First High-Precision Instrumentation Amplifier With Fully-Differential Outputs

Introducing the first instrumentation amplifier with fully-differential outputs (INAFDA) in the industry, the INA851. The INA851 integrates a two-amplifier input gain stage and a differential amplifier output stage into a one-chip solution. The INA851 redefines the instrumentation amplifier landscape by offering an integrated design within the performance and price range of a discrete design.

Figure 1 INA851 ADC Driver Application

Design Considerations

Input overvoltage protection of up to ±40 V
Attenuating gain down to 0.2 V and up to a gain of 10,000
Single external resistor to set gain
External access pin for additional noise filtering

The output driver has a built-in clamping circuit, featuring an integrated low-dropout (LDO), designed to protect the succeeding signal chain, typically an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). When connecting the ADC power supply pins to the INA851 clamp pins, the INA851 output voltage is clamped at 600 mV above the ADC power supply voltage to protect the ADC and downstream devices against overdrive damage, without experiencing distortion.

Figure 2 Simplified Schematic of Output Driver Clamping Structure

Due to the additional LDO functionality in the output stage, the input and output range calculation comes with more complexity compared to traditional INAs. To help understand the device functionality and ease device implementation, TI created the INA851 Input and Output Range Design Calculator, available for download online. The tool calculates the input and output range based on the power supply voltage, as well as input common mode range and differential output based on user inputs. The calculator also provides a visual graphical display of the resulting range, to better highlight device versatility. Figure 3 shows the GUI in the calculator.

Figure 3 INA851 Input and Output Range Design Calculator

The integrated design offered by the INA851 also incorporates precision ratiometric resistors in the FDA output stage, improving accuracy while reducing the errors due to resistor mismatch. Overall, the INA851 reduces design component count, in turn reducing printed-circuit-board (PCB) area compared to discrete solutions by 46%, based on a typical strain gauge application. Figure 4 compares a typical discrete design layout including the dual op-amp input gain stage, differential driving amplifier, resistor network, and decoupling capacitors, resulting in a total design size of 255.6 mm² compared to the INA851 integrated design size of 137.16 mm².

Figure 4 PCB Size Comparison

Part Number⁽¹⁾	Maximum Operating Voltage	Features
INA851	36 V	Low-noise (3.2 nV/√Hz) high-speed (22 MHz) fully-differential instrumentation amplifier with OVP (±40 V)
INA849	36 V	Single-ended, ultra-low noise (1 nV/√Hz), high-speed (28 MHz, 35 V/μs), precision (35 μV) instrumentation amplifier
PGA855	36 V	Low-noise, wide-bandwidth, fully-differential-output programmable-gain instrumentation amplifier

(1) For more devices, see the online parametric tool

For additional assistance, ask questions to TI engineers on the TI E2E™ Amplifier Support Forum.

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