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Analog Engineer's Circuit

Bidirectional Current Sensing with a Window Comparator
Circuit

Design Goals
SYSTEM CURRENT LEVELS SUPPLY
Falling OC Threshold Falling OC Recovery Rising OC Threshold Rising OC Recovery V+ V-
IG1 < -35 A IG1 > -31 A IG1 > 100 A IG1 < 90 A 3.3 V 0V

Design Description
This bidirectional current sensing solution uses a current-sense amplifier and a high speed dual comparator
with a rail-to-rail input common mode range to create over-current (OC) alert signals at the comparator outputs
(OUTA and OUTB) if the input current (IG1) rises above 100 A or falls below -35 A. In this implementation, both
over-current alert signals are active high, so when the 100 A or -35 A thresholds are crossed, the comparator
outputs will go high. External hysteresis is implemented on both comparators so that the comparator outputs will
return to logic low states when the current reduces by 10% (90 A and -31 A). While the circuit below has shunt
resistor R8 connected to ground, the same circuit is applicable for high side current sensing up to the common
mode voltage range of the INA.
C7 100n V+
C8 1u

V+
C1 100n
C2 1u

LTV + +
INA_OUT

TLV3201 OUTA
-
INP VCC INNA
R3 806k
R8 330u

IG1 INA240A1 OUT V+

REF1

REF2
GND

C10 1u

C9 100n

INN

V+
INPB
R6 4.42k
V+ V+ + +
TLV3201 OUTB
HTV
R4 6.4k
R1 13k

-
V+

LTV HTV
R7 200k
VCC 3.3V
R2 10k

R5 10k

Design Notes
1. Select a comparator with rail-to-rail input common mode range.
2. Select a current sense amplifier with low offset voltage and a common mode input range that matches the
requirements of the system.

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Design Steps
1. To determine the comparator threshold voltages, first calculate the INA240A1 output voltages that
correspond to the desired current thresholds. The calculations depend on the gain of the INA240 (20, 50,
100, 200 for A1, A2, A3, A4, respectively), the input current (IG1) and sense resistor (R8), and the reference
voltage when the input current is 0 (VREF). Per section 8.3.2 in the INA240 data sheet, R8 is a function of
the differential input voltage and the maximum input current to the INA240. Given that the input current in
this system swings above 100 A, by keeping R8 small, the power dissipation across R8 will be lessened.
INA_OUT = VREF + G × INP − INN

INP − INN = IG1 × R8

V+ −0
VREF = 2 = 3 .23V = 1 . 65V

Using these equations and the desired current thresholds, the following table is generated:
DESCRIPTION IG1 INA-OUT

VH, CHB Overcurrent threshold in forward 100 A 1.65 V + 20 x (100 A x 0.33 mΩ)
direction = 2.31 V

VL, CHB Recovery threshold in forward 90 A 1.65 V + 20 x (90 A x 0.33 mΩ)

direction = 2.244 V

VH, CHA Overcurrent threshold in reverse -35 A 1.65 V + 20 x (-35 A x 0.33 mΩ)
direction = 1.419 V

VL, CHA Recovery threshold in reverse -31.5 A 1.65 V + 20 x (-31.5 A x 0.33

direction mΩ) = 1.4421 V

First, focus on the top comparator (channel A), which is in an inverting comparator configuration. This
comparator will swing to a logic high when the current in the reverse direction exceeds -35 A, and will return
to a logic low when the current in the reverse direction recovers to -31.5 A. These current levels correspond
to voltage levels of 1.419 V and 1.4421 V, respectively.
2. Assume a value for R2 (the bottom resistor in the resistor divider). In this circuit, 10 kΩ is chosen.
3. Derive two equations for R1 in terms of V+, VL, VH, R2, R3 by analyzing the circuit when INNA = VL and
when INNA = VH:
V R2R3
R1 = V+ − 1 R2 + R3
L

V −V
R1 = V +V −H V
H + H
−
R 2 R 3

4. Set these two equations equal to each other and then solve for R3.

V+ − VH V+ − VH
V+ − VH R32 + V+ + V+ − VH R2R3 = 0
VL VL

3 . 3 − 1 . 4421 3 . 3 − 1 . 4421
3.3 − 1 . 4421 R32 + 3.3 + 3 . 3 − 1 . 4421 10k R3 = 0
1 . 419 1 . 419

R3 = 0, R3 = 804 . 29kΩ

The standard 1% resistor value closest to this is 806 kΩ.

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5. Solve for R1 using any of the two equations derived in 3:

V R2R3
R1 = V+ − 1 R2 + R3
L

10 kΩ 806 kΩ
R1 = 13. 419
.3
−1 10 kΩ + 806 kΩ

R1 = 13 . 093kΩ

The standard 1% resistor value closest to this is 13 kΩ.

The next step is to focus on the bottom comparator (channel B), which is in a non-inverting configuration.
This comparator will swing to a logic high when the current in the forward direction exceeds 100A, and
will return to a logic low when the current in the forward direction recovers to 90A. These current levels
correspond to voltage levels of 2.31 V and 2.244 V, respectively.
V+

V+

C10 1u

C9 100n
R4 6.4k

V+
INPB
R6 4.42k
HTV + +
3.3V TLV3201 OUTB

HTV
R5 10k

-
INA_OUT

R7 200k

Figure 1-1.

SBOA306 (High-side current sensing with comparator circuit) derives two equations for VTH (the voltage
on the non-inverting pin) when the comparator output is in a logic low state and a high-impedance state
(SBOA306 uses an open-drain comparator). These equations are then set equal to each other creating a
quadratic equation to solve for R6. Since TLV3202 is a push-pull device, the output will go to a logic high
state instead of a high-impedance state. Thus, the pull-up resistor value is 0 and VPU is V+
6. Rewrite the quadratic equation to match this circuit:

0 = V+ × R62 + V+ × R7 + VL × R7 − VH × R7 × R6 + VL − VH × R72

0 = 3 . 3 × R62 + 3 . 3 × R7 + 2 . 244 × R7 − 2 . 31 × R7 × R6 + 2 . 244 − 2 . 31 × R72

7. Choose a value for R7. This resistor dictates the load current of the comparator, and should thus be large.
For this circuit, R7 is assumed to be 200 kΩ.
2
0 = 3 . 3 × R62 + 3 . 3 × 200k + 2 . 244 × 200k − 2 . 31 × 200k × R6 + 2 . 244 − 2 . 31 × 200k

R6 = 4 . 47kΩ

The standard 1% resistor value closest to this is 4.42kΩ.

8. Calculate VTH using R6.
R
VTH = VH × R +7R = 2 . 31 × 4 . 42k
200k
+ 200k = 2 . 26V
6 7

9. Choose a value for R5. In this case, R5 is chosen to be 10 kΩ.

R
VTH = VH × R +2R = 9 . 802V
1 2

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10. Solve for R4.

R × V − VTH 10k × 3 . 3 − 2 . 6
R4 = 5 V s = 2 . 26 = 4 . 602 kΩ
TH

The standard 1% resistor value closest to this is 4.64 kΩ.

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Design Simulations
Transient Simulation Results
The below simulation results use a -70A to 130A, 100Hz sine wave for IG1.

Figure 1-2. Channel A

Figure 1-3. Channel B

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Design References
See Analog Engineer's Circuit Cookbooks for TI's comprehensive circuit library.
See Circuit SPICE Simulation File SBOMB05.
Design Featured Comparator
TLV320x
VS 2.7 V to 5.5 V
VinCM 200 mV beyond either rail
VOUT Push-Pull, Rail-to-rail
VOS 1 mV
IQ 40 µA/channel
tPD(HL) 40 ns
#Channels 1, 2
TLV3201-Q1 and TLV3202-Q1

Design Featured Op Amp

INA240
VS 1.6 V to 5.5 V
VinCM -4 V to 80 V
VOUT Rail-to-rail
VOS 5 µV
VOS Drift 50 nV/◦C
IQ 260 ns
Gain Options 20 V/V, 50 V/V, 100 V/V, 200 V/V
INA240

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