Date: 13/10/2009

Dual channel analog front-end chip from Microchip for metering apps

Microchip has made available of MCP3901, an dual channel Analog Front End (AFE) device that integrates dual 16-/24-bit delta-sigma ADCs with up to 91 dB Signal to Noise and Distortion (SINAD), internal Programmable Gain Amplifiers (PGAs) and voltage reference, phase-delay compensation, and a modulator output block. The MCP3901 AFE is suitable for applications such as single- and multi-phase metering, industrial and medical applications.

Communication with the MCP3901 is done via the SPI interface enabling control of the PGAs, oversampling ratio for control of the output data rate (up to 64 ksps), resolution, dithering, shutdown and other communication features.

The key features of the MCP3901 are,

Internal voltage reference with low drift of 12 ppm/°C
Internal PGAs on each channel with gain of 32 V/V
Phase delay compensation between channels with 1 µs resolution
Low power consumption (14mW at 5V)
Separate modulator outputs for each channel
High-speed addressable 20 MHz SPI Interface with mode 0,0 and 1,1 compatibility

"The need for accurate metering applications is on the rise in various regions around the world, and Microchip is pleased to expand its mixed-signal metering product family with the MCP3901 AFE, which simplifies the development of metering, power monitoring and instrumentation applications," said Bryan J. Liddiard, marketing vice president of Microchip's Analog and Interface Products Division. "This AFE enables engineers to develop high-precision applications, combined with the flexibility to adjust the resolution and speed to meet the needs of their designs."

Operating temperature range: -40°C to +85°C

Package: 20-pin SSOP package
Price: Each $1.42 for 10k pieces
Availability: Now in samples

For more details visit www.microchip.com

Editorial Product Rating: Average Plus