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1991 Burr-Brown Corporation AB-032A Printed in U.S.A. June, 1992
SBOA017
XTR101 16 HPR 117
+VS RCV420 6 5 4 2 1
10 92kΩ
1 12
1mA +15V
300kΩ 99kΩ
11 15
1mA V+ V+ 75Ω 0-5V
8
11.5kΩ
2 14 –15V
0.01µF
16 15 10 9
3 10
Position – 75Ω 1.01kΩ Gnd VIN V– V+
Sensor 5 10.0V Input Output
7 3 ISO122P
Ref Section Section
11
V+ V– VO Grd
4-20mA Out –VS 300kΩ 100kΩ
1 2 7 8
2kΩ 2kΩ 4 13 5 Output
6 Gnd
+
4 VO
0-5V
0.01µF
2.5kΩ
0.01µF
FIGURE 1. Four IC Packages and Transducer Form Complete Isolated 4-20mA Current-Loop System.
XTR101
10
1mA
11
1mA 8
V+
0.01µF
3
–
5
7
IOUT
0.01µF RS 4-20mA Out
6
+
4
RT1
R2
Zero Adjust
5kΩ
2
Where: at the same temperature—heat-sinked by the liquid. The
IO = Current loop output (A) potentiometer, R3, is used to correct for component toler-
VIN = Differential IA input voltage between pins 3 and 4 ances and zero the bridge for 4mA current-loop output.
(V) When the liquid level falls below thermistor RT1 as shown in
RS = Span-setting resistor (Ω) Figure 3B, the temperature of RT1 increases due to self-
Keep in mind that the maximum differential input range for heating. The resulting bridge imbalance is measured by the
the XTR101 is 1V. XTR. Span-setting resistor, RS, is selected to give 10mA
Since the thermistor is a powered sensor, self heating can be output under low liquid level conditions. There is no simple
a problem. For example, with a thermistor voltage of 5V, rule for selecting RS. Its value depends on thermistor selec-
power dissipation is 5V • 1mA = 5mW. If a bead-in-glass tion and liquid properties and conditions.
type thermistor with a thermal resistance of 600°C/W is When compared to level detectors using floats and moving
used, self-heating can increase the thermistor temperature by parts, a thermistor-based liquid level indicator can have
3°C. To minimize this error, use a thermistor in a low much better reliability.
thermal resistance package or lower the thermal resistance
by heat sinking the thermistor to a thermal mass residing at
the temperature to be measured. For example, if air tempera- GAS FLOW MEASUREMENT
ture in an enclosure is to be measured, attach the thermistor USING THERMISTORS
to the package instead of mounting it in free air. The liquid level indicator uses thermistor self-heating for a
two-state high/low measurement. The gas flow measure-
ment system shown in Figure 3C gives a quantitative flow
THERMISTOR-BASED LIQUID LEVEL INDICATOR rate measurement.
Due to high nonlinearities, thermistors can only be used for As in the previous example, a matched thermistor bridge is
accurate temperature measurement over relatively small biased by the two 1mA current sources in the XTR101. One
temperature spans. The high output of thermistors, however thermistor is positioned in the air flow stream. The other
makes them attractive for other applications. In some appli- thermistor resides in still air—baffled from the air stream.
cations thermistor self-heating can be used to advantage. The thermal resistance of the thermistor is proportional to
Consider, for example, the liquid level indicator shown in the air flow rate. Potentiometer, R3, is used to balance the
Figures 3A and 3B. A bridge is formed by a pair of matched bridge for 4mA out at zero flow rate. Span setting resistor,
thermistors. The bridge is excited by the 1mA current RS, is selected to give a full-scale 20mA output at maximum
sources in the XTR101. When both thermistors are sub- flow rate. The value of RS depends on thermistor character-
merged in liquid as shown in Figure 3A, the thermistors are istics and gas flow dynamics.
3
XTR101
10
1mA
11
1mA 8
V+
0.01µF
3
–
5
7
IOUT
0.01µF RS 4mA Out
6
+
4
R3
Liquid Zero
RT1
NOTE: When liquid covers both thermistors, the bridge is in balance
and output is 4mA.
RT2
XTR101
10
1mA
11
1mA 8
V+
0.01µF
3
–
5
7
IOUT
0.01µF RS 10mA Out
6
+
4
R3
Zero
RT1
NOTE: When liquid level falls below thermistor RT1, its temperature
Liquid increases, imbalancing the bridging and producing a 10mA
output.
RT2
4
XTR101
10
1mA
11
1mA 8
V+
0.01µF
3
–
5
7
IOUT
0.01µF RS 4-20mA Out
6
+
4
Static
R3
Air
RT1
RT2
Many systems today use resistance wire instead of ther- Figure 4 shows a cryogenic temperature measurement cir-
mistors for gas flow rate measurement. These are sometimes cuit using a silicon diode temperature sensor. The sensor
called hot-wire anemometers, and can have faster response requires an accurate 10µA current source for excitation. One
due to lower (thermal mass)/(heat transfer) ratio. of the current sources from the XTR101 is scaled by a
precision mirror to supply the 10µA excitation current.
DIODE-BASED TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT To convert a 1mA current-source output into a precise 10µA
Cousin to the thermistor is the semiconductor diode tem- for sensor excitation, a precision current mirror is formed
perature transducer. Regular silicon diodes, biased with with R2, R3, and A1. The 1mA current source is connected
constant current, have a forward voltage of about 0.6V with to R2 and the inverting input of the op amp. The op amp
a temperature coefficient of about –2mV/°C. The usable drives its inputs to the same voltage through R3. The result
upper temperature range for silicon semiconductors is about is a precision 0.1V across both R2 and R3. The output current
125°C. Some high-temperature types are useful up to 200°C. at the noninverting input is 1mA • R2/R3 = 10µA. With the
In the future, novel semiconductor types such as silicon amplifier specified, op amp bias currents add negligible
carbide and diamond promise to raise the upper usable error.
temperature range of semiconductors into the 300°C to The other 1mA current source in the XTR101 supplies both
600°C range. For now, thermocouples and RTDs can be a precision zero-set voltage and power for the op amp. The
used for higher temperature measurements. current source is connected to a 5.1V zener through R1. The
Consider semiconductors for measurement of very low tem- current through R1 is precisely 1mA – 10µA. Zero-set
peratures. Specialized silicon diodes can be used at very low voltage is R1 • 990µA. The 5.1V zener sets the supply
temperatures. For example, the LakeShore Cryotronics, Inc., voltage of the op amp. The 249kΩ resistor in series with the
DT-470 series silicon diode cryogenic temperature sensor temperature sensor diode forces the op amp to operate in its
can be used to measure temperatures near absolute zero— linear common-mode and output ranges.
from 1.4K to 475K.
5
XTR101
10
1mA
0.01µF
11
1mA 8
R1 V+
2kΩ
0.01µF
R2 Zero
Adj 3
100Ω –
5
7
A1 IOUT
LT1012 10µA RS 4-20mA Out
(2) (1)
6
+ NOTES:
4 1) Select span-setting resistor for desired output
R3 R4
range—see text.
10kΩ 249kΩ
2) Cryogenic silicon diode temperature sensor.
5.1V 0.01µF LakeShore Cryotronics, Inc., 64 Walnut St.,
1N4689 Westville, Ohio 43081, (614)891-2243.
OTHER SILICON TEMPERATURE SENSORS exists along the length, between the two ends of the thermo-
Although diodes are common in temperature measurement couple, a voltage output proportional to the temperature
applications, their accuracy is limited. The temperature co- difference is generated. This phenomenon is known as the
efficient of a silicon diode has a nonlinearity of about 1% Seebeck effect. The measure of the Seebeck effect is known
over a 0-100°C temperature span. Also, the stability of the as the Seebeck coefficient. Seebeck coefficients for common
forward voltage with time is limited. thermocouple types range from about 6µV/°C to 60µV/°C.
Better accuracy can be obtained from silicon diodes by A thermocouple responds to the temperature difference
measuring the difference in forward voltage drops between between its output and the temperature measuring point
diodes operating at different current densities. This voltage where the thermocouple wires are joined. To determine the
has a positive temperature coefficient proportional to abso- temperature at the measuring point you must know the
lute temperature. If the diodes have low bulk resistance and temperature at the thermocouple output. One way to do this
are well-matched, temperature coefficient linearity of better is to keep the output in an ice bath at 0°C. Thermocouple
than 0.01% is possible. calibration tables were derived this way, and, following
tradition, the thermocouple output junctions have come to be
known as the cold junction. In reality, the measurement
THERMOCOUPLE-BASED
junction may be colder.
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
In most modern thermocouple-based temperature measure-
In the United States, the most commonly used precision
ment systems, the thermocouple output end simply resides at
temperature sensor is the thermocouple. Depending on the
the ambient temperature. To compensate for variations in
type, wire size, and construction, thermocouples can be used
ambient temperature, a temperature-dependent voltage is
to measure temperatures from about –250°C up to 1700°C.
summed with the thermocouple output. This method is
When designing thermocouple-based measurement systems, known as cold-junction compensation.
it is helpful to understand how thermocouples work. A
A thermocouple-based 4-20mA temperature measurement
common misconception is that temperature somehow cre-
system with cold-junction compensation is shown in Figure
ates an EMF in the thermocouple junction.
5. In this application, a type J thermocouple is combined
Thermocouples are based on the Thomson effect, which with an XTR101 to give a 4-20mA output for a 0-1000°C
states that, in a single conductor, a voltage difference will temperature change. One of the 1mA current sources in the
exist between two points that are at different temperatures. XTR101 biases a silicon diode used as a temperature trans-
The voltage difference is proportional to the temperature ducer for cold-junction compensation. For good accuracy,
differential, and its magnitude and direction depends on the the thermocouple output junctions and the diode must be
conductor material. maintained at the same temperature. The diode has a for-
A thermocouple is formed when a pair of dissimilar conduc- ward-voltage temperature dependance of about –2mV/°C.
tors are connected at one end. If a temperature difference The R1, R2 resistor divider attenuates the temperature depen-
6
dence to match the thermocouple Seebeck coefficient. The
other 1mA current source is connected to R3 for zero
adjustment. The 2.5kΩ resistor establishes a 5V bias to keep
the XTR101 IA in its linear range. Adjust R3 for 4mA out
Ideal Error
XTR101
10
1mA
11
1mA 8
1N4148
R1 V+
2kΩ
0.01µF
3
–
Type J
5
7
IOUT
CU RS
– 4-20mA Out
(1)
CU 6 SEEBECK
+ +
4 ISA THERMO- COEFFICIENT R1 R2 R3
COUPLE TYPE MATERIAL AT 0°C (µV/°C) (Ω) (Ω) (Ω)
R3 R2
20Ω 51Ω E Chromel 58.5 2k 60.3 19.0
R4
Zero Constantan
2.5kΩ
Adjust J Iron 50.2 2k 51.5 16.3
Constantan
K Chromel 39.4 2k 40.2 12.8
0.01µF Alumel
T Copper 38.0 2k 38.7 12.3
NOTE: (1) For 4-20mA with 0-1000°C, RS = 153.9Ω, nominal R3 = 16.3Ω. Constantan
7
XTR103
12 0.8-1mA
13 0.8-1mA
8
–
1261Ω
RLIN
10
IR IR V+
+ 11
0.01µF
9
14
3
7
5 IOUT
–
100.9Ω 4-20mA Out
RG
+
6 NOTE: RSPAN, RLIN, and RZ are for 4-20mA out with
4 Pt100-type RTD and 25°C to 150°C temperature
span (see PDS-1065).
RTD RZ
Pt100 109.7Ω
RCM
1.5 kΩ
0.01µF
An RTD measurement circuit using the XTR103 is shown in Figure 8 shows the residual nonlinearity for a 0 to 850°C
Figure 7. The XTR103 is similar to the XTR101, but span of both a linearized and an uncorrected RTD. The
contains two instrumentation amplifiers—one in the main nonlinearity is improved from 3.6% to better than 0.1%, an
current control loop, one for linearization. improvement of better than 30 to 1. Correction of nonlinearity
As with the thermistor-based system, a bridge is formed with for smaller spans is even better. The nonlinearity of a 0°C to
an RTD and a fixed resistor, RZ. The bridge is excited by the 100°C span can theoretically be improved from 0.38% to
two current sources in the XTR103. RZ is selected to set the 0.001%. In practice, nonlinearity of better than 0.01% can be
temperature-range zero for 4mA current loop output. The expected.
span-setting resistor, RG, sets the IA gain for a 20mA
current-loop output at full-scale. The 1.27kΩ resistor biases
4
the IA into its linear range.
3.5
The two instrumentation amplifiers are internally connected Uncorrected
3
in parallel. The second IA controls the current sources used
Nonlinearity (%)
RLIN. With RLIN open the current sources are fixed at 0.8mA. 2
Under control of the second IA, current source output can be 1.5
increased to 1.0mA—adequate for –200°C to 850°C linear- 1
ization of both Pt100 and Pt200 type RTDs. Current source 0.5 Corrected
output is controlled by the IA input signal according to the
0
following equation.
–0.5
IR = 0.0008 + VIN/(2 • RLIN) 0 85 170 255 340 425 510 595 680 765 850
Temperature (°C)
Where:
IR = Current source output (A)
VIN = Voltage difference at the input of the IAs (V) FIGURE 8. Nonlinearity vs Temperature Plot Comparing
With the proper RLIN, current source output is increased at Residual Nonlinearity of Corrected and Uncor-
the correct rate to correct RTD nonlinearity. Simple selec- rected RTDs.
tion procedures for RLIN are outlined in the XTR103 product
data sheet.
8
XTR104
2.0mA
12
4
– 4.5V
8 to
1200Ω
RLIN
5.5V 10
V+
9 Shunt
+
5kΩ
5kΩ 13 2N
0.01µF
Regulator
4922
3 11
2
+ EO – 7
IOUT
–
5 4-20mA Out
5kΩ
5kΩ
25Ω
RG
6
+
EO = 10mV
RLIN for 1% nonlinearity
BRIDGE MEASUREMENT 4-20mA signal may need to be either polarity for bridge linearizaton.
CURRENT-LOOP SYSTEMS Simple selection procedures for RLIN are outlined in the
Another common transducer is based on the four-resistor XTR104 product data sheet.
(Wheatstone) bridge. Wheatstone bridges are commonly The complete bridge-based 4-20mA current loop transmitter
used for pressure measurement. Bridges are usually intended circuit is shown in Figure 9. The XTR104 requires an
to be biased with a voltage rather than a current source. By external pass transistor as shown. Using an external pass
changing the voltage bias in response to the bridge output, device keeps power dissipation out of the XTR104 and
bridge nonlinearities can be eliminated. improves accuracy. As an option, the XTR103 can use an
The XTR104 is a two-wire 4-20mA current loop transmitter external pass transistor. In either case, a garden variety
designed specifically for use with bridges. It is similar to the bipolar transistor such as the 2N4922 shown is adequate.
XTR103 in that it contains two instrumentation amplifiers— Notice that, as with the other two-wire transmitters, only
one for signal, one for linearization. The difference is the 2mA is available for bridge excitation. This means that, for
addition of a 5V shunt regulator. The shunt regulator can be accurate 5V regulation, bridge elements can be no less than
adjusted from 4.5V to 5.5V range under control of the 2.75kΩ unless additional resistance is added in series with
second IA. The inputs to the second IA are brought out the bridge.
separately because, unlike RTD linearization, the correction
The information provided herein is believed to be reliable; however, BURR-BROWN assumes no responsibility for inaccuracies or omissions. BURR-BROWN assumes
no responsibility for the use of this information, and all use of such information shall be entirely at the user’s own risk. Prices and specifications are subject to change
without notice. No patent rights or licenses to any of the circuits described herein are implied or granted to any third party. BURR-BROWN does not authorize or warrant
any BURR-BROWN product for use in life support devices and/or systems.
9
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