TI Korea (CEO Kent Jeon, www.ti.com/ww/kr ) March 12, 2012 – TI announced two configurable analog front-ends (AFEs), easy-to-use modular solutions that act as a bridge between microprocessors and sensors. Design engineers can significantly reduce development time by using a single AFE for multiple NDIR (Nondispersive Infrared) gas sensor and pH sensor platforms, instead of designing multiple complex discrete solutions. These AFEs are combined with TI’s WEBENCH® Sensor AFE Designer software and benchtop development systems. Using these tools, engineers can select sensors, design and configure solutions, and then download the configuration data to the sensor AFE to immediately create prototypes. (For more information and to order samples, please refer to www.ti.com/sensorafe-pr )

The highly integrated LMP91050 NDIR gas sensing AFE supports multiple thermocouple sensors for NDIR sensing, indoor CO2 monitoring, DCV (Demand Control Ventilation), HVAC, breathalyzers, greenhouse gas monitoring, and Freon detection.

Key Features and Benefits of the LMP91050 NDIR Gas Sensing AFE
• Complete Gas Sensing Solution: The AFE integrates a Programmable Gain Amplifier (PGA), “Dark Phase” Offset Cancellation Circuit, Adjustable Common Mode Generator, and SPI Interface to simplify system design.
• Programmable Gain Amplifier: Features low and high gain ranges, allowing the use of thermocouples of different sensitivities.
• Clearly Defined Performance: Provides optimized system performance through features such as low gain drift of 100 ppm/°C (max), output offset drift of 1.2 mV/°C, phase delay variation of 500 ns, low noise at 0.1 uV rms (0.1 to 10 Hz), and an operating range of -40°C to 105°C.
• Small Form Factor: High integration reduces the package size to 3mm x 4.9mm, enabling reduced finished product size.

The highly integrated LMP91200 pH sensing AFE supports a 2-electrode pH sensor used in analyzer platforms for emission monitoring, steam and water quality monitoring, chemical/petrochemical plants, food processing, etc.

Key Features and Advantages of the LMP91200 pH Sensing AFE
• Complete pH Sensing Solution: The AFE integrates a PGA, ultra-low input bias pH buffer, signal protection, temperature and measurement calibration, common mode generation, and diagnostic circuitry, enabling configuration with most modern pH sensors and interfaces using a single chip.
• Superior Reliability and System Accuracy: Onboard sensor testing ensures proper connectivity and functionality, while an ultra-low bias current of 0.4 pA (max) enhances system reliability and accuracy, and protects the pH electrode in the absence of power.
• Wide Operating Range: Operates from 1.8V to 5.5V and -40℃ to 125℃, ensuring low pH buffer input bias current across the entire operating range and providing maximum flexibility.
• Small Form Factor: High integration reduces the package size to 5mm x 6.4mm, enabling reduced finished product size.

TI provides a complete signal chain for sensing applications, so engineers can combine sensor AFEs, MSP430 ultra-low power 16-bit microcontrollers, and components from the 4 to 20mA transmitter family, such as DAC161P997 and XTR117.

Supply timing, package, and price
The LMP91050 gas sensing AFE currently on mass sale is available in a 10-pin MSOP package, and the LMP91200 pH sensing AFE is available in a 16-pin TSSOP package. The prices of the two products are $1.32 for LMP91050 and $3.90 for LMP91200 based on a quantity of 1,000 units.

An Increasingly Diverse Sensor AFE Portfolio
The LMP91050 and LMP91200 have been newly added to TI's increasingly diverse sensor AFE product family.
• Targeting electrochemical-based toxic gas monitoring applications, the LMP91000 is a low-power gas and chemical sensor AFE that provides adjustable bias (sensor drive), sensitivity, and a wide dynamic range.
• Targeted for temperature, pressure, load, and voltage measurement applications, the LMP90100, LMP90099, LMP90098, and LMP90097 are 24-bit multi-channel sensor AFEs that support true continuous background calibration. Each AFE provides differently selected channel configurations and current sources.
• LMP90080, LMP90079, LMP90078, and LMP90077, targeted at temperature, pressure, load, and voltage measurement applications, are 16-bit multi-channel sensor AFEs that support true continuous background calibration. Each AFE provides a differently selected channel configuration and current source.

More detailed information on TI's sensor AFE
• Order LMP91050 samples and evaluation modules: www.ti.com/lmp91050-pr
• Order LMP91200 samples and evaluation modules: www.ti.com/lmp91200-pr
• NDIR Gas Detection Demo Video: www.ti.com/lmp91050-v
• pH Sensing Overview Video: www.ti.com/lmp91200-v
• Ask questions and share knowledge on the Precision Data Converter forum of the TI E2E™ community: http://www.ti.com/e2epdc-pr