SNOSCZ4A April   2015  – October 2024 FDC1004-Q1

PRODUCTION DATA  

  1.   1
  2. 1 Features
  3. 2 Applications
  4. 3 Description
  5. 4 Pin Configuration and Functions
  6. 5 Specifications
    1. 5.1 Absolute Maximum Ratings
    2. 5.2 ESD Ratings
    3. 5.3 Recommended Operating Conditions
    4. 5.4 Thermal Information
    5. 5.5 Electrical Characteristics
    6. 5.6 I2C Interface Voltage Level
    7. 5.7 I2C Interface Timing
    8. 5.8 Typical Characteristics
  7. 6 Detailed Description
    1. 6.1 Overview
    2. 6.2 Functional Block Diagram
    3. 6.3 Feature Description
      1. 6.3.1 The Shield
      2. 6.3.2 The CAPDAC
      3. 6.3.3 Capacitive System Offset Calibration
      4. 6.3.4 Capacitive Gain Calibration
    4. 6.4 Device Functional Modes
      1. 6.4.1 Single Ended Measurement
      2. 6.4.2 Differential Measurement
    5. 6.5 Programming
      1. 6.5.1 Serial Bus Address
      2. 6.5.2 Read/Write Operations
      3. 6.5.3 Device Usage
        1. 6.5.3.1 Measurement Configuration
        2. 6.5.3.2 Triggering Measurements
        3. 6.5.3.3 Wait for Measurement Completion
        4. 6.5.3.4 Read of Measurement Result
    6. 6.6 Register Maps
      1. 6.6.1 Registers
        1. 6.6.1.1 Capacitive Measurement Registers
      2. 6.6.2 Measurement Registers
      3. 6.6.3 Measurement Configuration Registers
      4. 6.6.4 FDC Configuration Register
      5. 6.6.5 Offset Calibration Registers
      6. 6.6.6 Gain Calibration Registers
      7. 6.6.7 Manufacturer ID Register
      8. 6.6.8 Device ID Register
  8. 7 Applications and Implementation
    1. 7.1 Application Information
      1. 7.1.1 Liquid Level Sensor
    2. 7.2 Typical Application
      1. 7.2.1 Design Requirements
      2. 7.2.2 Detailed Design Procedure
      3. 7.2.3 Application Curve
    3. 7.3 Best Design Practices
    4. 7.4 Initialization Set Up
    5. 7.5 Power Supply Recommendations
    6. 7.6 Layout
      1. 7.6.1 Layout Guidelines
      2. 7.6.2 Layout Example
  9. 8 Device and Documentation Support
    1. 8.1 Documentation Support
      1. 8.1.1 Related Documentation
    2. 8.2 Receiving Notification of Documentation Updates
    3. 8.3 Support Resources
    4. 8.4 Trademarks
    5. 8.5 Electrostatic Discharge Caution
    6. 8.6 Glossary
  10. 9 Revision History
  11. 10Mechanical, Packaging, and Orderable Information

7.2.2 Detailed Design Procedure

In capacitive sensing systems, the design of the sensor plays an important role in determining system performance and capabilities. In most cases the sensor is simply a metal plate that can be designed on the PCB.

The sensor used in this example is implemented with a two-layer PCB. On the top layer, which faces the tank, there are the 3 electrodes (Reference Environmental, Reference Liquid, and Level) with a ground plane surrounding the electrodes. The bottom layer is covered with a shield plane to isolate the electrodes from any external interference sources.

Depending on the shape of the container, the FDC1004-Q1 can be located on the sensor PCB to minimize the length of the traces between the input channels and the sensors and increase the immunity from EMI sources. In case the shape of the container or other mechanical constraints do not allow having the sensors and the FDC1004-Q1 on the same PCB, the traces which connect the channels to the sensor need to be shielded with the appropriate shield. In this design example all of the channels are shielded with SHLD1. For this configuration, the FDC1004-Q1 measures the capacitance of the 3 channels versus ground; and so the SHLD1 and SHLD2 pins are internally shorted in the FDC1004-Q1 (see The Shield).