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Analog Engineer's Circuit

Single-supply, low-side, unidirectional current-sensing
circuit

Design Goals
Input Output Supply Full–Scale Range Error
IiMax ViMax VoMin VoMax Vcc Vee FSRError
1A 250mV 50mV 4.9V 5V 0V 0.2%

Design Description
This single–supply, low–side, current sensing solution accurately detects load current up to 1A and converts
it to a voltage between 50mV and 4.9V. The input current range and output voltage range can be scaled as
necessary and larger supplies can be used to accommodate larger swings.
R2 715 R3 13.3k

VCC

Ii U1 TLV9062
-
Vo
Vbus 5 +
+

R1 250m VCC R4 10k

Vi

Design Notes
1. Use the op amp linear output operating range, which is usually specified under the test conditions.
2. The common–mode voltage is equal to the input voltage.
3. Tolerance of the shunt resistor and feedback resistors will determine the gain error of the circuit.
4. Avoid placing capacitive loads directly on the output of the amplifier to minimize stability issues.
5. If trying to detect zero current with output swing to GND, a negative charge pump (such as LM7705) can be
used as the negative supply in this design to maintain linearity for output signals near 0V. [5]
6. Using high–value resistors can degrade the phase margin of the circuit and introduce additional noise in the
circuit.
7. The small–signal bandwidth of this circuit depends on the gain of the circuit and gain bandwidth product
(GBP) of the amplifier.
8. Filtering can be accomplished by adding a capacitor in parallel with R3 . Adding a capacitor in parallel with
R3 will also improve stability of the circuit if high–value resistors are used.
9. For more information on op amp linear operating region, stability, capacitive load drive, driving ADCs, and
bandwidth please see the Design References section.

SBOA285 – DECEMBER 2018 Single-supply, low-side, unidirectional current-sensing circuit 1

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Design Steps
The transfer function for this circuit is given below.

R
Vo = Ii × R1 × 1 + R3
2

1. Define the full–scale shunt voltage and calculate the maximum shunt resistance.
ViMax = 250 mV at IiMax = 1 A

V
R1 = I iMax = 250 mV
1 A = 250 m Ω
iMax

2. Calculate the gain required for maximum linear output voltage.

ViMax = 250 mV and VoMax = 4.9 V

V
Gain = VoMax = 250
4.9 V V
mV = 19.6 V
iMax

3. Select standard values for R2 and R3.

From Analog Engineer’s calculator, use “Find Amplifier Gain” and get resistor values by inputting gain ratio
of 19.6.
R2 = 715 Ω (0.1% Standard Value)
R3 = 13.3 kΩ (0.1% Standard Value)
4. Calculate minimum input current before hitting output swing–to–rail limit. IiMin represents the minimum
accurately detectable input current.
VoMin = 50 mV; R1 = 250 m Ω

VoMin
ViMin = Gain = 50 mV = 2.55 mV
19.6 V V

V
IiMin = iMin 2.55 mV
R1 = 250 m Ω = 10.2 mA

5. Calculate Full scale range error and relative error. Vos is the typical offset voltage found in data sheet.
os V 0.3 mV
FSRerror = V × 100 = 247.45 mV × 100 = 0.121 %
iMax − ViMin

Vos 0.3 mV
Relative Error at IiMax = ViMax ×100 = 250 mV ×100 = 0.12 %

Vos 0.3 mV
Relative Error at IiMin = ViMin ×100 = 2.5 mV ×100 = 12 %

6. To maintain sufficient phase margin, ensure that the zero created by the gain setting resistors and input
capacitance of the device is greater than the bandwidth of the circuit
1
> GBP
G
2×π×(Ccm+Cdiff ×(R2||R3)

1
> 10 MHz
V = 39.1 MHz > 510 kHz
2×π×(3pF+3pF)× 715 Ω×13.3 kΩ 19.6
715 Ω+13.3 kΩ V

2 Single-supply, low-side, unidirectional current-sensing circuit SBOA285 – DECEMBER 2018

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Design Simulations
DC Simulation Results
T
5

Ii = 1A
Vo = 4.91V
Ii = 500mA
3
Vo = 2.46V
Output

Ii = 10.2m
Vo = 55.4m
1

0 250m 500m 750m 1

Input current (A)

AC Simulation Results

30

Vo
Vo
IiIi

-3dB frequency = 500kHz

20
Gain (dB)

10

10 100 1k 10k 100k 1MEG 10MEG

Frequency (Hz)

SBOA285 – DECEMBER 2018 Single-supply, low-side, unidirectional current-sensing circuit 3

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References:
1. Analog Engineer's Circuit Cookbooks
2. SPICE Simulation File SBOC523
3. TI Precision Designs TIPD129, TIPD104
4. TI Precision Labs
5. Single-Supply, Low-Side, Unidirectional Current-Sensing Solution with Output Swing to GND Circuit
Design Featured Op Amp
TLV9061
Vss 1.8V to 5.5V
VinCM Rail–to–rail
Vout Rail–to–rail
Vos 0.3mV
Iq 538µA
Ib 0.5pA
UGBW 10MHz
SR 6.5V/µs
#Channels 1,2,4
www.ti.com/product/tlv9061

Design Alternate Op Amp

OPA375
Vcc 2.25V to 5.5V
VinCM (V–) to ((V+)–1.2V)
Vout Rail–to–rail
Vos 0.15mV
Iq 890µA
Ib 10pA
UGBW 10MHz
SR 4.75V/µs
#Channels 1
www.ti.com/product/OPA375

For battery operated or power conscious designs, outside of the original design goals described earlier, where
lowering total system power is desired.
LPV821
Vcc 1.7V to 3.6V
VinCM Rail–to–rail
Vout Rail–to–rail
Vos 1.5µV
Iq 650nA/Ch
Ib 7pA
UGBW 8kHz
SR 3.3V/ms
#Channels 1
www.ti.com/product/LPV821

4 Single-supply, low-side, unidirectional current-sensing circuit SBOA285 – DECEMBER 2018

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