0.1µF

Power Supply

Load

Output

-

+

IN-

IN+

GND

V+

OUT

REF

Bus Supply

21

INA210, INA211, INA212, INA213, INA214, INA215

www.ti.com

SBOS437I – MAY 2008 – REVISED SEPTEMBER 2016

Product Folder Links: INA210 INA211 INA212 INA213 INA214 INA215

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Copyright © 2008–2016, Texas Instruments Incorporated

9 Application and Implementation

NOTE

Information in the following applications sections is not part of the TI component

specification, and TI does not warrant its accuracy or completeness. TI’s customers are

responsible for determining suitability of components for their purposes. Customers should

validate and test their design implementation to confirm system functionality.

9.1 Application Information

The INA210-INA215 measure the voltage developed across a current-sensing resistor when current passes

through it. The ability to drive the reference pin to adjust the functionality of the output signal offers multiple

configurations, as discussed throughout this section.

9.2 Typical Applications

9.2.1 Unidirectional Operation

Figure 30. Unidirectional Application Schematic

9.2.1.1 Design Requirements

The device can be configured to monitor current flowing in one direction (unidirectional) or in both directions

(bidirectional) depending on how the REF pin is configured. The most common case is unidirectional where the

output is set to ground when no current is flowing by connecting the REF pin to ground, as shown in Figure 30.

When the input signal increases, the output voltage at the OUT pin increases.

9.2.1.2 Detailed Design Procedure

The linear range of the output stage is limited in how close the output voltage can approach ground under zero

input conditions. In unidirectional applications where measuring very low input currents is desirable, bias the REF

pin to a convenient value above 50 mV to get the output into the linear range of the device. To limit common-

mode rejection errors, TI recommends buffering the reference voltage connected to the REF pin.

A less frequently-used output biasing method is to connect the REF pin to the supply voltage, V+. This method

results in the output voltage saturating at 200 mV below the supply voltage when no differential input signal is

present. This method is similar to the output saturated low condition with no input signal when the REF pin is

connected to ground. The output voltage in this configuration only responds to negative currents that develop

negative differential input voltage relative to the device IN– pin. Under these conditions, when the differential

input signal increases negatively, the output voltage moves downward from the saturated supply voltage. The

voltage applied to the REF pin must not exceed the device supply voltage.