6

FN3082.7

Detailed Description

Analog Section

Figure 3 shows the Analog Section for the ICL7106 and

ICL7107. Each measurement cycle is divided into three

phases. They are (1) auto-zero (A-Z), (2) signal integrate

(INT) and (3) de-integrate (DE).

Auto-Zero Phase

During auto-zero three things happen. First, input high and low

are disconnected from the pins and internally shorted to analog

COMMON. Second, the reference capacitor is charged to the

reference voltage. Third, a feedback loop is closed around the

for offset voltages in the buffer amplifier, integrator, and

comparator. Since the comparator is included in the loop, the A-

Z accuracy is limited only by the noise of the system. In any

case, the offset referred to the input is less than 10

µV.

Signal Integrate Phase

During signal integrate, the auto-zero loop is opened, the

internal short is removed, and the internal input high and low

are connected to the external pins. The converter then

integrates the differential voltage between IN HI and IN LO for a

fixed time. This differential voltage can be within a wide

common mode range: up to 1V from either supply. If, on the

other hand, the input signal has no return with respect to the

converter power supply, IN LO can be tied to analog COMMON

to establish the correct common mode voltage. At the end of

this phase, the polarity of the integrated signal is determined.

De-Integrate Phase

The final phase is de-integrate, or reference integrate. Input

low is internally connected to analog COMMON and input

high is connected across the previously charged reference

capacitor. Circuitry within the chip ensures that the capacitor

will be connected with the correct polarity to cause the

integrator output to return to zero. The time required for the

output to return to zero is proportional to the input signal.

Specifically the digital reading displayed is:

.

Differential Input

The input can accept differential voltages anywhere within the

common mode range of the input amplifier, or specifically from

0.5V below the positive supply to 1V above the negative

supply. In this range, the system has a CMRR of 86dB typical.

However, care must be exercised to assure the integrator

output does not saturate. A worst case condition would be a

large positive common mode voltage with a near full scale

negative differential input voltage. The negative input signal

drives the integrator positive when most of its swing has been

used up by the positive common mode voltage. For these

critical applications the integrator output swing can be

reduced to less than the recommended 2V full scale swing

with little loss of accuracy. The integrator output can swing to

within 0.3V of either supply without loss of linearity.

Differential Reference

The reference voltage can be generated anywhere within the

power supply voltage of the converter. The main source of

common mode error is a roll-over voltage caused by the

reference capacitor losing or gaining charge to stray capacity

on its nodes. If there is a large common mode voltage, the

reference capacitor can gain charge (increase voltage) when

called up to de-integrate a positive signal but lose charge

(decrease voltage) when called up to de-integrate a negative

input signal. This difference in reference for positive or negative

input voltage will give a roll-over error. However, by selecting the

reference capacitor such that it is large enough in comparison

to the stray capacitance, this error can be held to less than 0.5

count worst case. (See Component Value Selection.)

DISPLAY COUNT = 1000

V

IN

V

REF

---------------







FIGURE 3. ANALOG SECTION OF ICL7106 AND ICL7107

DE

-

DE+

BUFFER

A-Z

INT

-

+

A-Z

COMPARATOR

IN HI

COMMON

IN LO

31

32

30

DE-

DE+

INT

A-Z

34

36

REF HI

REF LO

35

A-Z

A-Z

33

28

29

27

TO

DIGITAL

SECTION

A-Z AND DE

(±)

INTEGRATOR

INT

STRAY

STRAY

V+

10

µA

V-

N

INPUT

HIGH

2.8V

6.2V

V+

1

INPUT

LOW

-

+

-

+

-

+

ICL7106, ICL7107, ICL7107S