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handbook of modern sensors

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5.3 Excitation Circuits 165<br />

5.3.1 Current Generators<br />

Current generators are <strong>of</strong>ten used as excitation circuits to feed <strong>sensors</strong> with predetermined<br />

currents that, within limits, are independent <strong>of</strong> the sensor properties, stimulus<br />

value, or environmental factors. In general terms, a current generator (current pump)<br />

is a device which produces electric current independent <strong>of</strong> the load impedance; that<br />

is, within the capabilities <strong>of</strong> the generator, the amplitude <strong>of</strong> its output current must<br />

remain substantially independent <strong>of</strong> any changes in the impedance <strong>of</strong> the load.<br />

The usefulness <strong>of</strong> the current generators for the sensor interfaces is in their ability<br />

to produce excitation currents <strong>of</strong> precisely controlled magnitude and shape. Hence,<br />

a current generator should not only produce current which is load independent, but<br />

it also must be controllable from an external signal source (a waveform generator),<br />

which, in most cases, has a voltage output. A good current generator must produce<br />

current which follows the control signal with high fidelity and is independent <strong>of</strong> the<br />

load over a broad range <strong>of</strong> impedances.<br />

There are two main characteristics <strong>of</strong> a current generator: the output resistance and<br />

the voltage compliance. The output resistance should be as high as practical.Avoltage<br />

compliance is the highest voltage which can be developed across the load without<br />

affecting the output current. For a high resistive load, according to Ohm’s law, a higher<br />

voltage is required for a given current. For instance, if the required excitation current<br />

is i = 10 mA and the highest load impedance at any given frequency is Z L = 10 k,a<br />

voltage compliance <strong>of</strong> at least iZ L = 100 V would be needed. Below, we cover some<br />

useful circuits with increased voltage compliance where the output currents can be<br />

controlled by external signals.<br />

A unipolar current generator is called either a current source (generates the outflowing<br />

current) or a current sink (generates the inflowing currents). Here, unipolar<br />

means that it can produce currents flowing in one direction only, usually toward the<br />

ground. Many <strong>of</strong> such generators utilize current-to-voltage characteristics <strong>of</strong> transistors.<br />

A voltage-controlled current source or sink may include an operational amplifier<br />

(Fig. 5.13A). In such a circuit, a precision and stable resistor R 1 defines the output<br />

current, i out . The circuit contains a feedback loop through the OPAM that keeps voltage<br />

across resistor R 1 constant and, thus, the constant current. To deliver a higher<br />

current at a maximum voltage compliance, voltage drop as small as possible should<br />

be developed across the sensing resistor R 1 . In effect, that current is equal to V 1 /R 1 .<br />

For better performance, the current through the base <strong>of</strong> the output transistor should<br />

be minimized; hence, a field-effect rather than bipolar transistor is <strong>of</strong>ten used as an<br />

output device.<br />

It is well known that the transistor’s collector current is very little dependent on<br />

collector voltages. This feature was employed by the so-called current mirrors. A<br />

current mirror has one current input and at least one (may be several) current output.<br />

Therefore, the output current is controlled by the input current. The input current is<br />

supplied from an external source and should be <strong>of</strong> a known value. Figure 5.13B shows<br />

the so-called Wilson current mirror, where voltage V 1 and resistance R 1 produce the<br />

input current i in . The output transistor Q 1 acts as a current-controlled resistor, thus

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