Freescale Semiconductor AN1325

Application Note Rev 3, 05/2005

Amplifiers for Semiconductor Pressure

Sensors
by: Warren Schultz
Discrete Applications Engineering

INTRODUCTION required in order to translate the sensor's differential output

into a single ended analog signal. In addition, level shifting is
Amplifiers for interfacing Semiconductor Pressure Sensors
necessary to convert the sensor's 1/2 B+ common mode
to electronic systems have historically been based upon
voltage to an appropriate DC level. For microcomputer A/D
classic instrumentation amplifier designs. Instrumentation
inputs, generally that level is from 0.3 - 1.0V. Typical design
amplifiers have been widely used because they are well
targets are 0.5 V at zero pressure and enough gain to produce
understood standard building blocks that also work
4.5 V at full scale. The 0.5 V zero pressure offset allows for
reasonably well. For the specific job of interfacing
output saturation voltage in op amps operated with a single
Semiconductor Pressure Sensors to today's mostly digital
supply (VEE = 0). At the other end, 4.5 V full scale keeps the
systems, other circuits can do a better job. This application
output within an A/D converter's 5 V range with a comfortable
note presents an evolution of amplifier design that begins with
margin for component tolerances. The resulting 0.5 to 4.5 V
a classic instrumentation amplifier and ends with a simpler
single-ended analog signal is also quite suitable for a variety
circuit that is better suited to sensor interface.
of other applications such as bar graph pressure gauges and
process monitors.
INTERFACE AMPLIFIER REQUIREMENTS
Design requirements for interface amplifiers are CLASSIC INSTRUMENTATION AMPLIFIER
determined by the sensor's output characteristics, and the
A classic instrumentation amplifier is shown in Figure 1.
zero to 5.0 V input range that is acceptable to microcomputer
This circuit provides the gain, level shifting and differential to
A/D converters. Since the sensor's full scale output is typically
single-ended conversion that are required for sensor
tens of millivolts, the most obvious requirement is gain. Gains
interface. It does not, however, provide for single supply
from 100 to 250 are generally needed, depending upon bias
operation with a zero pressure offset voltage in the desired
voltage applied to the sensor and maximum pressure to be
range.
measured. A differential to single-ended conversion is also

VCC

5
+ + 4 7
6 –
U1B
MC33274
R8 R4 R3
1k 1k 1K
C3 10
9 +– 8 Output
0.001 µF U1C
R10 MC33274
240 *
R9 R5 R2

15 k 1k 1k
U1A
MC33274
2
– 1
– 3 +
11 * Note: For MPX2020 R10 = 150Ω
VEE

Figure 1. Classic Instrumentation Amplifier

© Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., 2005. All rights reserved.

 B+ U2
MC78L08ACP
3
I 1
O
G
2 C2
C1 0.1 µF
R7
1 µF
7.5 k
R6 12
Zero + 14
1k 13 -
5 U1D
+ 4 7 MC33274
6
- U1B
MC33274
R8 R4 R31
15 k 1k 1k
GND
U1C
3 2 10 MC33274
XDCR1 C3 + 8
9 Output
MPX2000 Series R10 0.001 µF -
Pressure Sensor 240*
R9 R5 R2
4 1
15 k 1k 1k
U1A
2 MC33274
- 1
3
+ 11

* Note: For MPX2010 R10 = 150 Ω

Figure 2. Instrumentation Amplifier Interface

To provide the desired DC offset, a slight modification is SENSOR SPECIFIC AMPLIFIER

made in Figure 2. R3 is connected to pin 14 of U1D, which
The limitations associated with classic instrumentation
supplies a buffered offset voltage that is derived from the
amplifiers suggest that alternate approaches to sensor
wiper of R6. This voltage establishes a DC output for zero
interface design are worth looking at. One such approach is
differential input. The translation is one to one. Whatever
shown in Figure 3. It uses one quad op amp and several
voltage appears at the wiper of R6 will, within component
resistors to amplify and level shift the sensor's output.
tolerances, appear as the zero pressure DC offset voltage at
Most of the amplification is done in U1A, which is
the output.
configured as a differential amplifier. It is isolated from the
With R10 at 240 Ω gain is set for a nominal value of 125,
sensor's minus output by U1B. The purpose of U1B is to
providing a 4.0 V span for 32 mV of full scale sensor output.
prevent feedback current that flows through R5 and R6 from
Setting the offset voltage to 0.75 V, results in a 0.75 V to 4.75
flowing into the sensor. At zero pressure the voltage from pin
V output that is directly compatible with microprocessor A/D
2 to pin 4 on the sensor is zero V. For example, assume that
inputs.
the common mode voltage is 4.0 V. The zero pressure output
This circuit works reasonably well, but has several notable
voltage at pin 1 of U1A is then 4.0 V, since any other voltage
limitations when made with discrete components. First, it has
would be coupled back to pin 2 via R6 and create a non zero
a relatively large number of resistors that have to be well
bias across U1A’s differential inputs. This 4.0 V zero pressure
matched. Failure to match these resistors degrades common
DC output voltage is then level translated to the desired zero
mode rejection and initial tolerance on zero pressure offset
pressure offset voltage by U1C and U1D. To see how the level
voltage. It also has two amplifiers in one gain loop, which
translation works, assume the wiper of R9 is at ground. With
makes stability more of an issue than it is in the following two
4.0 V at pin 12, pin 13 is also at 4.0 V. This leaves 4.0 V across
alternatives. This circuit also has more of a limitation on zero
(R3 + R9), which total essentially 1.0 kΩ. Since no current
pressure offset voltage than the other two. The minimum
flows through R4, producing approximately 4.0 V across R4,
output voltage of U1D restricts the minimum zero pressure
as well. Adding the voltages (4.0 + 4.0) yields 8.0 V at pin 14.
offset voltage that can be accommodated, given component
Similarly, 4.0 V at pin 10 implies 4.0 V at pin 9, and the drop
tolerances. The result is a 0.75 V zero pressure offset voltage,
across R2 is 8.0 V –4.0 = 4.0 V. Again 4.0 V across R2 implies
compared to 0.5 V for each of the following two circuits.
an equal drop across R1, and the voltage at pin 8 is 4.0 V –
4.0 V. In practice, the output of U1C will not go all the way to

AN1325
Sensors
2 Freescale Semiconductor
ground, and the voltage injected by R8 at the wiper of R9 is because the sensor's negative going differential signal at pin
approximately translated into a DC offset. 4 subtracts from the DC level that is amplified by U1C. Setting
Gain is approximately equal to R6/R5(R1/R2+1), which offset to 0.5 V results in an analog zero to full scale range of
predicts 125 for the values shown in Figure 3. A more exact 0.5 to 4.5 V. For this DC output voltage to be independent of
calculation can be performed by doing a nodal analysis, which the sensor's common mode voltage it is necessary to satisfy
yields 127. Cascading the gains of U1A and U1C using the condition that R1/R2 = (R3+R9)/R4.
standard op amp gain equations does not give an exact result,

B+
U2
3 MP78L08ACP
I 1
G TP2 + 8.0 V
O
2 C2
3 0.1 •F
C1 + 4 1
1 µF 2 –
XDCR1 U1A
MPX2000 Series MC33274 U1C
Pressure Sensor R6 MC33274
10
+ 8
3 2 7.5 k 9 – Out
R5
120* R1
4 1 2k
GND R8 U1B R2
1.5 k MC33274
6 2k
– 7 12
5 + + 14
11 13 –
U1D
MC33274
R8 200 R3 R4

Zero 820 1k
Cal.
* Note: For MPX2010 R5 = 75Ω

Figure 3. Sensor Specific Amplifier

This approach to interface amplifier design is an pressure output voltage is equal to the output voltage of
improvement over the classic instrument amplifier in that it divider R3, R5. For this DC output voltage to be independent
uses fewer resistors, is inherently more stable, and provides a of the sensor's common mode voltage it is necessary to satisfy
zero pressure output voltage that can be targeted at 0.5 V. It the condition that R1/R2 = R6/R4, where R6 includes the
has the same tolerance problem from matching discrete divider impedance.
resistors that is associated with classic instrument amplifiers. Gain can be determined by assuming a differential output
at the sensor and going through the same calculation. To do
SENSOR MINI AMP this assume 100 mV of differential output, which puts pin 2 of
U2A at 3.95 V, and pin 6 of U2B at 4.05 V. Therefore, 3.95 V
Further improvements can be made with the circuit that is
is applied to R6, generating 319 µA. This current flowing
shown in Figure 4. It uses one dual op amp and several
through R4 produces 31.9 mV, placing pin 1 of U2A at 3950
resistors to amplify and level shift the sensor's output. To see
mV + 31.9 mV = 3982 mV. The voltage across R2 is then
how this amplifier works, let's simplify it by grounding the
4050 mV - 3982 mV = 68 mV, which produces a current of
output of voltage divider R3, R5 and assuming that the divider
91µA that flows into R1. The output voltage is then 4.05 V +
impedance is added to R6, such that R6 = 12.4 k. If the
(91 µA • 93.1 k) = 12.5 V. Dividing 12.5 V by the 100 mV input
common mode voltage at pins 2 and 4 of the sensor is 4.0 V,
yields a gain of 125, which provides a 4 V span for 32 mV of
then pin 2 of U2A and pin 6 of U2B are also at 4.0 V. This puts
full scale sensor output. Setting divider R3, R5 at 0.5 V results
4.0 V across R6, producing 323 µA. Assuming that the current
in a 0.5 V to 4.5 V output that is comparable to the other two
in R4 is equal to the current in R6, 323 µA • 100 Ω produces
circuits.
a 32 mV drop across R4 which adds to the 4.0 V at pin 2. The
This circuit performs the same function as the other two
output voltage at pin 1 of U2A is, therefore, 4.032 V. This puts
with significantly fewer components and lower cost. In most
4.032 - 4.0 V across R2, producing 43 µA. The same current
cases it is the optimum choice for a low cost interface
flowing through R1 again produces a voltage drop of 4.0 V,
amplifier.
which sets the output at zero. Substituting a divider output
greater than zero into this calculation reveals that the zero

AN1325
Sensors
Freescale Semiconductor 3
 B+
U1
3 MC78L08ACP
I 1
O
G 5
C2 – 8 7
2 6 + Out
0.2 µF
C1 U2B
0.2 µF 3 2 MC33272
XDCR1
MPX2000 Series R1 93.1 k 1%
Sensor
4 1
R7 R3
TRIM 39.2 k C2 0.001 µF
1%
GND U1B R2
750
3 MC33272 1%
+ 1
2 –
4
R6
R5 11 k
1.33 k 1%
1%
R4
100
Notes: R7 is nominally 39.2 k and selected for zero pressure VOUT = 0.5 V 1%
for MPX2010 Sensors R1 = 150 k and R4 = 61.9 Ω

Figure 4. Sensor Mini Amp

Performance differences between the three topologies are MC33274 amplifier results in a ±5% pressure to voltage
minor. Accuracy is much more dependent upon the quality of translation from 0 to 50°C. Software calibration can
the resistors and amplifiers that are used and less dependent significantly improve these numbers and eliminate the need
on which of the three circuits are chosen. For example, input for analog trim.
offset voltage error is essentially the same for all three circuits.
To a first order approximation, it is equal to total gain times the CONCLUSION
difference in offset between the two amplifiers that are directly
Although the classic instrumentation amplifier is the best
tied to the sensor. Errors due to resistor tolerances are
known and most frequently used sensor interface amplifier, it
somewhat dependent upon circuit topology. However, they
is generally not the optimal choice for inexpensive circuits
are much more dependent upon the choice of resistors.
made from discrete components. The circuit that is shown in
Choosing one percent resistors rather than five percent
Figure 4 performs the same interface function with
resistors has a much larger impact on performance than the
significantly fewer components, less board space and at a
minor differences that result from circuit topology. Assuming a
lower cost. It is generally the preferred interface topology for
zero pressure offset adjustment, any of these circuits with an
MPX2000 series semiconductor pressure sensors.
MPX2000 series sensor, one percent resistors and an

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AN1325
Rev. 3
05/2005