SBAA532A February   2022  – March 2024 ADS1119 , ADS1120 , ADS1120-Q1 , ADS112C04 , ADS112U04 , ADS1130 , ADS1131 , ADS114S06 , ADS114S06B , ADS114S08 , ADS114S08B , ADS1158 , ADS1219 , ADS1220 , ADS122C04 , ADS122U04 , ADS1230 , ADS1231 , ADS1232 , ADS1234 , ADS1235 , ADS1235-Q1 , ADS124S06 , ADS124S08 , ADS1250 , ADS1251 , ADS1252 , ADS1253 , ADS1254 , ADS1255 , ADS1256 , ADS1257 , ADS1258 , ADS1258-EP , ADS1259 , ADS1259-Q1 , ADS125H01 , ADS125H02 , ADS1260 , ADS1260-Q1 , ADS1261 , ADS1261-Q1 , ADS1262 , ADS1263 , ADS127L01 , ADS130E08 , ADS131A02 , ADS131A04 , ADS131E04 , ADS131E06 , ADS131E08 , ADS131E08S , ADS131M02 , ADS131M03 , ADS131M04 , ADS131M06 , ADS131M08

 

  1.   1
  2.   Abstract
  3.   Trademarks
  4. 1Bridge Overview
  5. 2Bridge Construction
    1. 2.1 Active Elements in Bridge Topologies
      1. 2.1.1 Bridge With One Active Element
        1. 2.1.1.1 Reducing Non-Linearity in a Bridge With One Active Element Using Current Excitation
      2. 2.1.2 Bridge With Two Active Elements in Opposite Branches
        1. 2.1.2.1 Eliminating Non-Linearity in a Bridge With Two Active Elements in Opposite Branches Using Current Excitation
      3. 2.1.3 Bridge With Two Active Elements in the Same Branch
      4. 2.1.4 Bridge With Four Active Elements
    2. 2.2 Strain Gauge and Bridge Construction
  6. 3Bridge Connections
    1. 3.1 Ratiometric Measurements
    2. 3.2 Four-Wire Bridge
    3. 3.3 Six-Wire Bridge
  7. 4Electrical Characteristics of Bridge Measurements
    1. 4.1 Bridge Sensitivity
    2. 4.2 Bridge Resistance
    3. 4.3 Output Common-Mode Voltage
    4. 4.4 Offset Voltage
    5. 4.5 Full-Scale Error
    6. 4.6 Non-Linearity Error and Hysteresis
    7. 4.7 Drift
    8. 4.8 Creep and Creep Recovery
  8. 5Signal Chain Design Considerations
    1. 5.1 Amplification
      1. 5.1.1 Instrumentation Amplifier
        1. 5.1.1.1 INA Architecture and Operation
        2. 5.1.1.2 INA Error Sources
      2. 5.1.2 Integrated PGA
        1. 5.1.2.1 Integrated PGA Architecture and Operation
        2. 5.1.2.2 Benefits of Using an Integrated PGA
    2. 5.2 Noise
      1. 5.2.1 Noise in an ADC Data Sheet
      2. 5.2.2 Calculating NFC for a Bridge Measurement System
    3. 5.3 Channel Scan Time and Signal Bandwidth
      1. 5.3.1 Noise Performance
      2. 5.3.2 ADC Conversion Latency
      3. 5.3.3 Digital Filter Frequency Response
    4. 5.4 AC Excitation
    5. 5.5 Calibration
      1. 5.5.1 Offset Calibration
      2. 5.5.2 Gain Calibration
      3. 5.5.3 Calibration Example
  9. 6Bridge Measurement Circuits
    1. 6.1 Four-Wire Resistive Bridge Measurement with a Ratiometric Reference and a Unipolar, Low-Voltage (≤5 V) Excitation Source
      1. 6.1.1 Schematic
      2. 6.1.2 Pros and Cons
      3. 6.1.3 Parameters and Variables
      4. 6.1.4 Design Notes
      5. 6.1.5 Measurement Conversion
      6. 6.1.6 Generic Register Settings
    2. 6.2 Six-Wire Resistive Bridge Measurement With a Ratiometric Reference and a Unipolar, Low-Voltage (≤ 5 V) Excitation Source
      1. 6.2.1 Schematic
      2. 6.2.2 Pros and Cons
      3. 6.2.3 Parameters and Variables
      4. 6.2.4 Design Notes
      5. 6.2.5 Measurement Conversion
      6. 6.2.6 Generic Register Settings
    3. 6.3 Four-Wire Resistive Bridge Measurement With a Pseudo-Ratiometric Reference and a Unipolar, High-Voltage (> 5 V) Excitation Source
      1. 6.3.1 Schematic
      2. 6.3.2 Pros and Cons
      3. 6.3.3 Parameters and Variables
      4. 6.3.4 Design Notes
      5. 6.3.5 Measurement Conversion
      6. 6.3.6 Generic Register Settings
    4. 6.4 Four-Wire Resistive Bridge Measurement with a Pseudo-Ratiometric Reference and Asymmetric, High-Voltage (> 5 V) Excitation Source
      1. 6.4.1 Schematic
      2. 6.4.2 Pros and Cons
      3. 6.4.3 Parameters and Variables
      4. 6.4.4 Design Notes
      5. 6.4.5 Measurement Conversion
      6. 6.4.6 Generic Register Settings
    5. 6.5 Four-Wire Resistive Bridge Measurement With a Ratiometric Reference and Current Excitation
      1. 6.5.1 Schematic
      2. 6.5.2 Pros and Cons
      3. 6.5.3 Parameters and Variables
      4. 6.5.4 Design Notes
      5. 6.5.5 Measurement Conversion
      6. 6.5.6 Generic Register Settings
    6. 6.6 Measuring Multiple Four-Wire Resistive Bridges in Series with a Pseudo-Ratiometric Reference and a Unipolar, Low-Voltage (≤5V) Excitation Source
      1. 6.6.1 Schematic
      2. 6.6.2 Pros and Cons
      3. 6.6.3 Parameters and Variables
      4. 6.6.4 Design Notes
      5. 6.6.5 Measurement Conversion
      6. 6.6.6 Generic Register Settings
    7. 6.7 Measuring Multiple Four-Wire Resistive Bridges in Parallel Using a Single-Channel ADC With a Ratiometric Reference and a Unipolar, Low-Voltage (≤ 5 V) Excitation Source
      1. 6.7.1 Schematic
      2. 6.7.2 Pros and Cons
      3. 6.7.3 Parameters and Variables
      4. 6.7.4 Design Notes
      5. 6.7.5 Measurement Conversion
      6. 6.7.6 Generic Register Settings
    8. 6.8 Measuring Multiple Four-Wire Resistive Bridges in Parallel Using a Multichannel ADC With a Ratiometric Reference and a Unipolar, Low-Voltage (≤ 5 V) Excitation Source
      1. 6.8.1 Schematic
      2. 6.8.2 Pros and Cons
      3. 6.8.3 Parameters and Variables
      4. 6.8.4 Design Notes
      5. 6.8.5 Measurement Conversion
      6. 6.8.6 Generic Register Settings
  10. 7Summary
  11. 8Revision History

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Additional VSENSE lines reduce IR losses as a result of long leads
  • Simple implementation requiring only a few passive components
  • Ratiometric measurement such that excitation source noise and drift are canceled

Cons:

  • Six-wire sensors are typically more expensive compared to four-wire sensors
  • Excitation voltage is limited to ADC VREF range
  • Bridge common-mode voltage is limited by ADC analog input range