SBOSAD4 June 2024 INA4230
PRODUCTION DATA
The INA4230 has four Alert Configuration Registers that can be assigned to the four channels as needed. Each alert register has a channel assignment field as well as an alert mask field. The alert mask field allows the selection from one of the five available functions for the alert response. Based on the function being monitored, a value can then be entered into the Alert Limit Registers to set the corresponding threshold value that asserts the ALERT pin.
The ALERT pin allows for one of several available alert functions to be monitored to determine if a user-defined threshold has been exceeded. The five alert functions that can be monitored are:
The ALERT pin is an open-drain output. This pin is asserted when the alert function selected in the Alert Configuration registers exceeds the value programmed into the Alert Limit register. Up to four alert functions can be enabled and monitored at a time.
The conversion-ready state of the device can also be monitored at the ALERT pin to inform the user when the device has completed the previous conversion and is ready to begin a new conversion. The conversion ready flag (CVRF) bit can be monitored at the ALERT pin along with one of the alert functions.
If the alert function is not used, the ALERT pin can be left floating without impacting the operation of the device.
The alert function compares the programmed alert limit value to the result of each corresponding conversion. Therefore, an alert can be issued during a conversion cycle where the averaged value of the signal does not exceed the alert limit. Triggering an alert based on this intermediate conversion allows for out-of-range events to be detected faster than the averaged output data registers are updated. This fast detection can be used to create alert limits for quickly changing conditions through the use of the alert function, as well as to create limits to longer-duration conditions through software monitoring of the averaged output values.