. One method often used to reduce the nose is to lower the signal impedance, which reduces the noise pickup. In this configuration, the amplifier usually requires 30 db to 40 db of gain, at bandwidths higher than most low-power CMOS parts can achieve. The LM7301 offers the tiny package, higher bandwidths, and greater output drive capability than other rail-to-rail input/output parts can provide for this application.

8.1.3 Optical Line Isolation for Modems

The combination of the low distortion and good load driving capabilities of the LM7301 make it an excellent choice for driving opto-coupler circuits to achieve line isolation for modems. This technique prevents telephone line noise from coupling onto the modem signal. Superior isolation is achieved by coupling the signal optically from the computer modem to the telephone lines; however, this also requires a low distortion at relatively high currents. Due to its low distortion at high-output drive currents, the LM7301 fulfills this need, in this and in other telecom applications. See Stability Considerations for methods used to ensure stability under all load conditions.

8.2.1 Design Requirements

The output port is designed for easy interface; it is ground-referenced and it produces 0 V with 0 A of load current. A typical stage that follows this stage, an ADC which samples the load current for example, is easily connected to the Q1 collector with no level shifting or additional biasing required.

Apart from a wide supply voltage capability, the operational amplifier used in Figure 27 must have an input voltage range that includes the V+ rail voltage to allow high side current sensing. Furthermore, it should be unity gain stable and have an output voltage range which is less than one V_be from V+. The LM7301 has all these requirements.

8.2.2 Detailed Design Procedure

8.2.2.1 Selecting R_SENSE

Pick the value of R_SENSE low enough to minimize its heat / voltage loss while observing Equation 1 for minimum detectable load current, I_{CHARGE_MIN} , and device offset voltage, V_OS:

Equation 1.

With the schematic values shown and LM7301's V_OS limit of 6 mV:

Equation 2.

If the system has the ability to be initialized and corrected for initial readings, it may be possible to lower the value of R_SENSE.

8.2.2.2 Selecting R1, and R3 Values

Pick the R3 / R1 ratio to get the proper full-scale V_OUT when the maximum load current, I_{CHARGE_MAX}, flows:

Equation 3.

For example, to get 3-V output with 3 A of load current when R_SENSE = 0.2 Ω results in:

Equation 4.

Ensure that the resulting transfer function also satisfies the application’s need when the minimum load current, I_{CHARGE_MIN} is being sensed. In this example, the minimum output voltage will be 30 mV (when I_{CHARGE_MIN} = 30 mA).

With the R3/R1 ratio determined, pick the value of R3 for Q1 collector current less than 1 mA at the maximum V_OUT, and determine R1 from that.

8.2.2.4 Error Terms Expressions

Here are the expressions for the output change caused by various parameter shifts, evaluated for Figure 27 values with I_{CHARGE_MAX}= 3 A:

Offset Voltage, ΔV_OS:

Equation 5.

Offset current, I_OS:

Equation 6.

Self-heating of R_SENSE causing ΔR_SENSE with I_{CHARGE_MAX} flowing:

Equation 7.

8.2.2.5 Frequency Response

Depending on the application, it may be useful to have the means to control the upper end of the circuit’s frequency response. An example is limiting the circuit’s response to high-frequency load current spikes or switching frequencies so that the circuit only reacts to DC or lower frequencies. Capacitor C1 in Figure 27 can be used to accomplish just that. The original circuit has a –3-dB bandwidth close to 4.5 MHz which can be reduced by increasing the value of C1, as shown in Figure 28.

Figure 28. Current Sense Frequency Response vs C1 Value

8.2.3 Application Curves

Figure 29 shows the transfer function of the circuit for several values of R_SENSE. Notice that with 1 Ω, the output is limited to approximately 16 V because of the additional drop across the sense resistor at higher load currents.

Figure 30 shows the low-end of the load current is more non-linear for low RSENSE values, as noted in Selecting RSENSE due to V_OS. Higher R_SENSE values help with this at the expense of a higher loss and voltage drop.

Use lower sense resistor value to avoid voltage limitation!

Figure 29. Current Sense Transfer Function for Various R_SENSE Values

Line showing linearity degradation at the lower end.

Figure 30. Low-End Transfer Function for Various R_SENSE